AkzoNobel opens US$10M research facility in the USA

AkzoNobel has opened a new research, development and innovation (RD&I) centre in Strongsville, Ohio, in the USA. The US$10M facility will support several of the company’s Performance Coatings businesses, including coil, extrusion and packaging coatings. Featuring full testing, scale-up and analytical capabilities, it will house more than 120 staff, including 65 highly trained scientists and technicians.

Commenting on the opening, AB Ghosh, Managing Director of AkzoNobel’s Metal Coatings business, said: "By expanding our facility in Strongsville, we are providing a central, state-of-the-art technical resource for our businesses in North America, creating the critical mass for effective RD&I to more efficiently support our customers. The facility will also enable us to focus on further improving the performance and sustainability of our products."

Added Performance Coatings RD&I Director, Klaas Kruithof: "This is a significant investment which underlines our focus on technology and product innovation, as well as our commitment to the North American market. It will be an integral part of our global RD&I function and will directly contribute to our overall growth plans."

The Strongsville centre is the latest in a series of investments to strengthen AkzoNobel’s research capabilities in the region. The company recently announced that it is investing around €3M (US$3.4M) to expand its RD&I capabilities in Houston, Texas. The Houston facility will support the company’s Protective Coatings, Marine Coatings and Specialty Coatings businesses.