AkzoNobel is a $15 billion global company, including a $2.2 billion portfolio in North America.
STRONGSVILLE, Ohio -- AkzoNobel has invested $10 million in a new research, development and innovation center about a block away from its former building in Strongsville.
The new facility will support several of the company's performance coatings businesses, including coil, extrusion and packaging coatings.
About half of the more than 120 employees in the building are scientists and technicians.
"We're very excited about this investment. It emphasizes our commitment to the region," said Greg Bengtson, business director in North America, AkzoNobel Metal Coatings. "We're excited to inaugurate the building today and have it be a key asset going forward."
Three years ago, about 1,000 employees in Strongsville and Huron who worked for Glidden paint maker AkzoNobel were waiting to hear what would happen after their parent company was bought by Pittsburgh-based specialty chemical company PPG Industries.
PPG paid $1.05 billion to acquire the North American decorative coatings business of AkzoNobel, the maker of Glidden and other brands.
Today, besides Strongsville, AkzoNobel has Ohio facilities in Columbus, Huron, Springfield, Berea and Strongsville. AkzoNobel is a $15 billion global company, including a $2.2 billion portfolio in North America. In this region about half of the business is in performance coatings and the other half is in specialty chemicals.
Akzo Nobel's Strongsville location makes protective coatings, marine coatings and specialty coatings. More than 80 percent of the business focuses on coatings to exteriors of commercial and residential buildings, including this one. The business also makes coatings for beverage and food cans. More than 80 percent of the metal coatings business focuses on coatings to exteriors of commercial and residential buildings. The business also makes coatings for beverage and food cans.
Bengtson said the building will play a key role in global research and development necessary for the company's overall growth plans.
"The key activity at this facility are centered around new product development, technology and service development to deploy in the market," he said. "It's really one of our strategic global research and development facilities."
The Strongsville center is the latest in a series of investments in the company's research capabilities. AkzoNobel recently announced plans to invest about $3 million to expand research and development capabilities in Houston.