Axalta Coating Systems is marking the anniversary of 150 years of innovative coatings. Axalta’s heritage dates back to 1866 when its first products were developed in Germany. Since then the company has grown into one of the world’s leading manufacturers of liquid and powder coatings.

“All of us at Axalta are excited to reach this important milestone in our history,” says Anthony Cashel, Marketing Manager for Axalta Coating Systems in the UK and Ireland. “Part of the celebrations include a European roadshow of 13 Axalta sites in 8 countries, and we are delighted to welcome the futuristic-looking Colani truck to the Axalta Training Academy in Welwyn Garden City today. Our employees will be able to enjoy a journey through the 60m2 of interactive information and exhibits, split into three zones: the past, the present and the future.”

From the earliest products that supplied European carriage manufacturers with colourful coatings in the nineteenth century, Axalta evolved to meet the needs of an automotive industry that flourished in the twentieth century. In the 1920s, Axalta introduced the first quick-drying, multi-colour lacquer line for automobile production in the US. Company scientists developed the L,a,b colour equations that became a key analytic tool in the catalogue of colour science. In the subsequent decades, technology at Axalta evolved to produce coatings that were increasingly durable and productive. In the 1980s, the company ushered in the first environmentally-responsible liquid coating systems with the introduction of waterborne coatings. 

Building on experience acquired with its original Spies Hecker and Standox products, Axalta branched out to provide refinish technicians with improved coating products and systems. In the 1990s, the Cromax® brand of waterborne products was introduced to bodyshops. Handheld spectrophotometer colour tools were developed to help provide excellent colour matching, which saves repair time and reduces waste.

As the need across many industries evolved, so did Axalta’s portfolio of products. To serve a growing number of industrial customers, Axalta introduced Nap-Gard® powder coatings for oil and gas pipeline manufacturers. Today, both functional coatings and a wide array of decorative Alesta® powder coatings are used in thousands of applications. Voltatex® electrical insulation coatings enhance the productivity of motors and a host of electrical components. Vehicles ranging from heavy duty trucks, and buses to trains and other rail stock, rely on Imron® to protect their vehicles from the elements while using vibrant colours to build recognition for Axalta’s customers’ brands.

The Axalta Training Academy at Welwyn Garden City, is a state-of-the-art facility which is home to Axalta’s three premium global refinish brands, Cromax®, Spies Hecker and Standox.

Each brand has its own dedicated training room, mixing area and spray booth, which are equipped with high-end materials and energy saving features such as LED lighting. The Training Academy runs brand specific training courses, as well as ATA assessments, throughout the year. For more information on the Training Academy, or to book a course, visit the brands’ websites – www.cromax.com/gb, www.spieshecker.co.uk, www.standox.co.uk.