Adsorption and filtration specialist CECA, a subsidiary of French chemical producer Arkema, is planning to double production capacity for its specialty molecular sieve to meet demand from the refining and petrochemicals sector of Asia and the Middle East.
The €60 million capacity extension will take place at CECA’s dedicated Honfleur, France, site. Start-up is scheduled in two phases, the first in summer 2016, the second in early 2017. Some 15 new jobs will be created. Output will include adsorbents for aromatics separation in petrochemicals, in particular the latest generation ultra-high performance molecular sieve sold under the brand Siliporite SPX 5003 and marketed worldwide.
Boosting CECA’s production capacity for specialty molecular sieve will enable the Arkema group to support current market growth of 6-7%, especially in Asia and the Middle East, and in particular supply customers targeting end-markets such as synthetic textiles and PET bottles, said CECA managing director Marc-Antoine Mallet.
Arkema said the latest investment provides the company and its subsidiary “with a further growth engine to drive long-term ambition.” Moreover, it enables both to “demonstrate their know-how in providing their customers with innovative solutions for the oil and gas growth markets.“
The investment “also consolidates the CECA new energies cluster of excellence in France in the field of petrochemicals and in particular xylene separation,” the company said.