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Arkema opens €150 million acrylic acid purification unit in Carling to cut energy use and emissions. New French facility improves purification energy efficiency by 25% and reduces site carbon intensity by 20% as part of the Group's decarbonization programme Arkema has inaugurated a new acrylic acid purification unit at its Carling site in France, backed by an investment of nearly €150 million. The technology improves energy efficiency in the purification process by 25% and reduces the carbon intensity of the site's operations by 20%, while optimising resource management and reducing solvent use. The investment supports the Group's climate plan and has received partial funding through France 2030, operated by ADEME, and the European Union's NextGenerationEU programme. The inauguration coincided with the Critical Chemicals Alliance General Assembly. (PRESS RELEASE) PARIS LA DÉFENSE, France, 8-Oct-2026 - /EuropaWire/ - Arkema has inaugurated a new acrylic acid purification unit at its Carling industrial site in France, introducing an innovative process intended to strengthen the Group's competitiveness in Europe and contribute to the decarbonization of the European chemical industry. The facility forms part of Arkema's wider industrial decarbonization investment programme and supports implementation of its climate plan. The inauguration was attended by Thierry Le Hénaff, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Arkema, and Stéphane Séjourné, Executive Vice-President of the European Commission for Prosperity and Industrial Strategy. The ceremony coincided with the General Assembly of the Critical Chemicals Alliance, at which European industry leaders and policymakers discussed industrial sovereignty, competitiveness and decarbonization. "With an investment of nearly €150 million, this new unit represents one of Arkema's largest industrial projects in France. It will contribute to the Group's ambitious climate plan, underpinned by a dedicated investment program supporting Arkema's decarbonization, with a cumulative amount that could reach €400 million over the 2022-2030 period." Thierry Le Hénaff, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Arkema. "Europe must keep its chemical industry. There can be neither industrial sovereignty nor strategic autonomy if we allow the essential building blocks of our economy to leave. Carling is showing the way forward: nearly €150 million invested to produce in Europe, using less energy and generating less carbon, while building on decades of industrial know-how. This is exactly the model we want to promote: decarbonizing without deindustrializing, investing in our regions, and making our industrial hubs the driving forces of our future." Stéphane Séjourné, Executive Vice-President of the European Commission for Prosperity and Industrial Strategy. Efficiency improvements and lower carbon intensity. The Carling site is among Europe's leading acrylic production facilities and manufactures acrylic monomers used in performance coatings, adhesives, water treatment and other advanced materials. The new unit improves the energy efficiency of the purification process by 25% and lowers the carbon intensity of operations at the site by 20%. The technology also supports more effective use of resources and improved waste management while substantially reducing solvent consumption. According to Arkema, the investment positions Carling as a reference site in the sector, aligned with demanding operating and environmental standards, and reinforces the Group's position in low-carbon acrylic materials. The project was approved in 2023. It has been partly financed by the French State under the France 2030 programme, operated by ADEME, with funding from the European Union through NextGenerationEU. About Arkema. Building on its unique set of expertise in materials science, Arkema offers a portfolio of first-class technologies to address ever-growing demand for new and more sustainable materials. With the ambition to become a world leader in Specialty Materials, the Group is structured into three complementary, resilient and highly innovative segments dedicated to Specialty Materials - Adhesive Solutions, Advanced Materials, and Coating Solutions - accounting for some 85% of Group sales in 2025, and a Primary Materials segment regrouping well-positioned large scale industrials activities. Arkema offers cutting-edge technological solutions to meet the challenges of, among other things, new energies, access to water, recycling, urbanization and mobility, and fosters a permanent dialogue with all its stakeholders. The Group reported sales of around €9.1 billion in 2025 and operates in some 55 countries with 20,700 employees worldwide.

Women in HVACR celebrates industry leaders, professional growth at 2026 annual conference. Oct 05, 2026, 07:05 ET Built for Speed event in Indianapolis delivers three days of education, mentorship, networking and recognition TALLAHASSEE, Fla., Oct. 5, 2026 /PRNewswire/ - Women in HVACR (WHVACR), a nonprofit organization dedicated to empowering women in the heating, ventilation, air conditioning and refrigeration trades, wrapped up its 2026 annual conference Sept. 27-29 at the JW Marriott in Indianapolis, bringing industry professionals together for three days of education, networking and recognition. The racing-inspired conference featured keynote speakers Christine Cashen and Rebecca Heiss, interactive workshops, Momentum Moments and networking events focused on leadership, career development, communication, technology and business growth. "Every year, this conference shows what can happen when women across HVACR come together to share their knowledge and invest in one another," Women in HVACR President Jane Sidebottom said. "Attendees came ready to learn, exchange ideas and build relationships that will continue long after the conference ends." Women in HVACR recognizes 2026 Pillar Award winners Women in HVACR recognized three industry professionals with its Pillar Awards, which honor women who exemplify the organization's core pillars of mentorship, education and networking. * Lori Tschohl, owner of Eagle Pipe Heating & Air, received the Mentor Pillar Award. With more than 35 years of business leadership experience, Tschohl has built multiple successful businesses and grown Eagle Pipe from a small gas piping operation into a full-service HVAC and plumbing company. A past president of Women in HVACR, she also serves in industry coaching, mentoring and advisory roles. * Crystal Naegle, HVAC assistant coordinator for United Association of Journeymen and Apprentices of the Plumbing and Pipe Fitting Industry of the United States and Canada (UA) Local 525, received the Education Pillar Award. Naegle spent more than a decade teaching high school and college students at the College of Southern Nevada and has served as an HVAC lead, program director and department chair overseeing 13 programs. * Becky Hoelscher, senior account manager at Arkema, received the Network Pillar Award. Hoelscher has nearly 20 years of industry experience in procurement, sales and marketing. She has been active with ACCA, NATE, HARDI, PHCC and PAHRA and has served vocational schools in an advisory role. Leadership Awards recognize excellence across the industry Women in HVACR also presented its 2026 Leadership Awards, recognizing leaders making an impact across the HVACR and home services industries. The 2026 Leadership Award recipients are: * Sonya Fryer, client success manager for CertainPath, Advocate Leadership Award * Rosa Leal, senior manager of global product strategy and customer experience at Rheem Manufacturing, Manufacturer Leadership Award * Treasure Boston, owner of Cline's Heating & Air, Office and Operations Leadership Award * Teri Rogers, chief marketing technology officer at Alps Controls, Vendor and Distribution Leadership Award "These award recipients reflect the many ways leadership can make an impact in HVACR," Sidebottom said. "Through mentorship, education, networking and innovation, they are opening doors and helping more women build successful careers in our industry." Other conference highlights included the Starting Line Reception at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway Museum, a mentorship mixer, Vendor Expo Tailgate Party, Green Means Go Gala and a "Grease" themed party. Workshops and Momentum Moments covered AI, personal branding, workforce retention, communication and leading through change. About Women in HVACR Since 2002, Women in HVACR has worked to increase the number of women in the Heating, Ventilation, Air Conditioning and Refrigerant (HVACR) industry and empower women to succeed by providing members with a variety of opportunities to network and develop a professional environment through education and mentorship. The 1,200-member nonprofit organization holds a variety of regional and national events each year and provides scholarship opportunities for women who pursue careers within the HVACR industry, including those who seek engineering and business degrees or a trade school education. For more information about Women in HVACR, visit womeninhvacr.org. SOURCE Women in HVACR