Arclin is expanding Nomex manufacturing capacity at its Asturias facility in Spain, with investment in additional floc production and new paper making capability. Construction is scheduled to finish by the end of 2027, followed by full commissioning in early 2028.
The US materials science group described the programme as a multimillion-dollar investment but did not identify an exact budget or the additional output, in tonnes, expected from the site. The expansion is intended to support demand for Nomex materials in aerospace, electrical infrastructure, electric vehicles, defence and other industrial markets.
Arclin acquired the Nomex business in April 2026 and is now investing in production capacity and supply reliability. The Asturias facility has formed part of the manufacturing network since 1993. Once the new capability is commissioned, it will become one of four sites producing Nomex paper within the group’s global network.
The company reported record Nomex paper volumes across the business in 2026 and expects further supply growth in 2027. Those figures relate to existing production; they cannot be attributed to the announced Spanish expansion, which is not scheduled to start full operation until 2028.
Nomex is a family of meta-aramid materials used where thermal, electrical or mechanical performance must be maintained under demanding conditions. The polymer’s molecular structure contributes to its inherent resistance to heat and flame. Different grades are processed into products such as short fibres, paper and other engineered materials, each with characteristics determined by its construction and intended application.
The distinction between floc and paper is central to the project. Floc consists of short fibres that can be incorporated into aramid paper manufacture. Paper production involves forming and processing a sheet of material with the required thickness, uniformity and properties. Additional floc capacity strengthens an upstream material supply stage, while new paper capability adds a further manufacturing operation at the Spanish plant.
Arclin has not disclosed the process machinery, production line dimensions or capacity planned for either stage. The engineering requirements will depend on the product grades, raw material preparation and the consistency needed by customers. It would be premature to describe the expanded facility as already manufacturing additional finished paper.
Electrical insulation is among the principal uses of suitable Nomex papers. Inside transformers, motors, generators and related equipment, insulating materials separate conductive components while enduring the temperatures and operating stresses specified for the design. The required dielectric, thermal and mechanical characteristics vary with voltage, equipment configuration and service conditions.
A material’s suitability cannot be established from its trade name alone. Paper thickness, grade, impregnation systems and its position within the complete insulation arrangement can influence performance. Equipment manufacturers therefore select and verify materials according to the intended application rather than treating all Nomex papers as interchangeable.
Increasing demand for electricity networks and electric vehicles can translate into requirements for insulation materials used in electrical equipment, although the company’s announcement does not identify individual customer orders or quantify the proportion of its future Asturias production allocated to those markets.
Aerospace applications impose a different set of considerations. Nomex materials can form part of lightweight constructions, including honeycomb cores used in particular engineered assemblies. Structural performance depends on the geometry of the core, the properties of the material and its interaction with the surrounding construction, rather than on an assumption that every paper grade serves the same purpose.
The group also supplies markets in which exposure to heat, the need for controlled materials and long service requirements influence purchasing decisions. Increasing manufacturing capacity creates potential additional supply, but newly produced materials must still satisfy customer specifications and any necessary qualification procedures.
New production equipment at an established site must be integrated with utilities, material handling, quality controls and existing operations. During commissioning, manufacturers ordinarily establish that equipment can operate consistently and that the resulting products meet required specifications. Arclin has not issued a detailed commissioning schedule or stated when commercial deliveries from the new paper capability will begin.
The Asturias site’s existing environmental infrastructure also predates the new project. Arclin previously reported that Asturias obtained ISCC PLUS certification in 2025 and added a 12.6 MWp on-site solar array that year. Those earlier improvements may provide background on the established operation, but they should not be counted as investments newly announced for the floc and paper expansion.
Chief executive Bradley Bolduc linked the investment to stronger manufacturing supply across the group’s international network. Arclin president Mark Glaspey also identified further material development and new specifications as priorities for customers with increasingly demanding applications. Neither executive disclosed final tonnage figures or a confirmed output allocation between sectors.
The investment will give the Asturias site a broader role if the construction and commissioning timetable is achieved. The measurable outcomes will be additional qualified material production and reliable delivery from the enlarged network, rather than the existence of proposed capacity alone. The next published milestones are completion of construction by the end of 2027 and full commissioning in early 2028.
