Global layout! AkzoNobel invests in powder coatings around the world!

The Netherlands-based coatings company has been making major investments in Asia, Europe and North America. Several of these investments are in the powder coatings division.
In Pakistan, AkzoNobel recently invested PKR 8 billion, or about EUR 26 million. This is the company’s largest investment in Pakistan to date, according to a spokesperson for AkzoNobel. “Our investment in this greenfield site reaffirms our commitment to Pakistan,” said Mubbasher Omar, CEO of AkzoNobel Pakistan. “As the industry rebounds in the coming years, AkzoNobel aims to further build on its continued growth momentum in protective and automotive coatings.” Location was also an important factor. “The new plant is located along the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), which complements the export goals of the domestic automotive industry in particular.”

In addition to automotive and specialty coatings, the Faisalabad plant also produces decorative paints, wood finishes, coil coatings and protective coatings. “We have also integrated agile manufacturing to accommodate future volume expansion, making AkzoNobel more competitive in the market,” said Omar.

Key Regions in Asia Pacific

The Pakistan expansion is not AkzoNobel's only recent move in Asia. In March, the company invested in a production plant in Bac Ninh Province, near Hanoi, Vietnam. Five new powder coatings lines were added in addition to a line that produces waterborne products for the consumer electronics market. "Increasing the plant's capacity will allow us to focus on supporting production growth in the northern region of Vietnam, while our Dong Nai plant covers the southern region of Vietnam," said Jeff Jirak, general manager of AkzoNobel's powder coatings business. "This means we can now focus on streamlining our manufacturing processes to meet the diverse needs of the Vietnamese market."

A spokesperson for the coatings company stressed the importance of the region to AkzoNobel: “These capacity expansions are the latest in a series of investments AkzoNobel has made in South Asia, following previous investments in Thailand and Australia.

They also stated: "South Asia and ASEAN markets remain high growth potential markets and we will continue to focus on the region. Any further investment will be announced in due course."

Investing in powder coatings around the world

But AkzoNobel is not only investing in Asia. The powder coatings sector in particular has been the focus of attention in recent months. In the United States, the coatings producer has invested more than 28 million euros to upgrade its powder coatings plant. "As customers continue to prioritize sustainability, durability and performance, demand for powder coatings is expected to increase," explains Jeff Jirak.

The North American investment follows on the heels of the European investment, with the company completing a major expansion of its plant in Como, Italy. The plant is their largest powder coating plant and serves the household appliances, architectural, automotive, agricultural and construction machinery, trade coatings, furniture and general industry sectors. The recently completed project was valued at €21 million and included the addition of four new production lines. Two of these are for automotive primers and two for architectural coatings. In addition, a new bonding line was added.

In addition, AkzoNobel has recently invested in two new laboratories in Sassenheim, the Netherlands. A polymer laboratory has already opened, while another one will be dedicated to powder coatings and construction will also start soon.