AkzoNobel to co-operate with leading automotive brands

A Formula 1 car covered by AkzoNobel products

AkzoNobel, the leading paints and coatings company, has just entered into a co-operation with BMW Group and McLaren to provide its high-performance products and services for cars. According to this agreement, AkzoNobel will become a trusted supplier of vehicle refinish products and services to a large part of BMW's distribution network around the world from February 1, 2020.

Covering 44 locations, the agreement means that the company’s premium Sikkens and Lesonal brands are now approved for paint repairs of BMW and Mini passenger cars at authorised dealers, repairers, importers, and national BMW Group branches. Combining BMW’s class-leading vehicle refinishing system, AkzoNobel’s innovative and sustainable products and digital colour tools are the perfect solutions that will help further enhance the customer service offer and efficiency of the BMW network.

As well as offering proven performance and high-quality coatings, AkzoNobel leads the development of innovative digital colour tools. With MixitTM, the company offers a cloud-based colour retrieval application which gives instant access to more than two million colour formulas. With the help of the compact handheld spectrophotometer Automatchic™, any paint job can be done faster, more accurately, and with less waste. Moreover, customers also have the opportunity to benefit from a premium service which can enhance the business performance of their organisations. With Carbeat™, AkzoNobel offers a state-of-the-art digital bodyshop workflow solution which increases production management efficiency and reduces cycle times.

Sikkens automotive painting brand

Besides partnering with new customers like BMW, in this racing season, AkzoNobel will also continue to collaborate with McLaren to put the fresh cool look into McLaren's stylish new Formula 1 car – the MCL35.

As official paint and coatings partner of the McLaren Racing team, the company’s Sikkens brand has helped McLaren stand out on the grid since 2008. With a new look and design for the 2020 season, all painted parts of the latest race car – as well as the team’s transport, garage, and accessories – feature AkzoNobel’s high-performance products.

This season, the car also uses heat-shielding provided by the company’s protective coatings business. Intertherm 50 – from the international product range – has been applied to critical components surrounding the engine and exhaust to help them withstand temperatures of up to 540 degrees Celsius. A single coat of the product is just 25 microns thick – around a third of the width of a human hair.

Patrick Bourguignon, managing director of AkzoNobel’s automotive and specialty coatings business, shared, “In 2020, the company is extremely proud to have the opportunity to introduce and supply our premium brands and business services to new customers such as BMW as well as remaining our long partnership with McLaren. Working with inspiring partners like McLaren and BMW enables us to broaden our expertise as we endeavour to deliver more cutting-edge innovation for our customers.”

Lesonal brand for cars

AkzoNobel has a passion for paint. Its world-class portfolio of brands – including Dulux, International, Sikkens, and Interpon – is trusted by customers around the globe. Headquartered in the Netherlands, the company is active in over 150 countries and employs around 34,500 people who are passionate about delivering the high-performance products and services customers expect.