AkzoNobel Opens Groundbreaking R&D Innovation Campus

A pioneering laboratory complex capable of testing new products under conditions that mimic the world's most demanding environments was officially opened by AkzoNobel in the United Kingdom. The EUR 12.6 million research and development innovation campus in Felling combines the region's 115-year history of product development with state-of-the-art facilities designed to keep AkzoNobel at the forefront of the coatings industry. A creative hub for leading scientists and technical experts in the coatings world, the facility will continue to focus on delivering the latest products and innovations for the maritime, oil and gas industries. Total investment in the Felling site since 2011 has reached EUR 31.6 million. Jean-Michel Gauthier, General Manager of Marine and Protective Coatings, said: "As the birthplace of our International brand, we are proud of our Felling facility which supplies products to some of the world's most iconic buildings and structures." He added: "The new laboratories will enable our technical experts to build closer partnerships with our customers and deliver innovative products and solutions that meet the most demanding requirements in our industry."

One of the campus's key features is a new application and testing laboratory. This will be used to test new products under challenging conditions such as heat resistance, fire and high pressure. The facilities will also enable scientists to expose products to chemicals and corrosion.

Roger Jakeman, Technical Director at AkzoNobel, said: "We are excited about the potential and possibilities of the new Felling campus. We already deliver products and services that exceed customer expectations, and now we want to take a step further and develop innovations that go beyond their dreams." At the heart of the design and development of the new complex was a comprehensive sustainability plan. Its features include solar panel cladding, a sustainable urban drainage system, greywater recycling, photovoltaic panels, air compressor heat recovery and a "green roof". The new facility in Felling is located 25 miles from AkzoNobel's EUR 100 million paint production plant in Ashington, which opened in 2017. In a statement made at the new Campus, International Trade Secretary and Member of Parliament Dr Liam Fox said: "Investing in all regions of the United Kingdom is one of the most important tasks of our international economy department. In recent weeks, we have seen confirmation of the commitment of some of Britain's best international investors to our economy. We are pleased that while direct foreign investment in advanced economies as a whole has declined by 40 per cent, direct foreign investment in the United Kingdom has increased by 20 per cent. This investment by AkzoNobel in the Felling site is another example of confidence in the foundations of our economy, which will create highly skilled jobs for local people." AkzoNobel employs 3,000 scientists across 70 laboratories worldwide and recently launched a new initiative called Paint the Future.