Arkema Invests $60 Million to Upgrade its US FluoroSpecialties Production Unit

With the successful startup of its 15 kt Forane 1233zd production unit in Calvert City, Kentucky, Arkema continues to develop its low-global warming potential (GWP) fluorospecialties to meet the growing demand for more sustainable solutions in building insulation and thermal management.

In line with Arkema's ambitious goal of providing sustainable and innovative solutions to its customers, the group announced in 2022 an investment of approximately $60 million in Calvert City to upgrade its previous HFC production line to a state-of-the-art HFO 1233zd unit.

Forane FBA 1233zd blowing agent offers versatile and sustainable solutions for industries such as high-efficiency building, roofing, and appliance manufacturing. It is designed to address key challenges facing polyurethane foam manufacturers, including thermal performance, environmental impact, and safety. Forane® FBA 1233zd is an ozone-friendly blowing agent with a 99% lower global warming potential (GWP) compared to traditional HFC solutions. It is SNAP-certified and suitable for most polyurethane foam applications.

In addition, the cooling properties of Forane HTS 1233zd enable efficient and sustainable thermal management, particularly in high-temperature heat pumps and data center cooling.

As one of the world's largest producers of 1233zd, Arkema is well-positioned to serve both domestic and international markets with best-in-class technology and service.

"This new Forane 1233zd production facility demonstrates Arkema's commitment to providing sustainable, high-performance materials for building insulation and thermal management to our customers in the United States and globally," said Laurent Tellier, Senior Vice President, High Performance Polymers and Fluoroenzymes, Arkema. "This investment demonstrates our commitment to supporting the foam industry's transition to low-GWP solutions and will enable us to meet the rapidly growing demand for data center cooling."