AkzoNobel Invests $60 Million to Upgrade Three North American Coatings Plants

en.Wedoany.com Reported - On October 29, the Netherlands-based AkzoNobel announced progress on the upgrade of its North American powder coatings manufacturing network, involving a total investment plan of $60 million, covering three plants in Reading, Pennsylvania, Warsaw, Indiana, and Monterrey, Mexico. The project includes new production lines, automated control systems, advanced powder coatings production technology, and acrylic resin manufacturing facilities, with a focus on expanding local production capacity for high-performance powder coatings in the automotive, commercial vehicle, and industrial sectors.

The Reading plant currently handles approximately 45% of AkzoNobel's powder coatings production batches in North America. The upgrade includes three new production lines, advanced bonding technology, and automated process control systems. Facility modifications will continue to advance to increase production capacity for complex powder coatings products.

The Warsaw, Indiana plant has increased capacity by 30% and expanded its workforce by 10% through production facility upgrades. Existing buildings at the plant have been converted into production spaces equipped with automated equipment, focusing on serving automotive components, industrial equipment, and other powder coatings application areas.

The Monterrey, Mexico plant has completed a new acrylic resin production facility, adding regional powder coatings manufacturing and materials processing capacity. The new facility, together with the two U.S. plants, forms a regional production layout supplying coatings products to the automotive, commercial transportation, industrial manufacturing, and emerging technology markets.

AkzoNobel is also advancing advanced manufacturing technology training at the three plants, covering the operation of new production equipment, automated systems, and related technical skills. The company will use the added production capacity for powder coatings supply for next-generation transportation equipment, battery systems, energy storage technologies, and other industrial application areas.