From BodyShop Business
      
NORCROSS, Ga. – AkzoNobel has announced that it will be relocating its Automotive & Aerospace Coatings (A&AC) Vehicle Refinishes North American headquarters from Norcross, Ga., to Troy, Mich. Preparations for the move are currently underway with an anticipated completion date of March 2015.
 
AkzoNobel has a long history and deep presence in the greater Detroit market with laboratories, training facilities and manufacturing for A&AC as well as having several other businesses represented in the area. This most current relocation action will bring approximately 60 new positions to the Troy facility located at 1845 Maxwell Street.
 
The Troy laboratory, designated as a Center of Excellence, is one of seven strategic R&D sites for the entire AkzoNobel corporation. In addition to a key global R&D laboratory, the site is also one of two AkzoNobel Global Color Centers serving the Vehicle Refinishes business across the globe.
 
Beyond the Troy lab facilities, AkzoNobel has also stepped up investment in manufacturing capability in Michigan. The Pontiac manufacturing site has undergone multiple expansions to accommodate constant growth. It is the production facility for the North American Vehicle Refinishes business and is the sole production facility for all A&AC waterborne technology in North America. The relocation of the Vehicle Refinishes headquarters to Troy marks a continuation of this strategy of investment and concentration.
 
“Detroit and the surrounding areas represent the historical heart of the North American automotive industry,” said Doug Holmberg, A&AC director of North American Vehicle Refinishes. “Our labs and manufacturing facilities are currently located in Troy and Pontiac respectively. Locating the functional teams and regional leadership in the same geographical proximity creates a more productive, collaborative and aligned team. In addition, with greater critical mass in one area, we also see increased opportunities overall for employees and organizational development. This investment is a clear statement regarding our commitment to the greater Detroit community, the state of Michigan and the North American collision repair market.”