AkzoNobel breaks ground on powder coatings plant in Mumbai, India

AkzoNobel has broken ground on its new powder coatings plant in Mumbai, India. The investment of €9M will allow the company to increase capacity in the region, which forms an important part of its organic growth plans.

The facility will complement AkzoNobel’s existing plant in Bangalore, which is focused on supplying the south and east of the country. The will also produce several lines new to the Indian market, including bonded metallic powders and localised products for markets, such as pipe and re-bar coatings.

Speaking at the ground breaking ceremony, Conrad Keijzer, Executive Committee Member responsible for Performance Coatings, said: "As the largest powder coatings company in the world, we regard India as being one of our of most important strategic markets. Establishing the new facility in one of the world’s fastest growing economics will give us additional momentum for our ambitious growth plans in the country”.Added Simon Parker, Managing Director of AkzoNobel’s Powder Coatings business: "Demand for powder coatings has been growing at double-digit rates in India and this facility will position us well to capture that growth”.

Start-up of the facility is scheduled for late 2017.