Event in Germany marks major milestone in company’s history
WUPPERTAL, Germany--(BUSINESS WIRE)--
Axalta Coating Systems (NYSE: AXTA), a leading global supplier of liquid
and powder coatings, is marking its 150 years in the coating industry in
2016. To celebrate, Axalta’s Europe, Middle East and Africa (EMEA)
region recently hosted a number of events in Wuppertal, Germany, where
the company originated. Axalta’s first products were developed in the
city in 1866. Since then, Axalta has grown into a driving-force in the
industry, with advanced coatings, application systems and technology for
transportation, vehicle repair, and industrial and architectural
applications.
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Axalta's celebrations for its 150-year anniversary included a European road show, designed specifically for employees. The road show started in April and visited 13 Axalta sites in eight countries over two months, from Västervik in Sweden, to Barcelona, Spain, stopping off in the UK, Germany, France, Austria and Spain, to name a few of Axalta's major facilities. The specially-built truck holds a 645 square foot exhibition, which guides employees through Axalta's past, present and future. The truck's visit to Axalta's Wuppertal site coincided with the opening of the European Technology Center. (Photo: Axalta)
Innovation Forum at the Wuppertal Historic Town Hall
In early June, guests from the EMEA region were invited to the Axalta’s
specially-designed Innovation Forum inside Wuppertal’s Historic Town
Hall. It was a journey through the depth and breadth of Axalta’s
innovative, sustainable coatings, which are delivered every day to more
than 100,000 customers in 130 countries. The Innovation Forum delved
into today’s innovations in color, sustainability, product and
application technology, and also provided a glimpse of those coatings
that might be available over the next 150 years.
The first of several themed areas – called Pit Stops – in the Innovation
Forum addressed the color trends being trail blazed by original
equipment manufacturers (OEMs) and Axalta’s color design through
Axalta’s Color Show. This section also featured a state-of-the-art
virtual reality color-rendering tool that uses touch screen technology
to visualize different colors on different vehicles displayed in
different environments. The second Pit Stop focused on innovative
solutions from Axalta’s three global refinish brands – Cromax®,
Spies Hecker® and Standox® – that help customers
improve speed, accuracy and skill. This area of the Innovation Forum
underscored Axalta’s focus on supporting customers in many different
ways: from an interactive, web-based e-learning platform, to a surfacer
with revolutionary technology that is changing the refinish process by
shortening drying times substantially. In the Sustainability zone,
Axalta’s powder coatings and its Energy Solutions business took center
stage. In yet another area, which concentrated on innovations in
products and services, Axalta’s long-standing relationships with OEMs
and Formula One racing was showcased.
Opening of expanded European Technology Center
On 8 June 2016, Axalta Chairman and CEO Charlie Shaver opened the
expanded European Technology Center in Wuppertal, Germany. The Center
will be home to the company’s liquid coating research facilities for the
EMEA region. The ETC comprises facilities that house the latest coating
research equipment. The entire campus encompasses 161,400 square feet of
laboratories, formulation and application capabilities, a weathering and
corrosion service, pilot-scale and full scale-up facilities, and
customer demonstration center, as well as offices.
European road show for Axalta employees
Axalta’s celebrations for its 150-year anniversary of course also
included its employees. A European road show, designed specifically for
employees, started in April and is visiting 13 Axalta sites in eight
countries over two months, from Västervik in Sweden, to Barcelona,
Spain, stopping off in the UK, Germany, France, Austria and Spain, to
name a few of Axalta’s major facilities. The specially-built truck holds
a 645ft2 exhibition, which guides employees through Axalta’s
past, present and future. The truck’s visit to Axalta’s Wuppertal site
coincided with the opening of the European Technology Center.
For more information on Axalta, please visit www.axaltacs.com
About Axalta Coating Systems – Celebrating 150 Years in the Coatings
Industry
Axalta is a leading global company focused solely on coatings and
providing customers with innovative, colorful, beautiful and sustainable
solutions. From light OEM vehicles, commercial vehicles and refinish
applications to electric motors, buildings and pipelines, our coatings
are designed to prevent corrosion, increase productivity and enable the
materials we coat to last longer. With 150 years of experience in the
coatings industry, the 12,800 people of Axalta continue to find ways to
better serve our more than 100,000 customers in 130 countries every day
with the finest coatings, application systems and technology. For more
information visit axaltacoatingsystems.com
and follow us on Twitter @axalta and on LinkedIn.
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Source: Axalta Coating Systems