facilities. The total investment
amount will be around € 30-35
million depending on the final
set-up. Design of the facility
will start immediately and construction
is scheduled to begin late next year. The
production is set to commence in 2020.
The new factory will produce decorative and industrial products and it will
replace the two existing solvent-borne
production units in St. Petersburg. After
the investment, Tikkurila will operate
one water-borne and one solventborne
factory in the St. Petersburg area. The
investment will increase the Russian net
capacity and there is also an option for
further expansion.
“We are committed to developing our
business operations in Russia, which is
the second biggest market for Tikkurila
after Sweden. We are the clear market
leader in decorative paints in Russia and
our aim is to strengthen our position fur-
ther in all our customer segments. The
new factory, warehouse and RDI premis-
es improve our competitiveness, produc-
tion capabilities and customer service,”
says Erkki Järvinen, President and CEO
of Tikkurila.
“Several location options for the
new factory were studied. Greenstate
Industrial Park in the Leningrad oblast
was chosen due to its optimal location. We
also want to hold on to the skilled people
we currently employ in St. Petersburg,”
says Petri Miettinen, Senior Vice President
of Operations. “Deployment of the latest
production technology will reduce lead-
times and improve our environmental
footprint. We want to promote high-qual-
ity products that are durable and safe for
both users and the environment.”
Tikkurila has been in the Russian
market for decades. Tikkurila started to
export paints and coatings to the former
Soviet Union since the 1970s. The first
Western-style paint factory in Russia was
opened by Tikkurila in St. Petersburg
in 1995. Currently, Tikkurila has four
production units in Russia; three in St.
Petersburg and one in Staryi Oskol.
Tikkurila’s logistics and retail network
covers the whole country. Tikkurila op-
erates two primary brands in Russia,
Tikkurila and Teks.
Axalta Coating Systems
Celebrates Investment in
First Manufacturing Facility
in Argentina
Axalta Coating Systems celebrated its
first production and logistics center in
Argentina in the municipality of Escobar
(province of Buenos Aires). Axalta chairman and CEO Charlie Shaver met with
employees and toured the new facility
where initial production began in January
2017 and will continue to expand to provide a full range of next-generation coatings for the automotive manufacturing,
refinish, and industrial markets.
Covering 27,000 square meters, the
AkzoNobel Adds Golden Touch to China’s High-speed Train Technology
China’s latest generation of high-speed trains is creating a colorful golden blur across the country after AkzoNobel’s color expertise was called upon to create a special custom coating.
The company’s Vehicle Refinishes business had less than
two months to develop a bold new look for the sleek Fuxing
CR400BF, which has been dubbed the Golden Phoenix (fuxing
means rejuvenation). Capable of a top speed of 400km/hour -
while using 17 percent less energy than previous models - the
new gold version features AkzoNobel’s coatings both on the
body and the interior. It’s one of only two Fuxing trains to have
been launched so far, although China has plans for mass production in the future.
“We are honored to have been involved in the Fuxing proj-
ect and help bring a new generation of high-speed trains to the
people of China,” said Kevin Liu, business director of AkzoNobel
Vehicle Refinishes in North Asia. “The project reflects our ability
to meet the highest technical standards while providing essen-
tial color and protection for the country’s transport network.”
The debut of the Fuxing underlines China’s status as the
world leader in high-speed train technology. Adopting a more
elegant look and feel and smooth body design, the new model
has also been designed to be more passenger-friendly.
According to the AkzoNobel, it has been working with Chi-
na’s high-speed train manufacturers since 2005 and the compa-
ny’s products are widely used across the country’s urban trans-
port network. Past projects include coating eight metro lines in
Shanghai and various other major cities.
“As a market-leading supplier of coatings to the entire in-
dustry, we pride ourselves on meeting customer needs and re-
quirements, no matter how challenging,” added Kevin Liu. “We
are dedicated to supporting innovative transport solutions that
make people’s lives more liveable and inspiring.”
The special golden metallic coating supplied by AkzoNobel
represents a first for China, as previous high-speed train models
featured more neutral colors. The new product will ensure that the
Fuxing is kept in perfect condition in all weathers - and at all speeds,
the firm stated.
