AkzoNobel to invest more than €30M in a performance coatings facility in Thailand

AkzoNobel has announced plans to invest more than €30M in a manufacturing facility in Thailand to support regional growth of its Performance Coatings business.
The project, supported by the Thailand Board of Investment, involves constructing a 120,000m2 site within the Hemaraj Eastern Seaboard Industrial Estate in Chonburi. Earmarked for an initial capacity of 45,000t/yr, production is due to start in Q3, 2016.
The new plant will support several performance coatings businesses, including metal coatings, protective coatings, speciality coatings and marine coatings, as well as certain products from the company’s decorative paints business.
"By investing in this new facility we are supporting our continued growth within Thailand, as well as making progress with our regional business expansion strategy,” explained AB Ghosh, MD of AkzoNobel’s metal coatings business. "A number of existing operations will be consolidated into the new site, allowing us to achieve world class operational standards.”
Added Conrad Keijzer, the company’s Executive Committee member responsible for performance coatings: "Thailand is a key market for our growth strategy and this investment will enable us to further strengthen our position as a leading supplier, both within Thailand and as a hub to support the supply network through the region.”
"Our business in Asia has experienced strong growth during the last several years,” he went on. "As demand and volumes continue to rise, the new site will enable us to better serve our customers whenever and wherever they need our products.”