AkzoNobel Brings Its Latest Digital Color Technology to Customers in Yacht Coatings

Customers using AkzoNobel's yacht coatings can now benefit from a new digital tool that offers a wide color range with the industry-leading Awlgrip product portfolio. Built on existing International and AkzoNobel color palettes, the new MIXIT tool contains over 18,000 colors and is significantly broader than what is currently available in the yacht market. The newly developed cloud interface also means users have fast and easy access globally. The system played an important role in developing custom colors prepared by all competing teams in the current version of the Volvo Ocean Race. As Official Shipyard supplier, AkzoNobel coated all vessels in the fleet, while coastal teams also travel around the world with a mixing tool to carry out repairs and maintenance on each boat. Additionally, a new Awlcraft SE product series was introduced for yacht owners.

Basecoat offers various color options such as solid, metallic and pearl effects, as seen with the AkzoNobel team on their own racing track. The new solution also reduces the time required to meet the customer's needs.

Hans Slegtenhorst, Pro and Superyacht Global Segment Manager at AkzoNobel, said: "This new color offering and digital customer support package will enable us to fulfill most color requests much faster than before. By offering such a broad database of colors, we will continue to stay ahead in competition and guarantee premium customer service, thereby maintaining our position as the industry's leading player." AkzoNobel is developing leading digital color techniques and technologies for yachts in the industry. Since the 1990s, the company has been continuously innovating for customers and the future. The MIXIT tool is the latest example of the company's innovation strategy moving toward more digital solutions; AkzoNobel can meet the industry's need for greater accuracy and efficiency in color matching. Pim Koeckhoven, Color Technology Director, said "Using the existing technology and color platform at AkzoNobel, we succeeded in creating synergy from different markets" and added "This enabled us to rapidly develop colors based on the latest digital color techniques and new interface for yacht operations. This means we can offer clear advantages to customers since colors can now be mixed faster than ever before."