Reading, which AkzoNobel says produces approximately 45% of its North American powder coating batches, is receiving new production lines, bonding technology, automated process controls and pilot manufacturing capabilities. The company said the plant's proximity to its Flying Hills R&D center will help move new powder formulations from development into commercial production more quickly.

In Warsaw, an existing building has been converted into an automated manufacturing space. A new acrylics production building in the Monterrey area represents another part of the program.

AkzoNobel said the combined projects will increase manufacturing flexibility and support customers across automotive, battery systems, energy storage and other emerging applications. The company is also training employees to operate the new manufacturing technologies.

The new announcement expands on a North American investment story PCI has been tracking for several years. AkzoNobel previously announced a $30 million powder coatings investment covering Reading, Warsaw, Nashville and Monterrey. More recently, the company confirmed that it plans to close powder coatings manufacturing in Nashville by the end of 2026 and transfer that production to Reading, Warsaw and Monterrey.

Jeff Jirak, managing director of AkzoNobel's Powder Coatings business and a member of the company's Executive Committee, said the investment expands manufacturing capabilities while supporting supply-chain resilience and faster commercialization of high-performance products.

Baron Schreuder, North America commercial director for Powder Coatings, said customers increasingly require both reliable supply and manufacturing flexibility as new programs and technologies emerge.

The investment is reshaping AkzoNobel's North American powder manufacturing footprint at the same time production is leaving Nashville. For coatings manufacturers and finishers, the changes affect capacity, commercialization capability and regional supply within the powder coatings market.