AMSTERDAM, The Netherlands - AkzoNobel has underscored its ambition to double revenue in China within the next five years by opening its sixth powder coatings facility in the country. The plant is located in the Wuhan Economic and Technological Development Zone, a major industrial and manufacturing hub in central China.

The new factory will manufacture AkzoNobel Powder Coatings' flagship Interpon® range of products and joins the business' five existing sites in Shenzhen, Langfang, Ningbo, Suzhou and Chengdu.

The Wuhan facility's current production capacity is 4,000 tons per year and can be further expanded. The additional capacity boosts AkzoNobel's ability to meet growing demand in what is one of the largest powder coatings markets in the world.

AkzoNobel currently employs around 6,500 people in China, with the country hosting 11 percent of the company's research, development and innovation resources. Revenue for 2009 totaled $1.5 billion. The company's focus on China will be further strengthened next month when AkzoNobel officially inaugurates its new EUR 275 million multi-site in Ningbo.