AkzoNobel Expands Its Reach with New Investment in U.S. Aerospace Coatings

AkzoNobel is set to invest €50 million to modernize its Waukegan, Illinois, facility—the company’s largest aerospace coatings production site in the United States.

The two-phase project will boost production capacity, add advanced machinery, and implement greater automation. Additionally, it includes the development of a new warehouse across the state border in Wisconsin to further enhance operational efficiency.

“This investment will increase our comprehensive North American supply capability and solidify our position as a frontrunner in the aerospace coatings industry,” says Patrick Bourguignon, Director of AkzoNobel’s Automotive and Specialty Coatings business.

“Demand for air travel is expected to grow significantly over the next few years and we want to make sure our customers are able to meet that demand with aircraft of the highest quality.”

The Waukegan facility, spanning 11 acres and employing around 200 people, manufactures a broad range of aerospace coatings—including primers, basecoats, clearcoats, and pre-treatment coatings—and houses its own dedicated color center.

As part of the ongoing upgrades, AkzoNobel will establish a liquid pre-batch area, install high-speed dissolvers, and introduce a rapid service unit to accelerate coating deliveries for the maintenance, repair, and operations (MRO) market.

Relocating the warehouse to Pleasant Prairie, Wisconsin, will also free up additional space at the Waukegan site, allowing for greater production flexibility, increased customization, and faster response to customer demands.

“Our customers demand – and deserve – top-of-the-line coatings,” adds Martijn Arkesteijn, Global Operations Director, AkzoNobel Aerospace Coatings. “We’ll be able to provide current and future customers with even more flexibility through the delivery of large batch sizes, better responsiveness to market needs and shorter lead time for color development.”

The investment forms part of AkzoNobel’s Industrial Excellence program, aimed at streamlining operations and reducing complexity. By concentrating on key anchor sites that provide larger scale and higher efficiency, the company seeks to cut operating costs, strengthen its industrial network, and foster sustainable long-term growth.

Source:AkzoNobel