AkzoNobel Boosts Monterrey Capacity

Dutch company AkzoNobel strengthened its manufacturing operations in Monterrey, Nuevo León, by opening a new facility focused on acrylics as part of a US$60 million investment program aimed at modernizing its powder coating production capacity across North America.

The program includes technological and infrastructure improvements at three company facilities: Monterrey, Mexico; Reading, Pennsylvania; and Warsaw, Indiana, in the United States. The goal is to increase regional manufacturing capacity and strengthen the supply of coatings for the automotive, commercial vehicle, and general manufacturing industries.

In Mexico, the new acrylics plant expands AkzoNobel's technical capabilities to meet industrial applications that require specific properties in terms of strength, durability, and performance.

The company said the investments reflect the growing needs of its customers, particularly in segments related to next-generation mobility, battery systems, and energy storage.

Jeff Jirak, general manager of AkzoNobel's powder coatings business, highlighted that strengthening the production network will allow the company to keep pace with industry changes and support the development of new manufacturing technologies.

The executive also emphasized that the strategy includes developing technical skills and training programs to help employees manage increasingly advanced manufacturing processes.

AkzoNobel's industrial footprint in Monterrey has a track record of technological modernization, including the addition of a production line in 2020 to address the requirements of the automotive sector.

These improvements are expected to increase the regional availability of specialized coatings and respond to the needs of manufacturers operating fully integrated supply chains between Mexico and the United States.

The US$60 million investment covers all three North American facilities. However, the company did not specify the amount allocated to Monterrey, nor did it announce additional job figures for its Mexican operation.