Axalta Coating Systems inaugu- rated production at its expanded resin manufacturing facility located at its Tlalnepantla campus outside
Mexico City. The investment to expand
infrastructure will enable the company to
support its customers with the latest coating technologies that are used in a wide
variety of the company’s liquid coatings.
The additional polymer resins that can
now be produced in Mexico provide the
backbone of Axalta’s traditional solvent-borne and latest generation waterborne
coatings. A key ingredient of all coating
layers, resins provide the chemical structure that help make Axalta coatings durable and able to withstand the effects of
weather and ultraviolet radiation.
“Today we celebrate Axalta’s contin-
ued commitment to Mexico and the story
of our company’s growth here that began
64 years ago,” explained Charlie Shaver,
Axalta chairman and CEO. “The open-
ing of this facility, which takes place as
Axalta celebrates its 150th anniversary,
reflects the extensive operations and tech-
nology expertise based in Mexico that we
were able to draw on to design and con-
struct a production complex which joins
what is already a world-class production
facility and one of our largest operations
centers in the world. Our investment in
this facility will enable us to support our
customers with the latest coating technol-
ogy and reflects our long-term confidence
in both the future of Mexico and our ex-
pectations for continued growth across
the region.”
Mexico is home to some of the world’s
leading light and commercial vehicle
original equipment manufacturers that
rely on Axalta’s Harmonized Coating
Technologies which include primerless
and 3-Wet coatings that can achieve full
layer performance without the need to
flash and bake between coats. The in-
creased productivity results in a better
bottom line for customers while still pro-
ducing an unparalleled finish on vehicles.
Axalta coatings are also used by a large
number of body shops that repair vehicles using the company’s global refinish brands available in Mexico including
Cromax, Standox and Spies Hecker, local refinish brands such as Imlar and
Cromacryl, and Imron, Axalta’s leading
commercial vehicle coating.
“The science and innovation de-
ployed in the construction and operation
of our new production center reflects the
strong technical capabilities of the re-
sources of Axalta in Mexico while also
leveraging our global technical compe-
tencies to create such a high-tech facil-
ity,” stated Jorge Cossío, president of
Axalta’s Latin America region. “We are
confident this expansion and technology
enhancement will enable us to continue
to deliver the high quality products our
customers require.”
The new facility integrates the highest
standards in engineering and safety, rely-
ing on the latest technology to automate
virtually every step of the production pro-
cess and improve operational efficiencies,
reduce waste and further reduce the envi-
ronmental footprint from its operations.
The entire Tlalnepantla facility operates
under an “Industria Limpia” (“Clean
Industry”) designation in recognition of
its efforts to reduce the environmental
impact of coatings production. A com-
bination of talent and effort provided
by entirely local resources made it pos-
sible to conceive and complete the entire
project in only 14 months on time and on
budget, the firm stated.
“The State of Mexico plays a key role
in the economic development of the nation and we highly appreciate that global
companies like Axalta have consistently
placed their trust in the State to expand
its economic and industrial infrastructure,” explained Laura Teresa Gonzalez
Hernandez, Undersecretary of Economic
Development of the Government of the
State of Mexico who attended the event.
“The government works in a consis-
tent and committed manner, in partner-
ship with the private sector, to promote
progress towards a common goal: to
generate more and better jobs as well as
foster an environment that is conducive
to ease investments which will contribute
to a thriving present and a great future
for Mexicans.”
Additional guests attending the
opening ceremony included Aurora
Denisse Ugalde Alegría, State of Mexico
Municipal president; Ana López Mestre,
American Chamber of Commerce vice
president and general director; and
Tatjana Heinrich, the Mexican German
Chamber of Commerce and Industry
Associates Manager.
AkzoNobel Opens New
Decorative Paints Site in
Western China
AkzoNobel has started production at its
fourth – and largest – plant for decorative paints in China. Located in Chengdu,
the new facility represents an important
milestone in the company’s growth plans
for the west of the country. The new plant
is part of an investment in excess of € 50
million to build manufacturing facilities
Axalta Inaugurates Expanded
Resin Production Facility in Mexico
From left to right: Francisco X. Gonzalez, president Axalta Mexico; Undersecretary of Industrial
Development of the State of Mexico, Laura
Gonzalez; Charles W. Shaver, Axalta chairman
and CEO; Tatjana Heinrich, managing Partner
of the German-Mexican Chamber of Commerce
and Industry; Aurora Denisse Ugalde, president
of the Municipality of Tlalnepantla; Ana Lopez,
executive vice president and general director of
the American Chamber; Jorge Cossio, president
Axalta Latin America.
