AkzoNobel is investing €50 million (US$58 million) to upgrade its Waukegan, Illinois, facility in the US – the company’s largest aerospace coatings production site.
The two-phase project will increase capacity through new machinery and higher levels of automation, while also creating a new warehouse across the state border in Wisconsin.
“This investment will strengthen our North American supply capability and reinforce our position as a frontrunner in the aerospace coatings industry,” said Patrick Bourguignon, Director of AkzoNobel’s Automotive and Specialty Coatings business. “With air travel demand set to rise significantly in the coming years, we want to ensure our customers can meet that growth with aircraft of the highest quality.”
The 11-acre Waukegan site employs around 200 people and produces a broad range of aerospace coatings, including primers, basecoats, clearcoats and pre-treatment products. It also houses an on-site colour centre.
Planned upgrades include a new liquid pre-batch area, the installation of high-speed dissolvers and the creation of a rapid service unit to deliver faster turnaround times for the maintenance, repair and operations (MRO) market.
Relocating warehousing to Pleasant Prairie, Wisconsin, will free up space at Waukegan, allowing AkzoNobel to expand production of customised coatings and respond more quickly to customer requirements.
“Our customers demand – and deserve – best-in-class coatings,” adds Martijn Arkesteijn, Global Operations Director, AkzoNobel Aerospace Coatings. “This investment will give us greater flexibility through larger batch sizes, improved responsiveness to market needs and shorter lead times for colour development.”
The project forms part of AkzoNobel’s Industrial Excellence programme, which aims to streamline operations and reduce complexity. By concentrating on anchor sites that offer greater scale and efficiency, the company is seeking to lower operating costs, optimise its industrial network and drive sustainable, competitive growth.
