[Information] AkzoNobel spends 400 million yuan to expand the world’s largest aerospace coatings factory

2026-01-03 13:54:26

On December 18, AkzoNobel announced that it was investing 50 million euros (approximately RMB 413 million) to upgrade its factory in Waukegan, Illinois, USA. The factory is the company's largest aerospace coatings production base. In addition to increasing production capacity, installing new machinery and introducing more automated processes, the two-phase project will also include the creation of a new warehouse space just across the US border in Wisconsin. Patrick Bourguignon, Director of AkzoNobel's Automotive and Specialty Coatings business, said: "This investment will increase our comprehensive supply capabilities in North America and strengthen our leading position in the aerospace coatings industry.

Demand for air travel is expected to grow significantly in the coming years, and we want to ensure that our customers can meet this demand with the highest quality aircraft."AkzoNobel's history can be traced back to 1792. It has developed into a leader in the global coatings industry. It has two major business divisions: decorative coatings and high-performance coatings. Its business involves architectural decorative coatings, automotive coatings, wood coatings, ship coatings, packaging coatings, aviation coatings, wind power coatings, 3C coatings, coil coatings, etc. Its business covers more than 100 countries and regions around the world. According to the authoritative list released by "Paint World", AkzoNobel ranks third in the list of the world's top ten coating manufacturers in 2025 with sales revenue of US$11.56 billion.

According to the financial report, the sales revenue of AkzoNobel's automotive and special coatings business in 2024 will be 1.434 billion euros, a year-on-year increase of 1%. The company stated that "despite the market challenges faced by our OEM business, our aviation coatings business performed well, driven by increased aircraft maintenance needs." According to disclosed information, the sales revenue of the new company after the merger of AkzoNobel and Axalta will be US$16.9 billion in 2024, of which the aviation coatings business revenue will account for 2%, which is approximately US$338 million.

The Waukegan plant in the United States covers an area of 11 acres and employs approximately 200 people. It produces a variety of aerospace coatings, including primers, primers and clearcoats, and pretreatment coatings, and also has a color center. The ongoing renovation project will include establishing a liquid pretreatment area, installing high-speed dissolvers and creating a rapid service department to help deliver coatings to the maintenance, repair and operations markets faster. Moving the warehouse to Pleasant Prairie, Wisconsin, will also free up space in Waukegan, allowing the company to produce more custom paints and meet customer demand more quickly. Martijn Arkesteijn, global operations director at AkzoNobel Aerospace Coatings, added: “Our customers demand and deserve top-quality coatings. We will be able to offer greater flexibility to current and future customers by delivering high-volume products, better response to market demand and shorter lead times for color development.”

AkzoNobel said the investment is part of the company's industrial excellence program, which aims to improve operations and reduce complexity. By focusing on anchors that deliver greater scale and efficiency, the company aims to reduce operating costs and optimize its industrial network to increase competitiveness and drive sustainable growth.