AkzoNobel has invested in a new powder coating manufacturing plant in Apodaca, Mexico, a suburb of Monterrey. Located five miles from the Monterrey airport, the new 85,000 square foot facility is situated in an industrial area and will include manufacturing, warehousing, research and development labs, administrative offices and a quality control laboratory. The new site continues the development of AkzoNobel’s business in Central America and the company said it aims to more than double its powder coatings business over the next few years. The site will begin with four powder lines and the company said it plans to expand eventually to six or seven lines. Production will continue at AkzoNobel’s current site in Monterrey until the new manufacturing plant is ready and fully operational, anticipated to be in the third quarter of 2011.