Business News
Arkema announces the acquisition of American company Oxford Performance Materials
Tuesday 10. February 2009 - As part of its strategy to further expand in performance materials, Arkema announces the acquisition of the US company Oxford Performance Materials, Inc. (OPM), maker of polyether ketone ketone ultra-high-performance technical polymers marketed under the brandname OXPEKK, with sales of the order of $ 2 M.
” Arkema has had a long-standing interest in ultra-high-performance polymers that offer outstanding technical differentiation, opening up the way for major innovations for our customers “, said Thierry Le Hénaff, Arkema Chairman and CEO. ” We are delighted to welcome OPMs teams within Arkema. I firmly believe that this new activity has a huge growth potential. “
” OPM has spent nearly ten years perfecting the polyethyl ketone ketone (PEKK) molecule. Now with Arkema, we can broaden our industrial strategy and pursue more market opportunities. OPMs single-minded focus on PEKK and Arkemas technical polymer competencies and capabilities will be a formidable combination offering highly promising prospects for the development of ultra-high-performance polymers ” said Scott DeFelice, OPM President and CEO.
OXPEKK polyether ketone ketone products feature outstanding characteristics, in particular excellent high-temperature and chemical resistance, unmatched abrasion resistance, and natural flame retardancy. They already have many applications, including in aerospace, long-term medical implants, and down-hole equipment for the oil and gas industries.
The addition of OXPEKK polyether ketone ketone products to Arkemas already diverse portfolio complements a set of high-performance materials that include Kynar fluorinated polymers, Altuglas PMMA, Rilsan polyamides, Pebax thermoplastic elastomers, as well as Nanostrength and Graphistrength nanostructured materials.