International to establish own coatings business in Japan

Citation

(2004), "International to establish own coatings business in Japan", Anti-Corrosion Methods and Materials, Vol. 51 No. 1. https://doi.org/10.1108/acmm.2004.12851aaf.002

International to establish own coatings business in Japan

International to establish own coatings business in Japan

Keywords: Coatings, Japan, Marine corrosion

Since 1976, International Coatings Ltd (IC), part of the Akzo Nobel Group has worked in co-operation with Nippon Paint Co., Ltd (NP) in Japan. This association has provided products and services for International's marine customers in Japan. Japan currently accounts for nearly 20 per cent of the global marine market (including a third of the world's newbuilding orderbook) and is expected to maintain this position for the foreseeable future.

In order to meet the existing and future requirements of customers both inside and outside of Japan, it has been mutually agreed to end the association between the International Coatings and Nippon Paint Co., Ltd on 31 October 2004, allowing both companies to pursue their individual marine coatings business goals worldwide.

As a global market leader, International Coatings is now creating a strong, marine coatings business alongside the well established Akzo Nobel organisations already operating in Japan. This new International business will offer an extensive marine coatings product range together with comprehensive customer support facilities and will be fully operational by 1 November 2004.

The new business will be set-up by David French, currently market director for International's Worldwide Marine and Protective Coatings Business. David French, based in Japan, said “International will be the first, non-Japanese, truly global marine coatings manufacturer to establish their own operation in Japan. This exciting new venture will complete International's unrivalled network of product supply and client support systems worldwide. The Japanese business will provide customer benefit through direct local access to International's worldclass product range, customer service and technical capabilities. The previous complexity of customers dealing with two organisations with two product lines will be removed, ensuring a more streamlined and responsive approach. International looks forward to serving both existing and new customers through this new operation in Japan”.

IC/NP Joint press release

Nippon Paint Co., Ltd (NP) and International Coatings Ltd (IC), part of Akzo Nobel, have mutually agreed to terminate their association in marine coatings from the end of October 2004. During this association, the parties have licensed their marine coating technologies to each other and have co-operated in the provision of support and services to customers. This means that NP's customers have been supported by IC outside Japan while IC's customers have been supported by NP in Japan with marine coatings and services for newbuilding and maintenance contracts. The parties will continue to service customers under their existing arrangements until the end of October 2004. Transferred technology will remain available to both NP and IC after the end of the association.

The parties agreed that given geographic changes in the marine industry over the last decade and their desire to expand their individual marine coatings operations, they will operate independently from November 2004. Thus, NP plans to use its own overseas infrastructure to serve Japanese and overseas customers and owners building and maintaining vessels throughout the world, while IC plans to extend its global network by developing its infrastructure in Japan to serve Japanese and overseas customers and owners building and maintaining vessels in Japan.