Page 155 - CW E-Magazine (23-4-2024)

News from Abroad

BANKING ON RESEARCH
AkzoNobel invests in two new research labs in the

Netherlands

Two new research labs are being
built by Dutch paints major, Akzo-
Nobel, at its Sassenheim site in the
Netherlands to further propel product
development efforts. Work is about to
start on building a technology centre
for powder coatings, while a new
polymer lab has just opened which will
develop innovative resin technologies
for all the company’s businesses.

The total investment in the Sassen-
heim site – AkzoNobel’s largest global
R&D centre – amounts to around
€8-mn. The facility already houses the big-
gest R&D teams in Europe for the com-
pany’s decorative paint and automotive
and specialty coatings businesses. The to innovate with impact and bring more AkzoNobel’s Chief Technology Officer.
addition of the two new labs will help sustainable products to the market. By The recently opened polymer lab – part
the company further build on its global developing new technologies for the of the company’s research organisation –
reputation for pioneering product future, we’ll unlock more customer and will accommodate 15 scientists. It will
development. application opportunities while support- mainly focus on the development of
ing multiple options, including low bake more sustainable polymer technolo-
“Creating the new powder coatings cure. This will further enhance our ability gies and new coatings to support Akzo-
lab will enable us to carry out the fun- to cut carbon emissions across the value Nobel’s ambition to halve carbon
damental research needed to continue chain,” commented Mr. Roger Jakeman, emissions across the value chain by 2030.

DKSH acquires Malaysia’s Elite Organic

Swiss chemicals distribution firm,
DKSH has signed an agreement to
acquire Elite Organic, a leading sup-
plier of ingredients and services to top-
tier pharmaceutical, health supplement,
and food manufacturers in Malaysia
and Singapore. Elite Organic repre-
sents world-renowned manufacturers
from Europe, the US, Japan, and Asia.
DKSH will acquire the entire business
and fully integrate the company into
its existing operations. With this deal,
DKSH said its Performance Materials
business expands its capabilities in the
pharmaceuticals, foods, and nutraceuti-
cal markets in Asia Pacific.

Chemical Weekly April 23, 2024 155

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