Akzo Nobel invested millions of dollars to upgrade its North American base

Recently, Akzo Nobel said it would invest millions of dollars to transform the wood coating plant in Haiboint, North Carolina, into a more advanced production base.

Akzo Nobel invested millions of dollars to upgrade its North American base

The renovation will involve reorganizing its existing manufacturing operations and will include the addition of automatic dosing device technology in order to produce paint more effectively. New raw material warehouses, research laboratories and technology application centers will also be built. The project will start in April 2019, and the rolling project is expected to be completed by 2020.

Akzo Nobel CEO Thierry van Lankel said: "This is a major investment, which will enable us to further meet and exceed customer expectations. The United States is a key market for our wood coatings business, and our customers believe that we can provide better products and services.

He added: "Investing in Haiboint will improve our comprehensive supply of wood painting in North America, including our factories in Ronock, Virginia, Salim, Oregon, Warwick, Quebec, and Hope Harbor, Ontario." This will enable us to keep ahead of the market trend, so we can continue to provide customers with the desired, far-sighted services, which will consolidate our position in the wood coating industry. The site covers 30 acres and is expected to employ more than 250 people. The site produces a wide range of products, including UV, solvent-based and water-based wood coatings, such as paints, colorants and varnishes.

Simon Parker, General Manager of Akzo Nobel Industrial Coatings Business, said: "Investing in high-end products will enable us to ensure that all customers and partners are satisfied, including our direct OEM construction customers and our Hemcraft distribution partners. By providing small batches of products, we will be able to provide greater flexibility for current and future customers; higher stain and purity accuracy; more water-based products and rapid response to requirements." The latest investment follows the construction of a new large warehouse in Laporte, Texas, which is the company's central regional hub for ocean and protective coatings business. Just weeks after the completion of an advanced R&D and Innovation Campus at the Akzo Nobel Lumberyard in the UK.