SHANGHAI – Axalta Coating Systems has commenced construction of its Asia Pacific Technology Center (APTC) that will develop coating technologies designed to provide customers in China and the greater Asia-Pacific region with the best and latest products and services.

Officiating at the ceremony for the 15,500-square-meter center in the Minhong Industrial Development Zone, Shanghai, were Axalta Chairman and CEO Charlie Shaver and other Axalta executives; Zhang Guokun, Deputy Governor of Minhong District; Xue Hong, Vice President of Shanghai Real Estate Group; and Feng Xiaoming, General Manager and Executive Director of the Minhong Group, the company that has jointly invested with Axalta to construct the facility.

Scheduled to be operational in third quarter of 2016, the regional technology center will be equipped to undertake fundamental research and develop new coating applications, including the latest-generation paint formulations, colors, resin development, dispersion technology, spray application and analytic evaluation of paint performance. The center will have technical support capabilities to serve light vehicle OEM, commercial vehicle and refinish customers as well as those in the industrial and architectural sectors. With a workforce capacity of up to 500 employees, the center is poised to support all Axalta businesses with paints, lean processes and sustainable applications.

The technology center will be part of Axalta’s global network of global innovation centers in North America, Europe and Latin America. The facility will house Axalta’s Refinish Color Development Center, a new Refinish Training Center for customers, and extensive laboratories.