News

AkzoNobel Vehicle Refinishes is embarking on an exciting tour across 12 countries in EMEA to introduce its next generation of products and services as part of ‘From Start to Refinish: The Productivity Drive 2025’ roadshow, to bring innovation to EMEA bodyshop professionals.

AkzoNobel’s Vehicle Refinishes has signed a collaboration agreement with Banco Bilbao Vizcaya Argentaria (BBVA) to provide Sustainable Repair Network partners with customized financial products to help accelerate their transition towards more sustainable bodyshop operations.

"The Sustainable Repair Network shows the way for a more sustainable future in the repair industry and demonstrates the importance of prioritizing sustainability at all levels of the business.”

AkzoNobel introduces Autowave Optima, the new generation one-stop application waterborne basecoat that supports bodyshops in delivering the perfect combination of productivity and sustainability while providing the quality and performance for which AkzoNobel’s premium basecoats are renowned.

AkzoNobel Vehicle Refinishes has extended its partnership with LV= General Insurance (LV=), which is part of Allianz, for five years, underscoring the value of AkzoNobel's sustainable products within the Sikkens portfolio and the benefits they bring to the LV= and Allianz repair networks, comprising over 400 repair bodyshops across the UK.

AkzoNobel is equipping its global Automotive Training Centres with advanced technologies like hydrogen-powered spray booths, VR training, and digital tools to address sustainability and a global skills shortage. With plans to train hundreds annually and support the shift to more sustainable vehicle repairs, these centers are redefining the future of the automotive industry.

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

On Wednesday 31st July 2024, the AkzoNobel Automotive Training Centre in Didcot hosted Ageas's Sustainability Day, an event dedicated to exploring sustainability within the automotive industry. The event commenced with an address by Paul Llewellyn, Head of Ageas Motor Claims, who emphasised the importance of sustainable solutions from industry suppliers. This set the stage for a day filled with insightful presentations and practical demonstrations.

Four more major vehicle refinishes businesses, Pennings, Alton Cars, Veetec and Impact are joining AkzoNobel’s Sustainable Repair Network, a program launched last year to help customers in the EMEA region on their journey to becoming more sustainable and efficient.

Reduce VOCs and maintain performance levels with Sikkens Autowave MM 2.0 E-Line

By David Catanho, Sustainability Transformation Manager for AkzoNobel’s vehicle refinishes business

AkzoNobel’s new UV Putty is the latest addition to our UV product portfolio for vehicle refinish customers. Available in two textures: fine and coarse, its fast curing time will allow bodyshops to carry out spot-size repairs with speed and efficiency – filling the smallest pinholes and scratches or minor dents and stone chips in under two minutes.

The Vella Group, one of the UK’s leading independent collision repair organisations, has become the first UK business to achieve Level 1 Certification and become an official partner within AkzoNobel’s Sustainable Repair Network, demonstrating its ongoing commitment to reducing its carbon footprint.

The first three bodyshops to join AkzoNobel’s Sustainable Repair Network have successfully progressed through the first level of the program, and demonstrated further commitment to reducing their carbon footprint.

Bodyshops making repairs to vehicles that feature the latest embedded advanced driver assisted systems (ADAS) can now benefit from more than 200 OEM-approved RADAR transparent color formulas from AkzoNobel, developed to comply with each OEM's required specification.

AkzoNobel has received approval to supply its water-based refinish products to Porsche China – currently one of the premium automotive brand’s biggest markets.

With bodyshops needing to ‘Rethink’ their operations during these challenging economic times, premium vehicle refinishes brand Sikkens has developed an all-new one-stop filler, which can significantly improve productivity while lowering energy costs.

In the latest Automotive Insights: refinish podcast, host Graham Threlfall, Global Key Account manager from Akzo Nobel, talks to Michael Giarrizzo, President and CEO of DCR Systems.

Bodyshops can now take advantage of the vehicle refinish industry’s first repair calculator to measure, manage and reduce carbon emissions, which has been developed by AkzoNobel.

Sikkens, a premium refinishes brand of AkzoNobel is launching a new campaign aimed at encouraging vehicle refinishing businesses to ‘Rethink’ sustainability throughout the entire refinishing journey.