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AkzoNobel investing €3m in global network of Automotive Training Centres

AkzoNobel has embarked on a multi-million-euro global program to expand and upgrade its network of Automotive Training Centres (ATCs) to further up-skill painters, bodyshop managers and OEM engineers on a new generation of coatings and technologies to support the industry in delivering a more sustainable future.

For the initial phase, the business is investing €3 million to create new or upgrade existing sites across Europe, Asia, Australia and Thailand. The programme is underway and will continue to be rolled out throughout 2025.

Addressing labour shortages, AkzoNobel says “as many as 300 or more trainees will be accommodated at each site in a typical year”.

Each of the sites will be equipped with the latest spray booth technologies and AkzoNobel’s full suite of digital tools created for bodyshops to manage and monitor the high-tech process of vehicle repairs.

These could include Carbeat, a production workflow tool, PaintPerformAir (PPA), which helps bring even greater consistency and efficiency in the painting process.

AkzoNobel’s colour technology will also continue to be a key feature of the ATCs, with sites being equipped with ColorMatchic, a digitally led colour matching and mixing system.

AkzoNobel’s ATC in Belgium is the first to have undergone major upgrade by moving to a facility. It was officially opened in September and it is the first training centre to feature a hydrogen-powered spray booth to help bodyshops significantly reduce their carbon emissions.

It will also have a special air filtration system which produces clean air (up to 99%) which is filtered back out into the atmosphere. This was a particular requirement of the site to meet regulations brought in for businesses in close proximity to the local airport.

AkzoNobel says its existing training centre in France will be expanded and developed to include a fully electric-powered spraybooth, while an upgrade to an existing site in Spain includes two spray booths which consume significantly less energy in operation compared to current models.