Armacell LLC, a maker of soft plastics, will invest in North American capacity and upgrade it.

On October 18, the company announced the expansion of its cross-linked polyethylene (XLPE) capacity at its Spencer site in Virginia, USA. The plan is to double capacity in North America to meet customer expectations for growth. The expansion will also include XPE block capacity at the South Holland site in Illinois. Products made in West Virginia are mostly sold in the eastern United States, while Illinois capacity is mostly sold in central and western U.S. markets. Capacity at the Illinois site will also be upgraded.

Armacell also said at an October 18 press conference that it will continue to expand XPE capacity in Yukon, Oklahoma. A total of 80 employees are employed at the Yukon site.

Armacell said the equipment will be installed in the first quarter of 2018, with full production in the summer.

In other news, parent company Armacell International SA announced that it expanded its PET foam extrusion capacity in the Chinese market this past spring. The new PET foam line, the fourth largest in the world, will begin operations late next year.

In Europe, Armacell has beefed up its Scandinavian business, which makes PVC insulation products and polyurethane.