By CRM staff
Toronto, Ontario — November 8, 2018 — Axalta has officially opened what it believes is the largest coatings research and development centre in the world, its Global Innovation Center located in the Navy Yard of Philadelphia.
The 175,000-foot center offers specialty labs, as well as office space.
To celebrate the grand opening, Axalta hosted more than 100 customers for the first sneak-peak of the Global Innovation Center and offered tours of the facility.
“Axalta’s Global Innovation Center will become the central hub for our global research, product development, and technology initiatives where we develop and deliver the most innovative coatings products in the world,” said Robert Bryant, interim chief executive officer of Axalta.
“Whether in color technology, polymer and formulation chemistry, or application knowledge, the world-class capabilities and talent at Axalta’s Global Innovation Center will fuel new products and deliver the solutions that our customers want to grow their businesses into the future.”
Bryant and Axalta chief technology officer, Barry Snyder, were in attendance for the ceremony with many different Philadelphia politicians as well as Axalta employees.
“Regulations and customer demands call for newer technologically advanced coatings,” said Snyder. “The increasing use of lightweight plastic and composite materials in vehicles to save fuel require new coatings formulations. Developing products to suit these and other needs will be the mission of the Global Innovation Center and Axalta’s worldwide research and development network.”
The building, which is owned and developed by Liberty Property/Synterra, was designed by Erdy McHenry and merges design elements present throughout the Navy Yard. The front of the building is reminiscent of the classically inspired buildings preserved in the adjacent historic core of the Navy Yard, while the back of the building resembles the lofts and warehouse facilities nearby. The front of the building also features a two-story glass façade to maximize daylight while utilizing angled vanes to reduce glare and shade staff from the low angles of the late afternoon sun.
