U.S.-based Axalta Coating Systems is balancing its expansion of liquid and powder coatings manufacturing in China with a push for sustainable technology education.
The Axalta Sustainable Technology Education Program will be part of a global education program and marks Axalta's first corporate social responsibility program in China as an independent company.
Axalta will provide an undisclosed number of scholarships to students at Chinese materials science and chemical engineering universities, hold periodic campus conferences hosted by Axalta scientists, conduct an Axalta University Open Day and partner with universities for co-op programs. Participating students will also have an opportunity to intern at Axalta to experience commercial research and development and observe first-hand the company's sophisticated product lines, technology applications, and sustainable production processes.
Axalta Coating Systems is the new name of DuPont Performance Coatings which was acquired by The Carlyle Group on February 1, 2013.
At the same time, the chemical company broke ground to expand its manufacturing capacity for coatings with the construction of a new USD50 million facility in Jiading, Shanghai.
Expected to begin production in 2015, Axalta's Shanghai waterborne facility will manufacture and supply up to 25,000 metric tons of its waterborne products.