Alphacan

With over 50 years of experience in processing polyvinyl chloride (PVC) and crosslinked polyethylene (PEX), Arkema subsidiary Alphacan is a respected market leader in Europe and is recognized worldwide for its expertise and product quality.

 

Alphacan produces around 110,000 tonnes of extruded PVC and PEX a year from an installed base of nearly 200 extrusion machines in around ten production plants in France, Germany, Spain, Italy and the Netherlands. Its research facilities are located in Gaillon, France.

 

Manufactured and Marketed Products

 

Alphacan’s core business, supported by its R&D department, is extruding rigid PVC and PEX plastics, which are used to manufacture over 6,000 standard products. The company’s tubes and hoses are used in a wide variety of applications that include domestic water supply pipes, irrigation systems, sewage pipes, ducts, well casings, fluid disposal systems, construction and home improvement.

 

Alphacan has also developed major innovations in the segment, such as Bipeau® pipes, which are now an industry standard for wastewater systems (with over 20 licenses worldwide), and Alphacan Brio®, a new generation of biaxially oriented PVC pipe with exceptional physical and mechanical properties.

 

Alphacan’s PVC profiles are marketed under the Lucobay®, Esthéa®, Soveplast® and Espace Clair® brand names for applications such as window and door frames, closures (rollers, shutters, louver shutters, garage doors), fencing and siding (for buildings and mobile homes), as well as profiles for all industry segments.

 

These products deliver excellent insulating properties and are easy to use, reliable, robust, maintenance-free and available in a wide range of colors. Developed specifically for the home improvement segment, PVC profiles from the Espace Clair® range can be sawn, cut and nailed like timber. Espace Clair® profiles are full section, unlike the hollow-chamber profiles commonly found in the market.

 

Alphacan profiles do not lose their shape, deteriorate, flake or rot, which means they stay as good as new over their lifetime.

 

In addition to producing PVC pipes and profiles for a broad array of applications, in 1987 Alphacan leveraged its technological expertise to develop Retube Système and Temperal® crosslinked polyethylene (PEX) pipes for hot and cold water systems. Retube Système and Temperal® pipes are designed for use in underfloor heating and cooling systems, and the wide range of high-performance products and end-to-end solutions guarantees high-quality results.

 

These unobtrusive, long-lifetime systems maintain a pleasant, consistent temperature in both summer and winter. Adaptable and easy to incorporate into any style of construction, Temperal® and Retube Système products are quiet and have minimal visual impact. Compared with other technologies, they generate substantial long-term energy savings, since they are designed to last as long as the building in which they are installed. They are also health-conscious, specifically designed to reduce dust mite allergen levels and avoid swollen legs. Designed and supported by a comprehensive network of professionals and specialists, the Temperal® and Retube Système product ranges are the outcome of 20 years of experience in ensuring well-being for everyone.

 

Alphacan’s 1,200 employees are fully aware of the importance of their role and committed to continuous improvement of product and service quality. ISO 9001:2000 certification has gradually been extended across all of its production plants. This accreditation is a guarantee of quality and the culmination of Alphacan’s dedication to offering products that meet the most stringent standards and qualify for quality labels awarded by official organizations.

 

Following the complete elimination of lead in domestic water pipe manufacturing in France, Alphacan has made a voluntary commitment under the Vinyl 2010 program to reduce its use of lead stabilizers and to take part in initiatives to collect and recycle end-of-life PVC products, such as pipes, fittings and profiles. As this commitment reflects, Alphacan cares about the health of its employees and complies with all applicable regulations.