Arkema's Coating Resins business has expanded its acrylic resin manufacturing capacity at Araçariguama, Brazil, by 60% through the installation of a new reactor. With the start-up, the French chemical producer said it has "improved virtually every aspect" of its latex production in Brazil, including manufacturing, logistics and shipping, storage, filtration and the capabilities of the reactor itself, which will enable manufacturing of new product chemistries in the region.

"These improvements will enable us to begin migrating production capabilities and product lines currently available in other parts of the world to the facility in Brazil," said Eric Schmitt, president of Arkema Quimica Ltda. Brazil.

Products manufactured at the plant will now include a "much wider range of chemistries," including 100% acrylic, styrene acrylic, vinyl acrylic, the company's vinyl VeoVa and polyvinyl acetate (PVA), Schmitt said.

As production ramps up, Arkema said it will begin introducing new products based on demand and market potential. Products initially added will include a high scrubbing styrene acrylic resin for use in architectural coatings; a 100% acrylic ideally suited for fast-dry traffic paints; a styrene acrylic latex for use in mortars and grouts, tile adhesives and waterproofing membranes, as well as cement-based skim coats, gap fillers and in decorative concrete applications; and a high solids acrylic pressure sensitive adhesive for label applications.

The new capacity underscores Arkema's commitment to growing its franchise in the global coatings industry, as well as in local markets served, the French company said. "Local production in Brazil will allow us to better serve our current customers while at the same time, offering formulators in various market areas such as coatings, construction and adhesives, more competitive access to the raw materials they need," said Carlos Lion, market manager for Arkema Coating Resins in South America.