The company said priority objectives for development work carried out at the new laboratory are the formulation of new antifouling technologies for marine paints, new building coatings, and maintenance and repair coatings for the marine and yacht markets.

In addition to the new laboratory, which will service the company's Marine and Yacht Coatings businesses, Akzo Nobel said it will redesign and upgrade the existing R&D facility at Felling for use as the Marine & Protective Coatings business unit's Technology Center. The investment at the site follows upgrades at the business unit's facilities in South Korea, where a new laboratory has been built at Geoje; at Newton Ferrer in the UK; and at the company's Asia Pacific Technical Center at Jurong Town, Singapore.