AkzoNobel has begun work on a €22m redevelopment and modernisation programme for its Aerospace Coatings production site at Pamiers, France. The first foundation stone was laid at a formal ceremony in the presence of local officials, customers and all the site’s staff.
The investment comprises an upgrade of the existing facilities to optimise the sustainable performance of the site over the long term. AkzoNobel said this will be “achieved in tandem with significantly reducing its environmental footprint while maintaining the highest safety and environmental standards”. It also includes the construction of two new buildings, which will add a further 3,000m² of warehousing and storage space, as well as a new waste management facility.
The development programme for the facility, which serves customers worldwide, was announced two years ago. The project is expected to be complete by the end of 2026 and will result in a 50% increase in overall capacity. Product innovation will be supported by investment into two dedicated research and development laboratories for aircraft structure coatings and cabin interior coatings, where work will continue to develop more Chromate Free products for the future.
“Pamiers was the first European site to introduce waterborne aerospace coatings and this dedication to creating and producing new generation technologies will continue to be a priority,” said Xavier Rijmenans, sales director of AkzoNobel Aerospace Coatings EMEA. “This significant investment and resulting development of Pamiers is wholly aligned with AkzoNobel’s strategy of growth and industrial excellence. It highlights our ambition to create sustainable, efficient and environmentally friendly industrial centres that can respond to local and regional market needs.”
AkzoNobel’s Pamiers site serves customer globally with 60% of the aerospace coatings of its production volume going to customers in France and Europe, and the rest being distributed to the global market.
