ATOFINA: new investment in Carville (US), the world's leading polystyrene production plant

24-10-2001: ATOFINA, the world's 4th largest polystyrene producer, will construct a new 230 ktpa -500 million Lb/yr -Impact PS line, the largest in the world, on its American site in Carville (Louisiana).

The new line, which will increase the site's production capacity to 750 ktpa - 1.625 billion Lb/yr - by mid 2002, confirms Carville as the world's largest polystyrene production site. ATOFINA benefits from upstream integration with a 1000 ktpa - 2.2 billion Lb/yr - styrene production plant also in Carville. The styrene plant is a joint venture with GE plastics and is operated by ATOFINA.

Scott Davis, Vice President Styrenics at ATOFINA (USA), explains: "We have pooled ATOFINA's North American and European technologies to make the Carville integrated site the world's most efficient styrene/polystyrene production plant."

By pursuing its capacity expansion policy, ATOFINA, the 4th largest polystyrene producer in the United States, consolidates its position on the American market as well as its product range and their applications. Impact polystyrene is used primarily in food packaging and disposables, housewares and office products, toys, electrical and construction applications. Impact polystyrene is also making inroads into a new large beverage cup application designed for use in automobiles in North America.

Arnaud d'Aramon, ATOFINA Global Vice President Styrenics, confirms "This investment is in line with our policy to develop worldwide competitive industrial bases. In Europe, we are expanding our production facilities to 570 ktpa - 1.25 billion Lb/yr - by 2001 and in Asia, we operate an 70 ktpa - 150 million Lb/yr - PS plant."