AzkoNobel reported Sept 2 that it’s opened a new, €7.5-million powder coatings lab at its global R&D center in Sassenheim, the Netherlands. Opened with the help of Stientje van Veldhoven, Dutch minister of climate and green growth, the facility is expected to accelerate development of more sustainable, solvent-free, energy-efficient coatings. 

“We have a global reputation for pioneering product innovations. This new lab will ensure that we continue to innovate,” says Frank Vergeer, R&D director of AkzoNobel’s powder coatings business. “As well as strengthening our leadership in powder coatings, this investment will also expand the company’s wider innovation capabilities in coating performance, application and advanced particle analysis.”

The new lab will mainly focus on developing powder coatings, including lower-temperature curing that can reduce energy use, and improving customer productivity. The lab will also research new opportunities, such as extending product lifecycles, and reducing maintenance and material use.

These projects will help AkzoNobel further cut CO₂ emissions. It reports that a 2018 baseline showed that it’s already reduced Scope 1 and 2 emissions by 50% in its own operations—four years ahead of schedule.

“The name of my ministry, climate and green growth, is no coincidence,” says Van Veldhoven. “We don’t just want to reduce emissions. We want to make sure the Netherlands stays at the forefront of clean technologies. This lab fits that ambition perfectly. It shows that sustainability and economic opportunity go hand in hand.”