dominance has required a huge effort by scientists and
engineers from many disciplines, demonstrating the
critical importance of multidisciplinary research.”
Added AkzoNobel’s chief scientist, Andrew Burgess: “I
am delighted that we can once again recognize the wealth of
science talent in the UK through this award. Professor Goodby
is a hugely worthy recipient, with his work having made a great
contribution to advances in liquid crystals and display technolo-
gies that people around the world now take for granted.”
President of the Royal Society of Chemistry and chair of the
prize selection committee, Professor Lesley Yellowlees, com-
mented: “I’m thrilled to be celebrating Professor Goodby’s
invaluable contributions to a technology that has a beneficial ef-
fect on everyday lives across the world. The field of liquid crystal
chemistry is an excellent demonstration of the value of curiosi-
ty-driven research and, more than 125 years after they were first
discovered by accident, it’s fantastic to be recognizing Professor
Goodby’s role in what is now a billion-dollar industry.”
The UK’s Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and
Skills, Rt. Hon. Vince Cable MP, also congratulated the 2014
winner: “Professor Goodby’s achievements are testament to the
fact that the UK has many of the world’s best scientists. We have
led the way developing technology that has transformed the
way people live across the globe.”
Scientists are constantly looking at how the application of
liquid crystals can be expanded, with current research expected
to lead to applications in sensors and the medical field. More
than 100 clinical trials are in progress worldwide testing the use
of liquid crystals as vectors to translate DNA across membrane
walls in the human body.
Axalta to Invest $60 Million to Build
Waterborne Industrial Coatings Production
Plant in Germany
Axalta Coating Systems recently announced a commitment to
invest $60 million in Wuppertal, Germany to build a next-generation facility that will expand capacity to produce waterborne
industrial coatings. Production at the new operations center is
expected to begin in the first quarter of 2015.
The investment will reinforce the Wuppertal site, already
the largest of Axalta’s 35 manufacturing facilities around the
world, and Germany as the center of Axalta’s water-based paint
manufacturing operations in its Europe, Middle East and Africa
(EMEA) region. The investment underscores the company’s
commitment to environmentally responsible waterborne coatings for Axalta customers in the automotive OEM and refinish,
commercial transportation, general industrial, and architectural
and decorative segments. In addition to manufacturing products
for Western Europe, products made in Wuppertal will continue
to be exported to Eastern Europe, Asia and Latin America.
The next-generation facility will use manufacturing technology that will improve efficiencies, reduce waste and shrink even
further the environmental footprint from operations while at
the same time meeting the growing needs of Axalta customers. Additional production of waterborne coatings is a direct
response to customers’ growing interest in environmentally responsible coatings.
“We’re tremendously excited about our ability to build new
facilities in Europe and especially in Wuppertal,” explained
Axalta Chairman and CEO Charlie Shaver. “Germany is syn-
onymous with some of the finest automotive engineering in the
world and home to some of our key customers. Building on our
great legacy that originated in Wuppertal in 1866, we are opti-
mistic about an ever-expanding customer base for us to serve in
the future.”
The facility will manufacture coatings for some of the larg-
est European automotive original equipment manufacturers. A
number of Axalta’s leading refinish brands, including our global
flagship brands Standox, Spies Hecker and Cromax used by
body shops, will also be manufactured at the new facility, help-
ing to expand its offerings of the newest generation of water-
borne paints.
“Our decision to invest in Germany reflects not only our
commitment to our customers but also our confidence in the
German and larger EMEA economy,” explained Otmar Hauck,
Axalta’s chief operating officer in the EMEA region. “Building
in Wuppertal also is a tribute to our employees and their dedica-
tion both to our company and our customers.”
Axalta is one of the leading players in the development of
waterborne technology for both OEM and refinish customers.
