Arkema Expands PEKK Capacity with U.S. Plant Start Up

French chemicals firm Arkema is expanding its global capacity for Poly-Ether-Ketone-Ketone (PEKK) resins with the inauguration of a new production facility near Mobile, AL on Monday. 

A rise in demand for carbon fiber reinforced composites and 3D printing materials were the drivers behind the company’s decision to invest in its first U.S. plant for the material, according to a press release announcing the plant’s startup.

“This new capacity, which has been brought on line on schedule, will enable our customers and their customers to meet better future demand for even more efficient materials,” Christophe Andre, vice president of advanced materials at Arkema, said in a statement. 

Sold under the Kepstan brand, the company’s PEKK resins are used in the aerospace, defense, and 3D printing industries. 

The new facility is located in Axis, AL, where Arkema also manufactures acrylic polymers and sulfur (thio) chemicals for use as plastic additives. 

For more news headlines, articles, and equipment reviews, visit our Equipment Zones