AKZONOBEL OPENS NEW GLOBAL R&D CENTER IN UNITED KINGDOM

The multinational AkzoNobel has opened a new global research and development center. The new facility is budgeted at £10 million (11,838,000 euros) and is located in Slough in the United Kingdom, adding to a growing list of similar facilities in countries around the world.

The facility, which will be home to 120 specialists, will serve as an important hub within the company’s global R&D network and will help to further boost AkzoNobel’s innovation capabilities, especially in the area of decorative paints.

“The opening of this fantastic new facility will help us continue our long tradition of pioneering new products and developing more sustainable solutions for our customers through breakthrough innovations,” says AkzoNobel CEO Thierry Vanlancker.

“As well as marking the start of a new chapter in the UK, it is also a clear signal of our ongoing commitment to continue to push the boundaries as part of our People. Planet. Paint. approach to making a genuine and lasting difference to customers, communities and the world around us,” he adds.

Fiona McLachlan, AkzoNobel’s technical color manager adds, “Our paints and coatings have a strong heritage in the UK and Ireland, touching so many aspects of our daily lives. This modern, fit-for-purpose center will continue this legacy into the future. It will allow us to promote our long-standing contributions to the paints and coatings industry, while helping to boost the local economy, both regionally and nationally.”

This is the latest in a series of centers opened by AkzoNobel designed to further advance the company’s pioneering product development. These include an automotive facility in Poland, an Applications Training Center in Dubai, an Innovation Campus in Felling, UK, and a global innovation, development and training center in Qatar for the Marine Coatings business.