AkzoNobel has officially opened its € 11 million powder coatings facil- ity in Chengdu, western China. The
new site will help to meet growing demand
in the region and supply customers with a full
range of powder products for the automotive,
construction, furniture and IT industries.
The company now operates six powder coatings sites in the China region,
while a seventh – the biggest powder coatings plant in the world – is currently being constructed in Changzhou and is due
to open in October this year. AkzoNobel
currently has more than 30 production
sites in total across the whole of China.
“The opening of our Chengdu pro-
duction site will strengthen our posi-
tion as the global leader and China’s
largest powder coatings supplier,” said
Conrad Keijzer, AkzoNobel’s Executive
Committee member responsible for
Performance Coatings. “It will allow us
to leverage the strong growth that we see
in the western provinces of China, fur-
thering our organic growth momentum.”
Powder coatings have a sustainability
advantage in that they do not require the
use of solvents. The Chengdu site is also
notable from a sustainability perspective
as it is the company’s first powder facil-
ity in China to use innovative technology
that allows full recycling of waste water.
Investment in the new site reflects the
Chinese government’s Western Development
Policy, which has prompted rapid indus-
trial growth in the region. For example,
Longquanyi District – where the Chengdu
plant is located – has become one of the larg-
est car manufacturing centers in the country.
“We are going through a rapid change in
western China and that is generating more
demand for our business,” explained Eddie
Wang, business director for AkzoNobel’s
Powder Coatings business in North Asia.
“The new Chengdu site is an important
investment in the region and will enhance
our support to local customers, particularly
those in the automotive industry.”
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AkzoNobel Opens
Powder Coatings Site in China
Alesta AP from Axalta Coating Systems Specified for French Project La Marseillaise
Axalta Coating Systems has been specified to provide its Alesta
AP Architectural Polyester powder coatings for one of the largest urban planning projects in Europe – La Marseillaise – which
is scheduled for completion mid-2018.
The superstructure in Marseille, France, will be 135 meters
high, have 31 floors with 35,000m2 of office space, and the capacity to house 2,500 people. When complete, La Marseillaise
will contain an estimated total of 18,800m3 of concrete and
16,000m2 of coated façades, including aluminum profiles and
3,800 sun shields made of ultra-high performance fiber-rein-forced concrete (UHPC). The color of the external façades will
vary depending on the height of the storey – from red ochre
to white clouds – that will aim to increase the brightness of the
structure. The project is the brain-child of real estate developer
Constructa and architectural firm Ateliers Jean Nouvel.
Ouest Alu, a well-established French company that designs
and manufactures façades, was commissioned to work on this
prestigious project. At the beginning of 2015, Ouest Alu approached Axalta to ask for the creation of tailor-made colors in
Alesta AP matt finishes. In total, 15 unique products were specified, manufactured and delivered.
“We regularly use Axalta products in our construction projects, especially where very technical or high-quality requirements are involved. The team at Axalta listened to our needs
and perfectly understood the architect’s requirements. This has
been a long-term endeavor that has involved developing 27
new colors before selection of the
final products by the architect. The
availability and responsiveness of the
Axalta team has been greatly appreciated and has resulted in a successful outcome,” said Christian Chevrel,
sales manager at Ouest Alu.
Axalta offers a complete range
of environmentally-responsible architectural powder coating products
under the Alesta AP brand, all of
which have been formulated especially for application on aluminum, steel and galvanized steel.
The entire line has excellent mechanical and weathering resistance properties and is therefore very well-suited for durability in
demanding climates. Alesta AP is Qualicoat and GSB approved.
The Axalta architectural grade products are manufactured and
individually tested in accordance with ISO 9000 quality systems
to ensure excellent performance and color consistency.
Philippe Leire, Axalta sales manager for powder coatings in
France, said: “The La Marseillaise project is a double success. It
is first of all the faith of a partner customer who entrusts us with
the development of unique colors for a majestic project. It is also
an exceptional showcase of a design that will engage the public
in Marseilles, the city of the sun, which is the showpiece of this
architectural gem.”
