2018 annual and sustainable performance report

L’atelier 4.20 by Arkema Packs a Punch

Our innovations deserved a space of their own, a contemporary venue firmly focused on education, to help people better understand and experience Arkema’s ingenuity. Here’s a quick peek at the 200-square-meter, high-tech showroom that explores our activities in a novel way, showcasing, spreading and sharing innovation.

"I really believe in our product,” says Frédéric Cavicchi, taking a gulp of water before a spellbound audience. Just a minute earlier, the contents of his glass were completely undrinkable. Then the water was treated on the spot using Kynar^® PVDF membranes that filter out ultrafine particles and even (the tiniest) bacteria.

“Another product I love is Nitroxy® molecular sieves,” he continued. “These tiny beads help people with respiratory insufficiency live almost normally. They are used in medical portable oxygen concentrators that take air from a room and send it through a column of molecular sieves. The sieves separate the oxygen from the nitrogen and release a stream of up to 95% pure oxygen. Chemistry’s pretty amazing, isn’t it?”

L’ATELIER 4.20 GIVES ARKEMA’S INNOVATION A STAGE

The pair of examples above are tangible illustrations of how Arkema products improve our daily lives and are moving us toward amore sustainable world. They’re on display at L’atelier 4.20, which is designed to be an innovation demonstrator that itself draws on new technologies. For instance, visitors can put a model car on a touch table to see a 3D display of some 30 Arkema products hidden within — and discover the properties of each. You’ve never seen anything like it. Exploring what’s on offer is an entertaining experience. For example, people can watch castor beans being transformed into Rilson® Clear, then morphing into fashion-forward eyewear. Similarly, visitors can explore new energies, electronics, lightweight materials, home efficiency and insulation, the 3D printing revolution and sports performance. The showroom also features a materials library where visitors can touch our products and compare, say, an auto part made of aluminum with one made from our Rilsan HT®bio-based thermoplastic, which is twice as light. L’atelier 4.20 is designed to be modular and open-ended and is updated regularly, mirroring Arkema’s ongoing innovation.

L’ATELIER 4.20 BY ARKEMA LETS VARIOUS AUDIENCES TRACE OUR ENTIRE CHAIN OF INNOVATION, FROM OUR PRODUCTS ALL THE WAY THROUGH TO OUR END CUSTOMERS’ APPLICATIONS.

Gilles Galinier,
Vice President, External Communications, Arkema