01.05.11
AkzoNobel invested in a new powder coating manufacturing plant in Apodaca, Mexico, a suburb of Monterrey, Mexico. Located five miles from the Monterrey airport, the new 85,000 square foot facility will include manufacturing, warehousing, research and development labs, administrative offices and a quality control laboratory. The project was approved by Akzo's board in mid-September, and construction began early December with completion expected to take up to eight months. The site will allow the company to more than double its powder coatings business in Mexico and Central America over the next several years. “Based on the sustainable success of our powder coating business in Mexico, as well as the growth of the market in Latin America, AkzoNobel has shown great confidence by allowing us the investment in a new state-of-the-art manufacturing plant,” said Michael Cash, managing director, AkzoNobel Powder Coatings, the Americas Region. “The production capability of the new manufacturing plant will also enable us to continue our track record of introducing new and innovative powder coatings technologies into the Mexican and Central American markets.” The new facility was deemed necessary, as AkzoNobel rapidly approaches the capacity limits of the current manufacturing facility in Monterrey. The company will continue to produce its products in the existing manufacturing facility during the construction phase of the new manufacturing plant, which is expected to be fully operational in the third quarter of 2011.
