AkzoNobel has installed one of the automotive industry’s first hydrogen-powered spray booths at its new training center in Belgium. The facility, located near Brussels, is part of a multi-million euro program to expand and upgrade the company’s network of more than 40 Automotive Training Centers (ATCs) worldwide.

The new spray booth is designed to exceed local and legislative requirements and is a key component of AkzoNobel’s efforts to embrace more sustainable operations. The booth is fully equipped for traditional repairs and features an all-in-one repairs workstation. It also includes a special air filtration system that uses active carbon to filter volatile organic compounds (VOCs) generated during the painting process. An extra high efficiency particulate air filter (HEPA) is used to produce clean air, which is then filtered back out into the atmosphere.

In addition to the new spray booth, the Belgian training center will also offer a wide range of training programs. These programs will focus on application training, product and system training and training in new digital color processes. The center will also place a particular emphasis on quality improvement, process improvement and repairs to radar capable vehicles, as well as the new generation of electric vehicles.

AkzoNobel’s decision to install a hydrogen-powered spray booth is part of the company’s broader commitment to reducing its carbon emissions. The company has set a goal to reduce its carbon emissions across the full value chain by 2030. The new training center is 30% larger than the one it is replacing and has been constructed to be BREEAM certified.

“The industry of the future requires painters of the future who are fully conversant with the latest technologies and techniques,” said Patrick Bourguignon, Director of AkzoNobel’s Automotive and Specialty Coatings business. “By increasing the size of our Belgian facility by almost a third, we can accommodate more technology – such as the new spray booth – and train more people.”

The company’s ATCs are part of a global network of training facilities that AkzoNobel operates across its businesses. These facilities support customers and partners across key industries, including aerospace coatings, decorative paints and yacht coatings.