AkzoNobel has opened a trailblazing laboratory complex that can test new products in conditions that imitate the most extreme environments in the world.
The R&D campus at the Felling site will focus on delivering state-of – the-art innovation and products for the marine and oil & gas industries. The laboratory in the campus will be used to test new products in extreme conditions such as temperature resistance, fire and high pressure. The facilities will also enable scientists to expose products to chemicals and corrosion.
Since 2011 the company has increased the total investment to 31.6 million euros at the Felling site.
“As the birthplace of the International brand, we’re immensely proud of our Felling site, which has supplied products for some of the world’s most iconic buildings and structures,” says Jean-Michel Gauthier, Managing Director of the company’s Marine and Protective Coatings business. “The new laboratories will enable our technical experts to partner more closely with our customers and deliver innovative products and solutions that meet the most demanding specifications in our industry.”
“We’re beyond excited about the potential of the new Felling campus and the possibilities it could open up,” adds Roger Jakeman, AkzoNobel’s Technical Director. “We already deliver products and services that have exceeded customer expectations, now we’re looking to go one step further and develop innovations that go beyond their imaginations.”
Commenting on the new campus, International Trade Secretary Dr Liam Fox MP says: “Driving investment into all parts of the UK is one of my international economic department’s most important tasks. In recent weeks, we have seen the UK’s top international investors reaffirm their commitment to our economy. We have bucked the global trend with foreign direct investment into the UK growing by 20%, while declining by 40% in developed economies as a whole. “AkzoNobel’s investment in its Felling site is yet another vote of confidence in the fundamentals of our economy, which will create high skilled jobs for local people.”