Global paints and coatings manufacturer AkzoNobel (Amsterdam, The Netherlands)announced the opening of its new research and development (R&D) innovation campus in Felling, England.
This United Kingdom-based facility will enable AkzoNobel to develop products and services for the marine and oil and gas industries. In addition, it will serve as a testing ground for new products that determines how they fare under extreme conditions such as temperature resistance, fire, and high pressure, or under exposure to chemicals and corrosion.
At a cost of 12.6 million euros (14.1 million USD), AkzoNobel’s R&D campus was designed with sustainability in mind. Features of this innovative, sustainable campus include solar wall cladding, a sustainable urban drainage system, grey water recycling, photovoltaic panels, air compressor heat recovery and a sedum green roof.
These innovations help justify the 31.6 million euros (35.5 million USD) that have been invested into the Felling site since 2011. “We’re beyond excited about the potential of the new Felling campus and the possibilities it could open up,” says Roger Jakeman, AkzoNobel’s technical director. “We already deliver products and services that have exceeded customer expectations, now we’re looking to go one step further and develop innovations that go beyond their imaginations.”
With the new Felling R&D campus, AkzoNobel is simultaneously looking to the future while also honoring the company’s 115-year past. Back in 1904, the company’s marine and protective coatings business unit—then known as International Paint—built a factory in Felling to produce its successful marine antifouling paint.
“As the birthplace of the International brand, we’re 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, managing director of AkzoNobel’s marine and protective coatings unit. “The new laboratories will enable our technical experts to partner more closely with our customers and deliver innovative products and solutions that meet the most demanding specifications in our industry.”
Source: AkzoNobel, www.akzonobel.com