Aug. 13, 2013—Axalta Coating Systems has invested $5 million in a new pilot reactor to support coatings polymer research and scale-up activities at its Coatings Technology Center in Wilmington, Del.
The state-of-the-art reactor system, already in use, is coupled with a complete process automation and control system to enable precise control of ingredient amounts and critical conditions such as temperature and pressure. The expansion will enhance product development and accelerate the manufacture and introduction of the next generation of polymers.
The polymers produced from the pilot reactor can be used for both traditional solvent based and more environmentally friendly water-based coating products.
“Coatings are about appearance and performance,” said Charles Shaver, Axalta CEO. “Our goal is to provide our customers with the best possible coatings, ones that will cure faster, adhere better, offer the latest colors and be more durable than any others on the market.”
The new system mimics a full-scale production with a faster process, allowing new products to be on the market quicker than normal.
“Our reactor in Wilmington will enable us to manufacture and test new polymer concepts quickly with lower cycle times and bring them to market faster than before,” said Panos Kordomenos, senior vice president for research and development at Axalta.