AkzoNobel to expand Indonesian plant

AkzoNobel Performance Coatings has announced plans to invest €2.5 million to expand its plant in Cikarang, Indonesia.

The move comes to meet growing demand for the company’s International brand products, which are supplied by the Protective Coatings and Marine Coatings businesses. The project is expected to be completed by April 2015.

“The local market has been expanding over the last three years,” says Mauricio Bannwart, managing director of AkzoNobel’s Protective Coatings business. “Further growth is now anticipated as Indonesia seeks to improve its position in the petrochemical and power sectors, while an improvement in marine new build is also anticipated.”

The news follows the company’s recent investment of €5 million to add capacity for both its Marine Coatings and Protective Coatings businesses in Singapore and Sunshine, Australia.

Conrad Keijzer, the company’s executive committee member responsible for Performance Coatings, says: “Our business in Asia has experienced double-digit annual growth during the last five years. These expansions will ensure that we are well positioned to meet customer demand going forward. By focusing our investment at key sites we are achieving economies of scale, allowing us to continuously improve our operational productivity.”