HOUSTON - Axalta Coating Systems celebrated the grand opening of its Powder Coating Learning and Development Center on October 28, 2016. Situated adjacent to Axalta’s powder manufacturing headquarters in Houston, Texas, the facility serves Axalta’s customers as well as those interested in learning more about powder coatings or advancing their application skills. Classes are available in both English and Spanish.

The Learning and Development Center will attract thousands of powder coating professionals to the Houston area for single-day and multi-day classes taught by industry experts. Classes are designed to give students hands-on experience with the latest application techniques using advanced powder coating technology, including a Nordson Colormax II spray booth, a Gema batch booth and a 512-cubic-foot gas oven for curing. The center also features classrooms equipped with innovative seating pods to encourage and support collaboration and relationship building.

The Learning and Development Center opened to Axalta employees, customers and guests with a celebratory program that featured facility tours and guest speaker, Rick Dale, star of History Channel show “American Restoration.” Dale spoke on how the use of powder coatings contributes to the success of his restoration projects, as well as the need for this type of facility in the industry.

Axalta also presented its inaugural Axalta Achievement Scholarship Award to Zhongzheng Cai, a Ph.D. student in the Chemistry program at the University of Houston. In partnership with Powder Coating Institute, a non-profit organization that strives to promote powder coating technology and its benefits within the manufacturing, consumer and government sectors, the scholarship is offered on an annual basis to a deserving student pursuing studies in fields related to powder coating chemistry at a university in the United States.

To learn more about Axalta’s Powder Coating Learning and Development Center, visit www.axalta.us/powder/trainingcenter.