News Article

International Paint, the largest private-sector employer in Gateshead, will invest £6.4 million (€7.1 million) to build a new testing laboratory for Fire Protection products at its Felling site. The new facility will create 14 new jobs, and secure a further 30 at the site. It is due to be completed in early 2011.

International is a leading supplier of Fire Protection coatings, used to protect steel structures such as buildings and oil and gas installations. The market is growing rapidly due to increasingly stringent fire protection regulations worldwide, and forecasters expect demand to double by 2018.

“The new facility will significantly improve our ability to develop and bring new products to market,” said Dipak Mistry, Technical Manager for International’s Protective Coatings business. “The new laboratory will give us a state-of-the-art Centre of Excellence for Fire Protection Development here in the North East.”

International is the world’s biggest producer of protective coatings for major structures—our products are used on a number of iconic landmarks, including the Sage Gateshead, the Gateshead Millennium Bridge, the London Eye, the Beijing Olympic “Aqua Cube” and seven stadiums being used for the 2010 FIFA World Cup. It is also the world leader in coatings used in ship and yacht building,maintenance, and repair—our coatings feature on many famous vessels including the HMS Ark Royal and the Queen Mary 2.

“This significant investment in Fire Protection in the current economic climate is an indication of our commitment to Research & Technology, which we see as key to our future success in the Protective Coatings business,” said Robert Taylor, Managing Director of International Paint.

The project also received a grant of £249,000 from regional development agency One North East. The RDA’s Director of Business and Industry Ian Williams, said: “International Paint operates at the cutting edge of its industry so I am delighted that One North East has been able to support a project that will help it to continue to develop world-leading products at its Felling plant.”International Paint employs

5,700 people worldwide, including more than 900 at the Felling site. The company is part of AkzoNobel, the world’s largest paints and coatings company and producer of the famous Dulux brand.

For further information contact:

Andrew Wood Gemma Sedlacek
Communications Manager Communications Assistant
International Paint International Paint
Tel: +44 191 402 2320 Tel: +44 191 401 2591
Email: international.media@akzonobel.com
International Paint Ltd. Tel +44 (0) 191 469 6111
Stoneygate Lane Fax +44 (0) 191 495 2003
Felling, Gateshead www.akzonobel.com/international
Tyne & Wear, U.K.
NE10 0JY