AkzoNobel installs automotive industry's first hydrogen-powered paint booths at new automotive training center
AkzoNobel has installed one of the automotive industry’s first hydrogen-powered paint booths at a new training center in Belgium. The groundbreaking facility, located near Brussels, is part of a multi-million-euro initiative to expand and upgrade the company’s network of more than 40 Automotive Training Centers (ATCs) around the world.
The new paint booth was designed to exceed local and legislative requirements, highlighting how adopting the latest technology can help achieve more sustainable operations. The site itself, which is 30% larger than the one it replaces, has been awarded BREEAM certification, further demonstrating AkzoNobel’s commitment to reducing carbon emissions across the value chain by 2030.
“The industry of the future requires future painters who are fully conversant with the latest technologies and techniques,” said Patrick Bourguignon, director of the company’s automotive and specialty coatings business. “By increasing the size of our facility in Belgium by almost a third, we can accommodate more technology, such as new paint booths, and train more people.” “We will be able to show body shop personnel how the latest technology can reduce carbon emissions, shorten drying times and reduce energy consumption, helping to move the industry in a more sustainable direction.”
The hydrogen-powered combination paint booth is fully equipped for conventional repairs and includes an integrated repair workstation. It also features a special air filtration system that uses “activated carbon” to filter out any volatile organic compounds (VOCs) produced during the painting process. Ultra-high efficiency particulate air filters (HEPA) produce clean air (up to 99%), which is then filtered and discharged into the atmosphere.
ATC offers a wide range of training programs, including application training, product and system training, and training on new digital color processes. Particular emphasis is placed on quality improvement, process improvement and the repair of radar vehicles and the new generation of electric vehicles. “By further upskilling painters, body shop managers and OEM engineers on the new generation of coatings and technologies, we can help them improve the efficiency of their operations and reduce their own carbon emissions,” added Bourguignon. “As a result, our investment in ATCs will address the growing global skills shortage, while also helping us set a new benchmark for sustainable practices in the industry.”
The company’s ATCs are part of a wider global network of training facilities AkzoNobel operates across its businesses. They support customers and partners in key industries including aerospace coatings, decorative coatings and yacht coatings.
