AkzoNobel invested $60 million to strengthen its advanced powder coatings manufacturing capabilities across North America. As part of this investment, the company has upgraded production facilities, infrastructure and technologies at three key sites in Reading, Pennsylvania; Warsaw, Indiana; and Monterrey, Mexico. The upgrades aim to enhance advanced manufacturing capabilities, increase regional production capacity and strengthen supply chain resilience. Furthermore, the investment will help AkzoNobel expand local production of advanced powder coating technologies for customers across the automotive, commercial vehicle and industrial sectors. The company also expects the investment to support emerging manufacturing markets, including next-generation mobility, battery systems and energy storage technologies.
Strengthening North American Manufacturing Capabilities
AkzoNobel’s US$60 million investment focuses on improving manufacturing efficiency, expanding production capacity and strengthening its regional supply network. Jeff Jirak, Managing Director of AkzoNobel’s Powder Coatings business and member of the company’s Executive Committee, said, “Manufacturing continues to evolve rapidly and our customers expect partners who are investing alongside them. “This investment strengthens our North American manufacturing network, expands our advanced production capabilities and reinforces our long-term commitment to helping customers innovate, improve supply chain resilience and bring high-performance products to market,” Jirak added.
Upgrades Across Three Manufacturing Facilities
The investment has supported significant improvements at all three facilities.
Reading, Pennsylvania: AkzoNobel has continued to transform its Reading facility, which currently manufactures approximately 45% of the company’s North American powder coating batches. The upgrades include three new production lines, advanced bonding technology and automated process controls to improve manufacturing efficiency and production capabilities.
Warsaw, Indiana: The company has increased production capacity at the Warsaw facility by 30%. Additionally, it has expanded its workforce by 10% to support growing manufacturing requirements.
Monterrey, Mexico: AkzoNobel has constructed a new acrylics facility in Monterrey, further strengthening its regional manufacturing infrastructure and production capabilities.
Investing in Workforce Development and Advanced Technologies
Alongside infrastructure and production upgrades, AkzoNobel is strengthening its workforce capabilities through advanced manufacturing training and technical upskilling programmes. These initiatives will equip employees with the skills required to operate next-generation manufacturing technologies and support increasingly sophisticated production processes. As per the press release, through these investments, AkzoNobel aims to improve manufacturing performance, strengthen regional supply chains and meet the evolving requirements of customers across North America’s industrial and mobility markets.
