AkzoNobel has launched a new coating production facility in Nairobi, Kenya. The site produces manufactures coil coatings, with main focus on the building sector. It also includes warehousing for the company’s marine, protective and powder coatings.
Present at the opening ceremony was H.E. Franz Makken, Ambassador of the Kingdom of the Netherlands in Kenya, who explained the importance of direct foreign investment in helping to boister local economic development.
“AkzoNobel is making a concerted effort to tap into the growing opportunities in Africa and bolster its operations in the region with strategic investments. This is an important first step towards unlocking Africa and expanding our performance coatings presence in the east of the continent.Operating in Kenya is an essential part of expanding our footprint in the region. The new facility will enable us to be closer to our customers, helping to reduce lead times while strengthening our ability to serve the market better,” said Baron Schreuder, the company’s Performance Coatings Director for sub-Saharan Africa.
Work on the facility commenced after the company acquired the Industrial Coatings business of BASF. AkzoNobel established a legal entity in Kenya, Morocco and Uganda in 2016 with the main aim of growing its Performance Coatings business in the African market.
The company is already operational in Africa for its Marine and Protective Coatings, Automotive and Specialty Coatings, Industrial and Powder Coatings and Decorative Paints businesses. Manufacturing facilities are located in Egypt, South Africa, Zambia, Botswana, the Kingdom of eSwatini (formerly known as Swaziland), Morocco and Tunisia.
Products have been supplied for a number of high profile projects throughout the continent, notably in South Africa, where five stadiums used for the 2010 FIFA World Cup feature AkzoNobel’s high performance coatings.
