The company says the new plant will strengthen its position in Asia and will also increase its acrylics downstream integration. According to Arkema, the investment also represents a first step toward establishing the Emulsion Systems business unit as a multi-national latex supplier. Arkema reported sales of EUR 4.4 billion in 2009, has 13,800 employees in over 40 countries and seven research centres located in France, the USA, and Japan.