AkzoNobel has completed the €2.6 million ($3.5 million) expansion of its U.S. research and development facilities in Houston, Texas.
Carried out in phases over a period
of three years, the investment in the
site – which employs approximately 40
scientists – will support the company’s
Protective Coatings, Marine Coatings
and Specialty Coatings businesses.
Part of AkzoNobel’s ongoing investments in its global RD&I activities, the
Houston upgrade follows an investment
of € 12. 6 million in a research and innovation hub in Felling, UK, announced
earlier this year.
“Our new state-of-the-art research
and development facilities in Houston
enhance our unique capability to develop
and deliver products and innovations
with specific performance requirements
for North America. Our development
capabilities are now second to none,”
said Steve Feldman, vice president for
Protective Coatings North America.
Added Chuck Hampton, business director of AkzoNobel’s North America
Marine Coatings business: “I am delighted that the investment and upgrade at our
Houston site is now complete. The work
underlines our commitment to technology and product innovation and providing technical support for our customers”.
“As well as offering a more rewarding
work environment for our employees, the
upgraded facilities will bring us closer to
our customers by delivering new testing
and applications capabilities, and help us
work closely with industry to continue developing solutions for their specific needs.”
Additional capabilities at the facility
include a dedicated area for experimental paint making, a modern paint application laboratory and environmentally
controlled drying areas for conditioning
of test panels. Enhanced chemical resistance testing equipment is also available
to support the Ceilcote and Enviroline
lining ranges in North America.
Axalta Coating Systems
Completes Acquisition of
Spencer Coatings Group
Axalta Coating Systems has completed
its previously announced acquisition of
the Spencer Coatings Group, a leading
manufacturer of high performance industrial coatings for heavy-duty equipment,
general industrial, oil and gas, and glass
coatings segments.
Manufactured in facilities in the UK,
Spencer’s line of industrial products will
join Axalta’s portfolio of Performance
Coatings for industrial customers. With
a shared commitment to customers and
strong foundation in product innovation,
Axalta will utilize Spencer’s products and
people to serve existing customers in the
U.K. and expand into new geographies.
BASF Invests $40 million
in Automotive Coatings in
North America
BASF is expanding its automotive
coatings production in North America
with investments of nearly $40 million
over the next two years. The investments add capacity to the company’s
production plants in Greenville, Ohio
and Tultitlan, Mexico.
“These investments reflect our continued market growth and underscore
BASF’s commitment to developing a
sustainable production platform that
provides customized coatings solutions,”
said Chris Toomey, BASF senior vice president, Coatings Solutions North America.
Increased waterborne basecoat capacity in Tultitlan and electrocoat emulsion
capacity in Greenville enables BASF to
continue to drive innovation through
production of state-of-the-art automotive
coatings. Waterborne basecoats are low
volatile organic compound paint products that give vehicles their color and
electrocoat or e-coat is the primer coat
applied to vehicles to prevent corrosion.
“BASF is a process and product in-
novator. We’re the global leader in
integrated process and we pioneered
waterborne basecoat technology as part
of our commitment to social responsi-
bility and environmental protection,”
said Frank Hezel, Vice President, BASF
Coatings Mexico. “Our added capacity
positions us well to continue our inno-
vations to serve our automotive coat-
ings customers.”
PPG Marks Completion
of € 45 Million Paint and
Coatings Facility in Lipetsk,
Russia
PPG marked the opening of a € 45 million ($49 million) paint and coatings
manufacturing facility and commercial operation in the Lipetsk region of
Russia. The site will provide about 200
total positions and produce about 25
million liters ( 6. 6 million gallons) of
coatings at full capacity.
In addition to facilities for manufacturing and distributing coatings for
automotive, industrial, packaging, and
protective and marine applications, the
facility includes administrative offices
and technical laboratories.
“PPG’s investment in this facility fur-
ther demonstrates our commitment to
better serve our existing customers in
Russia and Eastern Europe, and to ex-
pand our presence in the Europe, Middle
East and Africa (EMEA) region,” said
Jean-Marie Greindl, PPG senior vice
president, global architectural coatings,
and president, PPG EMEA. “Having local
manufacturing, distribution and technical
operations will help PPG meet growing
local demand for its innovative paint and
coatings products.”
Since announcing plans for the new
facility in 2013, PPG has established
itself as a supportive member of the
Lipetsk community through various
activities. Last year, PPG employees
volunteered at the Griazy orphanage
in Lipetsk to help repair and update
the building’s gymnasium, replacing
AkzoNobel Completes Expansion of Coatings
Research Facility in Houston
