AkzoNobel, a global Netherlands-based paint manufacturer with ties to Alfred Nobel, who endowed the peace prize bearing his name, plans to invest more than $58 million to upgrade its Waukegan aerospace coatings plant, one of the few factories remaining at the city’s lakefront.

Already the company’s largest aerospace coatings facility making exterior and interior coatings for commercial, military and private airplanes, the two-phase project will increase capacity and add more automated processes, according to a news release from the company.

Patrick Bourguignon, the company’s director of automotive and specialty coatings, said in the release that AkzoNobel plans to take advantage of projected trends in the industries it serves.

“This investment will increase our comprehensive North American supply,” Bourguignon said in the release.  “Demand for air travel is expected to grow significantly over the next few years and we want to make sure our customers are able to meet that demand with aircraft of the highest quality.”

AkzoNobel announced its plans to upgrade its Waukegan factory and build a warehouse in Pleasant Prairie, Wisconsin, further increasing its manufacturing capacity locally on Dec. 18 in the Netherlands, adding to business growth in northeast Lake County.

AkzoNobel came to Waukegan in 1999 and employs approximately 200 people on its 11-acre site near the Lake Michigan shoreline, south of the Waukegan Harbor & Marina, according to the release.

David Motley, the city’s public relations director, said in a text that AkzoNobel purchased the Dexter Midland coating business in establishing its presence in Waukegan. Since then, it has been civically involved, he said.

Mayor Sam Cunningham said in a text that the company’s investment in the local economy will have a variety of benefits. He said he appreciates the commitment AkzoNobel is making to the community.

It “will strengthen our city’s economy and create new opportunities for the local workforce,” Cunningham said. “The multi-million-dollar upgrade to their aerospace coatings production facility demonstrates confidence in our region as a hub for advanced manufacturing and industry.”

Cunningham said he sees positives for the city. Increasing production capability locally helps bring “continued innovation and prosperity” to Waukegan. He also sees continued growth coming from the project.

“By enhancing production capacity and supply capabilities right here in Waukegan, this investment positions our city to play a key role in meeting growing global demand for high-quality aerospace products,” Cunningham said.

Kevin Considine, the CEO and president of Lake County Partners, said in a text that AkzoNobel’s decision to upgrade its Waukegan plant is a testament to a global company’s faith in the area.

“This investment is a tremendous endorsement of Waukegan and Lake County as an advanced manufacturing center, especially its location and workforce,” Considine said in the test. “The high level of automation aligns well with the new programs the College of Lake County has brought to their campuses in Gurnee and Waukegan.”

Plant Improvements include high-speed equipment to dissolve materials when needed, a rapid-service unit for quicker production to get coatings to businesses in the “maintenance, repair and operations markets” sooner, according to the release. The Wisconsin warehouse clears space for more manufacturing area.

Martijn Arkesteijn, the company’s global operations director for aerospace coatings, said in the release that the Waukegan plant improvements will enhance the customer experience and requirements.

“We’ll be able to provide current and future customers with even more flexibility through the delivery of large batch sizes, better responsiveness to market needs and shorter lead time for color development,” Arkesteijn said.

Founded in 1792, AkzoNobel has a long history of providing coatings for products, according to its website. Alfred Nobel is considered a “founding father” of the business because, “his inventive genius is part of our DNA.”

https://www.chicagotribune.com/2026/01/05/akzonobel-plant-upgrades/