Member Article

AkzoNobel wins award for environmental advances

A team of employees at paint firm AkzoNobel’s Felling plant have earned themselves top employee awards, and a special visit from the company’s CEO.

Hans Wijers presented the prestigious “Tomorrow’s Answers Today” award to the group who worked hard to improve an environmentally friendly marine coating.

The team found a way to dramatically add efficiency and workability to the environmental benefits of Interplate Zero, a coating used in the shipbuilding industry.

Mr Wijers said: “This award recognises a fantastic achievement by the team working together to find a sustainable solution to a business issue.

“Their hard work and creativity has brought benefits to both AkzoNobel and our customers in the shipyards.”

As the world’s largest paint firm, AkzoNobel has invested €10m in its operations at Felling this year, adding 40 highly paid research jobs.

Wijers toured several facilities at the site, including a £6.4m testing laboratory for International Paint’s Fire Protection business that was opened in June by the Mayor of Gateshead, Joe Mitchensen.

The firm’s products are used on a number of iconic landmarks, including the Sage Gateshead, the Gateshead Millennium Bridge and the London Eye.

Director for europe region for international paint, Ian Walton, added: “The award reflects the incredible level of innovation we have going on at Felling, which is now the largest research and development centre for AkzoNobel worldwide.”

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Tom Keighley .