Akzo Nobel's International Paint business has opened its new  €7.3 million R&D technology and administration center at Felling, Gateshead, in the UK.

The facility is part of International's ongoing development plans and follows a previous R&D investment at the site completed in 2004.

It will serve International Paint's worldwide marine, protective and yacht coatings businesses and is now in one central location, replacing previous laboratory facilities which had evolved around buildings dating from the 1920s.

"The opening of the new center at Felling is a major boost to our R&D capabilities," said Felling-based worldwide R&D manager Charles Holleyman.

"We believe that these facilities, together with our technical know-how in formulating and end-use evaluation, will give us a very significant competitive edge in the future development of new products for the marine, protective coatings and yacht markets," Holleyman continued.

The two-story building houses central technical and analytical departments, IT systems and administration, training and conference facilities, together with syndicate and meeting rooms.