International. AkzoNobel has opened a laboratory complex in the UK that can test new products in conditions that mimic the world's most extreme environments.
Located in Felling, the innovative €12.6 million research and development campus merges the 115-year history of product development with state-of-the-art facilities designed to keep AkzoNobel at the forefront of the coatings industry.
As a creative powerhouse for the most outstanding scientists and technical experts in the world of coatings, it will focus on continuing to deliver cutting-edge innovations and products for the maritime, oil and gas industries. The total investment in the Felling site since 2011 reaches €31.6 million.
"As the birthplace of the international brand, we are immensely proud of our Felling site, which has supplied products for some of the world's most iconic buildings and structures," says Jean-Michel Gauthier, CEO of the company's Marine and Protective Coatings. business.
"The new laboratories will enable our technical experts to partner more closely with our customers and offer innovative products and solutions that meet the most demanding specifications in our industry."
One of the key features of the campus is a new app and test lab. It will be used to test new products in extreme conditions, such as resistance to temperature, fire and high pressure. The facility will also allow scientists to expose products to chemicals and corrosion.
"We are more than excited about the potential of the new Felling campus and the possibilities it could open," adds Roger Jakeman, Technical Director of AkzoNobel. "We already deliver products and services that have exceeded customer expectations, now we seek to go one step further and develop innovations that go beyond their imagination."
