Axalta Coating Systems broke ground in Wuppertal, Germany, on construction to expand its capacity to produce waterborne coatings. The new facility will increase the footprint of what is already the largest of the company’s 35 manufacturing centers. Production is expected to begin in the first quarter of 2015.
At the ceremony to mark the event - attended by Wuppertal’s mayor, Peter Jung, media and Axalta employees - Axalta Chairman and CEO Charlie Shaver underscored the company’s commitment to the production of environmentally responsible waterborne paint technologies.
“A growing demand for high-performance waterborne paint solutions prompted our decision to expand in Wuppertal,” Shaver told the assembled guests. “This facility will use a number of advanced technologies to decrease waste and reduce the environmental footprint of our operations. Waterborne coatings also meet our customers’ interest in coating systems that enable them to reduce their own impact on the environment and operate more productively.”
The new Wuppertal facility will manufacture coatings for some of the largest European light vehicle automotive original equipment manufacturers, as well as for Axalta’s three global refinish brands - Cromax®, Spies Hecker® and Standox®. It will also supply waterborne paints for manufacturers of commercial vehicles and industrial applications.
Otmar Hauck, Axalta’s Chief Operating Officer of the company’s Europe, Middle East and Africa region, said, “We are proud that Wuppertal provides a strong operations base for us. With our next generation facility we will be able to offer our customers the products they expect from us. The members of our Wuppertal organization are highly qualified and motivated to contribute to the success of our company.”
Production at the new facility is intended to supply Axalta’s waterborne paint to customers in Europe, the Middle East and Africa, and Eastern Europe, Asia and Latin America.
