AkzoNobel boosts innovation power with new laboratory in Sassenheim

AkzoNobel has opened a new centre for research at its Sassenheim site in The Netherlands. Along with a research centre in Slough, UK and Singapore, the Dutch location is now one of the main research centres for AkzoNobel’s Decorative Paints portfolio.

The facility will focus on research into decorative paints, wood adhesives and pre-deco products, while Slough will concentrate more on wall paints. Recent innovations involve fast-drying paints, which can also be applied and repainted at low temperatures.

The facility will house approximately 100 scientists, bringing the total number of people working in RD&I at the Sassenheim site to around 400.

Meanwhile, AkzoNobel intends to introduce a streamlined management structure and new operating model for its decorative paints business in order to accelerate profitable growth in Europe and the high growth markets.

Changes involve reducing the number of senior management teams, introducing a new top level Deco structure divided into five regions and centralising human resources, R&D, supply chain, finance, sourcing and information management. This will free up the country organisations to focus more keenly on sales and marketing and help forge closer links with customers and markets. It will also bring about significant cost savings and efficiency benefits.