signalled a welcome recognition that our
digital network and local roads are not fit
for purpose and need major upgrade.
Tom Bowtell, Chief Executive of
the British Coatings Federation, said:
“I was particularly encouraged to see
long-term investment in economic capital, such as technology, innovation, infrastructure, and skills, all important to
the coatings industry, and manufacturing more generally.
It’s a positive move that the
Government will encourage private investment with £400 million from the
British Business Bank to unlock £1 billion
of new investment in innovative firms
planning to scale up, and a doubling of
capacity to support exporters through
UK Export Finance. The UK coatings
industry is a net exporter, with three
out of five paint companies being regular exporters. It is reassuring to see the
Chancellor’s support for businesses that
export, as well as investing in infrastructure domestically to ensure the UK is still
an attractive place for investment.
Ellen Daniels, Head of Public Affairs
and Policy at the British Coatings
Federation, said: “Post-Brexit, it is imperative that the Chancellor eases the burden
on business to ensure that the UK remains
a competitive place to manufacture coatings. The reduction in corporation tax
and increased funding for R & D, specifically the Industrial Strategy Challenge
Fund, will help ease the burden on business and enhances the UK’s position as a
world leader in science and innovation.”
Axalta Coatings Specified
in First Project for Berlin’s
Drinking Water Pipes
Axalta Coating Systems is supplying its
Abcite thermoplastic powder coating
to protect pipes and fittings of Berliner
Wasserbetriebe, Germany’s largest mu-
nicipal drinking water supply company.
Berliner Wasserbetriebe supplies
drinking water to Berlin’s 3. 5 million in-
habitants via a complex network of nine
waterworks, eight pumping stations and
roughly 7,900 km of pipes. Reliable wa-
ter transport and safety are key issues
for drinking water companies, as it is vi-
tal for the water to remain safe when it
comes out of the tap. The reliable, last-
ing corrosion protection Abcite provides
made it the ideal choice for the new pipes
and fittings at the Mariendorf pumping
station to the south of Berlin.
“As we know, burst water pipes and
leaks can have a tremendous financial
implication for the water company and
for the community as a whole,” noted
Michael Cash, Axalta’s senior
vice president and president of
Industrial Coatings. “Abcite,
part of Axalta’s extensive global
industrial coatings portfolio, can help
to prevent corrosion damage and to en-
sure reliable water transportation. Its use
by Berliner Wasserbetriebe showcases
Axalta’s ability to provide sustainable,
