History
Kem One benefits from nearly a century of expertise in chlorochemicals and more than 70 years in vinyl products. A closer look at the company's history:
1853
Construction of the Vallée de la Chimie industrial pole and the existing Kem One production site in Saint-Fons (France)
1915-1918
Construction of production sites at Saint-Auban and Fos-sur-Mer (France)
1949
Construction of the Hernani production site (Spain)
1961-1963
Construction of the Lavéra production site (France)
1964-1966
Construction of the Aquitaine Plastique plant, the current production site in Balan (France)
1970-1972
Purchase of land and drilling of the first wells at the Vauvert (France) salt extraction site, for the production of soda and chlorine, then used to produce VCM*.
2004
Creation of Arkema, following the reorganisation of the Total group's chemicals branch. Kem One's current activities are developed within Arkema's Vinyl Products segment.
2012
On July 2, Arkema sold its vinyls business to the Klesh group.
Creation of Kem One, head office in Lyon (69), 7 production sites in France and 1 in Spain. Kem One, fully integrated into the vinyls industry, has become the 2nd largest PVC producer in Europe.
2013
The company is placed in receivership by the Lyon Commercial Court. The company will emerge from receivership in 2018, 6 years ahead of schedule.
2014
In February, Alain de Krassny, a French industrialist, bought the company and became President of Kem One. An ambitious investment and modernisation plan is being implemented
2017
Industrial modernisation: start-up of a new membrane electrolysis unit. This is the best technology available on the market for significantly reducing electricity and gas consumption, and consequently the company's environmental impact (around 50,000 tonnes of CO2 per year).
2019
Product innovation:launch and first sales of the MK68F mass PVC grade. This new grade offers greater flexibility for the same application and requires fewer additives than its suspension PVC equivalent.
2021
- Sale of Kem One to US investment fund Apollo Global Management
- Publication of the first Kem One CSR report
- Product innovation: launch of the first pre-consumer recycled PVC for general use (ReMPVC, UL certified in 2023) and a tin-free post-chlorinated PVC.Find out more about these more sustainable products: KEMAIA
2022
- Kem One celebrates its 10th anniversary with all its 1,400 employees
- Record production and financial results: over €1.5 billion in sales
- Commissioning of a new ethylene storage tank (raw material for the manufacture of VCM*) at the Fos-sur-Mer site. This tank has the 2nd largest capacity in Southern Europe.
- New corporate strategy - vision 2030
2023
- Two hybrid (diesel-electric) bargesput into service to transport VCM* on the Rhône between two Kem One production sites. The company is the first shipper on the Rhône to green its fleet, reducing CO2 emissions by 2,000 tonnes a year. WATCH THE BARGE LAUNCH VIDÉO
- All the company's production sites are ISCC+ (International Sustainability & Carbone certification) certified.
- Sale of the first tonnes of bio-attributed PVC. Read the KEMAIA page to find out more information.
2024
- Launch of Kemaia: a range of products with an improved environmental footprint. Find out more: KEMAIA
- CSR strategy: deployment of the strategy developed jointly with employees
- Single certification of all Kem One production sites :ISO 9001 quality, ISO 14001 environment and ISO 45001 safety
