AkzoNobel has opened a new center
for research at its Sassenheim site in the
Netherlands. Along with a research center in Slough in the UK and Singapore,
the Dutch location is now one of the
main research centers for AkzoNobel’s
Decorative Paints portfolio.
The new facility in Sassenheim will
focus on research into decorative paints,
wood adhesives and pre-deco products,
while Slough will concentrate more on
wall paints. Recent innovations involve
fast-drying paints, which can also be applied and repainted at low temperatures.
The new facility will house approximately 100 scientists, bringing the total
number of people working in research, development and innovation (RD&I) at the
Sassenheim site to approximately 400.
“Sustainable innovation is key to our
success and the new center is a valuable
investment, which will enable us to organize our research activities more efficiently and effectively,” said Ruud Joosten,
AkzoNobel’s executive committee member responsible for Decorative Paints.
Added director global R&D
Decorative Paints, André van Linden:
“Sassenheim is already a major research
hub, but strengthening our power to innovate means we will be better positioned to focus on delivering pioneering
products and technologies that make a
real difference to our customers and our
Boosting Sassenheim’s RD&I know-how also means that the site has further
enhanced its position as a key center of
expertise, where researchers and scientists can share knowledge and contribute
to the development of new technologies
not only for decorative paints, but also
for many of the company’s other businesses located in Sassenheim.
Valspar Awarded Top Metal
Construction Award
The Valspar Corporation has been
named the Metal Construction
Association’s Chairman’s Award re-
cipient for Overall Excellence in its
participation with the Central Arizona
College, Maricopa Campus project.
The award, presented at METALCON
International, an annual metal con-
struction tradeshow, honors MCA
members for outstanding building proj-
ects across the world. This year, a panel
of three architect judges reviewed more
than 90 architectural projects to deter-
mine award winners based on innova-
tion and creativity.
Designed by SmithGroupJJR, the
76,000 square foot facility consists of
four buildings featuring classrooms,
community meeting spaces, a library
and a culinary arts kitchen. Located in
the Maricopa community, the campus
serves more than 15,000 students and
1,000 faculty members. The project was
unveiled two years after the project’s
ground breaking ceremony. The $18 million project was also the Grand Award
Winner of the 2013 Metal Architecture
Design Awards.
Valspar provided a Fluropon coating
for the Cor-Ten AZP color that was applied in a three-coat process by Precoat
Metals to create a unique, rusted and
desert-inspired appearance to embrace
the campus’ Native American roots,
while providing the metal with advanced
protection against the elements. The
Fluropon coating, containing 70 percent
PVDF resins, provides the strongest protection against weathering, aging and
pollution and exceptional color retention
to preserve the beautiful aesthetic of the
facility for years to come, according to
the company.
The award ceremony took place at
the Georgia World Congress Center
during the METALCON trade show
that highlighted project participants
including Metal Sales Manufacturing
Corporation, US Steel, Precoat Metals,
SmithGroupJJR, CORE Construction
and Kovach Building enclosures.
BEHRPRO Supports
Community Beautification
BehrPro, the professional products
and services group of Behr Process
Corporation, was the official paint sponsor and active participant in this year’s
Hands On Atlanta Day, the city’s largest civic engagement day dedicated to
transforming Greater Atlanta’s communities. In support of the city-wide effort, BehrPro donated 155 total gallons
of paint, including Behr Premium Plus
Ultra, Behr Premium Plus, Behr Premium
Weatherproofing All-In-One Wood Stain
and Sealer and Behr Premium Porch
and Patio Floor Paint. A team of 25 local BehrPro volunteers also joined forces
with more than 7,000 event participants
to revitalize and beautify approximately
65 organizations, in just one day.
Raquel Hudson, associate director
of corporate volunteerism at Hands On
Atlanta, selected BehrPro as the exclusive
supplier of paints and stains for the orga-
nization’s largest event of the year after
success with Behr products on previous
residential and commercial projects.
Beyond the company’s high-quality prod-
uct offerings, Hudson and her team has
come to rely on the comprehensive port-
folio of professional services available
through the BehrPro program, including
jobsite delivery, factory tinting and ex-
pert advice provided by representatives.
She stated, “Having a dedicated BehrPro
rep to help us select paints, provide ad-
vice and deliver product right to the job-
site has been crucial in streamlining our
operations.”
“With the majority of Hands On
Atlanta Day projects focused on restoring
high-traffic areas, such as local schools or
community centers, it was critical that
the paint be durable enough to withstand
consistent wear and tear,” said Hudson.
“However, it was important that the
paint was easy for our volunteers—some
of whom have limited experience with
large-scale paint projects—to apply in
AkzoNobel Opens New Dutch Lab
