A newly constructed manufacturing facility for the production of AkzoNobel’s Dulux decorative paint brand was officially opened by the company in early September 2017. Located in Ashington, UK, the €100-million-plus site is the largest global investment ever made by AkzoNobel’s Decorative Paints business. With the new 100,00-0m2plant, the company has doubled its current capacity in the UK for production of Dulux paints to 200 million liters/year. In addition, there is room for further expansion that will enable AkzoNobel to meet future growth in demand.

The new facility in Ashington is also interesting because of the advanced technologies used for both energy production and manufacturing processes. AkzoNobel has incorporated different renewable energy sources, including photovoltaic cells and a biomass boiler. It has also installed state-of-the-art automation systems that help reduce water and energy consumption and waste generation during manufacturing. The carbon footprint/liter of paint produced at the site will be reduced by 50% compared to that of the existing production facilities it has replaced, according to the company. In addition, all manufacturing technologies within the plant are managed by a single integrated computer system, allowing all activities from raw material ordering to finished product shipping to be initiated without operator intervention. The flexibility of the production system also enables the company to produce its full product range, including Dulux, Dulux Trade, Cuprinol, Polycell, Hammerite, and Armstead paints.

“Ashington secures AkzoNobel’s future as a manufacturer of cutting-edge products, including paints that improve air quality, increase energy efficiency, and protect against bacteria. We have taken the best technology available globally, improved on it, and put it all under one roof, ensuring that this new facility represents a significant step forward for the whole industry,” says Ruud Joosten, COO of Paints and Coatings at AkzoNobel. UK’s Secretary of State for International Trade Dr Liam Fox adds that “the huge investment by AkzoNobel in Ashington has delivered the most advanced paint factory in the world, and an important boost to the local economy.”

It is interesting to note, too, that AkzoNobel will include at the new Ashington site a Dulux Academy, a customized training center designed to provide painters and decorators with the expertise and know-how they need for business success, according to the company. It will be the second such center, with the first located in Slough.