Tex Gunning, Executive Committee member responsible for Decorative Paints, AkzoNobel.
AMSTERDAM, THE NETHERLANDS: AkzoNobel plans to build a hi-tech manufacturing facility in the North-East of England. Around € 110 million is earmarked for the decorative paints site, designed to enable the company to deliver the most efficient supply chain operations, reduce operating working capital and accelerate its response to changing market and customer demands. The planned new facility is within 25 miles of AkzoNobel’s existing site in Prudhoe and is anticipated to be operational by the end of 2014.
The plans include a proposal to close the company’s Prudhoe site and its manufacturing operations in Slough in three-and-a-half years’ time. The intention is for Slough to remain the headquarters for the UK Decorative Paints business and for global research and development and marketing.
“This shows that we will continue to invest in order to drive world class manufacturing capability, while enhancing customer service levels and ensuring we remain the world’s leading decorative paints business with well-known brands such as Dulux, Sikkens and Coral,” explained Tex Gunning, Executive Committee member responsible for Decorative Paints, AkzoNobel.
Incorporating a range of innovative technologies, which for example will recycle and reuse waste and water, the facility would consume 60 per cent less energy compared with today’s operations, the company informed.
(C) WOC News