Minister Van Veldhoven is pictured in Sassenheim using a paint gun
September 2, 2026 — AkzoNobel has opened a €7.5-million innovation laboratory at its Sassenheim site in the Netherlands, strengthening the company’s largest global research and development centre.
The new facility, which focuses primarily on powder coatings, is designed to accelerate the development of more sustainable, solvent-free, and energy-efficient coating technologies.
The lab was officially opened by Dutch Minister of Climate and Green Growth Stientje van Veldhoven.
“We’ve established a global reputation for pioneering product innovation, and the new lab will be pivotal in ensuring that we continue to innovate with impact,” said Frank Vergeer, R&D director of AkzoNobel’s Powder Coatings business.
The facility will focus on next-generation powder coatings, including lower-temperature curing technologies designed to reduce energy consumption, as well as solutions intended to improve customer productivity.
Research will also examine opportunities to extend product lifetimes, reduce maintenance requirements, and lower material use.
AkzoNobel said the development of these technologies will support efforts to reduce carbon emissions across the value chain. The company has reduced carbon dioxide emissions from its own operations by 50 per cent compared with its 2018 baseline, reaching the target four years ahead of schedule.
“The name of my ministry — Climate and Green Growth — is no coincidence,” van Veldhoven said. “We don’t just want to reduce emissions; we want to make sure the Netherlands stays at the forefront of clean technologies.”
She said the new laboratory demonstrates how sustainability and economic opportunity can work together.
AkzoNobel employs about 2,700 research and development professionals worldwide across 70 laboratories. The company has invested more than €1.3 billion in research and development during the past five years.
For more information, contact https://www.akzonobel.com/en