AkzoNobel CEO Presents Prestigious Employee Innovation Award at UK Site

 

The CEO of AkzoNobel made a special visit to the company’s Felling site on September 26th to present a team of employees with AkzoNobel’s top innovation award.

Hans Wijers presented the prestigious “Tomorrow’s Answers Today” trophy to a team from International Paint who worked with colleagues from AkzoNobel’s site in Gothenburg, Sweden to develop an improved version of an environmentally friendly marine coating.

The team found a way to dramatically extend the processing time of Interplate Zero®, a water-based marine primer used in the shipbuilding industry, adding better efficiency and workability to the product’s environmental benefits.

“This award recognizes a fantastic achievement by the team working together to find a sustainable solution to a business issue,” Wijers said. “Their hard work and creativity has brought benefits to both AkzoNobel and our customers in the shipyards,” he said.

Ian Walton, Director – Europe Region for International Paint added: “The award reflects the incredible level of innovation we have going on at Felling, which is now the largest R&D centre for AkzoNobel worldwide.”

AkzoNobel has invested €10 million in its R&D operations at Felling in 2011, adding around 40 highly paying research jobs, taking total employment at the site to around 950. Wijers toured several facilities at the site, including a £6.4-million (€7.1 million) testing laboratory for International Paint’s Fire Protection business that was opened in June.