Sumika Polymer Compounds is investing €15 million to expand its site in the South of France

On Thursday, March 6, Sumika Polymer Compounds officially launched the expansion project for its industrial site in Saint-Martin-de-Crau near Arles. The launch was held in the presence of Ludovic SEYNAVE, the company’s President for Europe, Bernard Kleynhoff, the President of risingSUD and Regional Councillor representing Renaud MUSELIER, the President of the Provence-Alpes-Côte d’Azur Region and Deputy President of Régions de France, and Julien BESANÇON, the First Deputy Mayor of Saint-Martin-de-Crau.

Having become a subsidiary of the Japanese corporation Sumitomo Chemical in 2007, Sumika Polymer Compounds now operates in nine countries. The company manufactures innovative thermoplastic and elastomer compounds for industry, including 90% of automobile manufacturers.

Based in Saint-Martin-de-Crau since 1989, the company has chosen to continue its expansion there with a new 5000-square-metre facility that will transform 10 000 tons of plastic waste into recycled polypropylene granules each year.

The project has been supported by risingSUD and financed by the French national government through the France 2030 sustainable development program, which is operated by ADEME, the French agency responsible for the environmental transition. Sumika has also received a €300 000 grant from the Sud Provence-Alpes-Côte d’Azur Region via the Sud Développement public investment program. The Sumika Polymer Compounds expansion project represents a total investment of €15 million and will lead to the creation of 30 jobs over the next three years. The company currently has 55 employees.

In anticipation of an increased need for high-performance plastic compounds due to the new European regulations on the processing of end-of-life vehicles, we are launching an innovative plant for recycling plastic automotive waste. This cutting-edge facility will enable the efficient transformation of polymers from end-of-life vehicles into quality raw materials that meet the technical and environmental demands of the automotive and manufacturing industries. Our commitment is part of a circular economy approach and guarantees a significant reduction in the carbon footprint and optimal recovery of plastic resources,” said Ludovic SEYNAVE.

“In 2024, risingSUD and the Region Sud helped to attract 125 projects from 27 different countries, which are generating or maintaining 2878 jobs in our region. We are proud to support international companies like Sumika Polymer Compounds every year, whether they are setting up in the South of France for the first time or looking to expand their presence here. This is a testament to their long-standing confidence in our region and their commitment to innovation, entrepreneurship, and collaboration with other stakeholders in the ecosystem. These companies are fully dedicated to the reindustrialization effort as well as in the green transformations necessary to build competitive and sustainable sectors of excellence in the South of France,” said Bernard KLEYNHOFF.

“ADEME is supporting this project to create production capacities for recycled plastic materials. The upcoming amendment to the European Directive (2000/53/EC) on end-of-life vehicles includes the requirement to use 20% recycled plastic in new vehicles, 15% of which would come from end-of-life vehicles. These mechanically recycled materials have a reduced environmental impact compared to virgin plastics and reduce our dependence on natural resources. Consequently, there should be increased demand in the automotive sector for recycled plastics, both in terms of quantity and quality. We believe that Sumika Polymer Compounds, which has extensive experience in developing plastics for the automotive market, is well placed to meet this challenge,” added Yves Le Trionnaire, Regional Director of ADEME in Provence-Alpes-Côte d’Azur.

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risingSUDcontacts:Antonin CHEF, International Business Unit Manager, support for incoming companies, Jimmy LAURICHESSE, International Business Unit Manager, support for incoming companies, & Virginie VIAL ISNARD, Project Manager for Communication, Media Relations