AkzoNobel has announced a milestone reinvestment of $55 million at its manufacturing site in High Point, NC. According to the company, the reinvestment aims to transform the site by adding innovative technologies, new infrastructure, and other modernization projects. The High Point site began operations in 1955 and currently serves as the North American regional headquarters for AkzoNobel’s wood coatings business.

“Through this reinvestment in our High Point site, we are driving a historic stake into the ground to push forward our wood coatings business in North America and reinforce our leadership and our commitment to customers in this crucial market,” said Thierry Vanlancker, AkzoNobel global CEO. “This year, we are marking the 100-year anniversary of our North America wood coatings business, and this $55 million project ensures our market leadership for the next 100 years and beyond. The U.S. is a strategically important market for AkzoNobel, and we are committed to maintaining, building, and expanding our market positions across our portfolio of coatings segments.”

The company’s High Point facility currently covers 37 acres and employs more than 250 people. It produces wood coatings to serve the furniture, building products, and flooring market segments as well as the company’s Chemcraft distributors.

AkzoNobel said that the reinvestment is anticipated to further strengthen its market position and ability to serve its customers in North America via three main elements: an additional automatic dosing unit technology to produce coatings more efficiently and flexibly with higher color accuracy; improved filling lines to better serve Chemcraft distributors; and a new R&D laboratory and technical application center that is intended to allow faster and more effective product development for OEM customers.
AkzoNobel celebrated the historic investment with a groundbreaking ceremony on November 15, which was attended by Vanlancker, other company executives, state and local dignitaries, more than 200 site employees, and customers. Construction at the High Point site is scheduled for completion in 2021, and rolling projects are already underway.

CoatingsTech | Vol. 16, No. 11 | November/December 2019