AMSTERDAM, The Netherlands - AkzoNobel is investing almost EUR 10 million to further boost the innovative power of its Felling, UK, site. A fire-protection testing laboratory and a polymer lab for powder coatings are being added to the existing R&D infrastructure at the Felling site in northeast England. The site pioneered products used on landmarks such as Sydney Harbor Bridge, the London Eye, the Olympic Water Cube in Beijing and famous vessels including the Queen Mary 2 and the HMS Ark Royal.

 

Due to be completed early next year, the testing lab will be used by the company's Marine & Protective Coatings (M&PC) business in its development of fire-protection coatings.

 

The new polymer lab will allow AkzoNobel Powder Coatings to optimize the 20 years of experience it has in building and commercializing polymers at Felling. Expected to be completed by the end of the year, the facility will enable researchers to handle and develop new materials and will also include scale-up capability and an application line.