At the 2024 Compounding World Expo North America, global specialty chemicals company Orion S.A. (NYSE: OEC) will spotlight its new acetylene-based conductive additives plant. In addition, Orion will showcase its premium, acetylene-based PRINTEX kappa 100 BEADS, new circular carbon blacks and its new high-jet PRINTEX chroma 500 BEADS for engineered plastics that require the highest aesthetic quality. The 2024 Compounding World Expo is set for Nov. 13-14 in Cleveland.

Orion broke ground in April 2024 on a plant in La Porte, Texas, that will be the only US facility producing acetylene-based conductive additives. When the site begins operation, expected in the second quarter of 2025, it will increase the availability of acetylene black for use in wire and cable, lithium-ion batteries and other applications.

“We will equip North American manufacturers with a consistent supply of domestically produced acetylene-based conductive additives,” said Jennifer S. Stroh, Ph.D., Orion Vice President of sales and marketing Americas. “We look forward to customizing solutions for customers, developing new conductive products and continually innovating on their behalf.”

Orion’s premium, acetylene-based PRINTEX kappa 100 BEADS offers excellent dispersibility, exceptionally high cleanliness, purity and conductivity, making it ideal for use in high-voltage (HV) electric transmission cables. PRINTEX kappa 100 BEADS and other conductive additives produced at the La Porte plant are a more sustainable option, with only one-tenth of the carbon footprint of other commonly used materials.