CECA, Arkema’s Specialty Chemicals business unit, today announced the acquisition of a part of the “amine derivatives” activity of Japanese company Kao Chemicals Europe. “This acquisition will enable us to consolidate our European leadership in amine derivatives, which are surfactants used in organophilic clay manufacture, and to optimize production capacity at our Feuchy plant in France, one of the most efficient in Europe for this product group", stated Christophe Villain, CECA Managing Director.
Amine derivatives are used in the manufacture of organophilic clays, intended primarily for the paint market as viscosity modifiers.
This acquisition has been subjected to the legal information and consultation procedure with CECA and KAO Chemicals personnel representative bodies, as well as the approval of the competition authorities in the countries concerned.
Organophilic clays
Clays are naturally hydrophilic mineral fillers. In order to make them organophilic, therefore compatible with organic media like paint, they should be reacted with quaternized alkyl-amines. This makes them excellent flow additives in liquid medium. CECA offers a wide range of cationic surfactants marketed under the tradenames Noram® and Noramium®.
CECA, a subsidiary of the Arkema Group, is a world player in Specialty Chemicals. CECA constantly strives to improve its customers’ performance by creating and developing adsorbents, chemical intermediates, and additives. CECA operates an extensive network of industrial facilities in Europe, together with two research centres (GRL and CRRA) dedicated to Customer innovation.
A global chemical company and France’s leading chemicals producer, Arkema consists of three strategically related businesses: Vinyl Products, Industrial Chemicals, and Performance Products. Arkema reported sales of 5.7 billion euros in 2007. Arkema has 15,200 employees in over 40 countries and six research centers located in France, the United States and Japan. With internationally recognized brands, Arkema holds leadership positions in its principal markets.
Contact presse :
Céline Liouville-Bourcier Tel. : +33 1 49 00 58 03
E-mail : celine.liouville-bourcier@ceca.fr CECA – 89 Boulevard National – 92257 LA GARENNE COLOMBES- FRANCE www.ceca.fr |
