In 2016, Axalta celebrates 150 years in the coatings industry. From the inception of our business in 1866 to the manufacture of next generation environmentally compatible products demanded in the 21st century, we have continued to evolve. What has not changed is a tradition of quality, technology, innovation, and leadership that puts our customers first.

Some of the many highlights in the 150 year history of our company:

1866  

• Herberts, the original producer of Standox® paint products is founded

1880s

• Spies Hecker coatings company founded

1900

• Permanent® colours-first breakthrough enamel technology 
• Begin nitrocellulose lacquer manufacture

1920s

• Duco® paints manufactured by DuPont in the U.S. and Permaloid® paints manufactured by Spies Hecker in Germany are introduced as sprayable paints
• First colour paint for automobiles adds consumer appeal

1930s

• Dulux® alkyd enamel coating provides more durable finishes
•  First mixing-machine tinting system developed to improve quality

1940s

• Sand-mills revolutionize pigment dispersion efficiencies 
• Automobile OEM and Refinish coating systems diverge with use of OEM high temperature drying ovens
• ColorMasterTM colorimeter commercialised improving refinish colour match

1950s

• Standox® paints launch premium line
• Lucite®acrylic resin, first thermoplastic acrylic, introduced
• First to develop L,a,b colour equations that became part of the foundation of modern colour science
• Established first Latin America plant in Tlalneplanta, Mexico

1960s

• Centari® acrylic enamel launched
• Nap-Gard® fusion bonded epoxy powder coatings launched for pipelines

1970s

• Imron® polyurethane enamel introduced
• Alesta® decorative powder coatings launched
  

1980s

• Introduced first spectrophotometer instrument
• First waterborne OEM coatings in North America
• First insulation coating Polyamid-imide overcoat
• Replacement of 2-component to 1-component Voltatex® Impregnating Resins provides optimised cycle times and easier handling

1990s

• Cromax® waterborne Refinish basecoat introduced
• DuPont acquires Herberts coating businesses
• First spectrophotometer instrument introduced in the market
• Introduced organic-inorganic hybrid Voltatex® Core Sheet Varnish for electrical  steel coating

2000 - 2012

• Formulate super-high solids coatings for OEMs
• VINdicator colour tool improves Refinish colour matching
• Consolidate systems with Eco-Concept paint improves productivity and performance for light vehicle OEMs
• Establish first Asia-Pacific plants in China and India
• Introduce Imron® Elite finishes
• Introduce 3rd generation waterborne Cromax® Pro Basecoat
  
• Launch Waterborne 3-Wet for light vehicle OEMs
• Launch ChromaPremier® Pro system for high-volume customers
  
• Acquire Plus™ EFX spectrophotometer that obtains colour and flake data to create a new level of accuracy in colour matching

2013

• On February 1 Axalta Coating Systems becomes an independent company with a new name and identity
• Announce investment to construct a new facility dedicated to waterborne coating production in Shanghai
• Invest in new pilot reactor to at our Coating Technology Center in Wilmington, DE
• Launch Cormax refinish coatings line in Brazil
• Introduce Cromax as the name of one of Axalta’s three global flagship refinish brand families
• Establish new corporate headquarters in Philadelphia
• Establish new headquarters for the company’s North America region in Glen Mills, Pennsylvania, USA
• Celebrate 50th anniversary of operations in Brazil
• Introduce SpectraMaster™ 3-D virtual colour design tool for light vehicle OEM and refinish customers
• Begin the Axalta Distinguished Lecture Series at University of Pennsylvania, USA
• Launch Nap-Gard® High Tg 7-2555 for underground and sub-sea pipelines
• Celebrate 60 years of colour trend reporting
• Announce new UK offices and Training Academy for customers
  

2014

•  Issue 2013 Color Popularity Report
• Announce the Axalta Sustainable Technology Education Program in China
• Broke ground to expand manufacturing capacity for waterborne coatings in Shanghai
• Announce construction in Wuppertal, Germany to expand capacity to produce waterborne coatings
• Introduce next generation Voltatex® electrical insulation products in China
• Launch Cromax Pro® Waterborne Basecoat in India
• Launch Nason® Industrial coatings in Australia

• Robert McLaughlin, Senior Vice President and CFO of Airgas Inc., joins Axalta Board of Directors
• Open new commercial offices for Spanish operations in Sant Cugat del Vallès near Barcelona, Spain
  
• Publish 2013 Sustainability Report
• Expand powder coatings production in China with joint venture partner Huajia Chemical Co. Ltd
• Andreas Kramvis, Vice Chairman of Honeywell Inc., joins Axalta Board of Directors
• Announce investment in Tlalnepantla, Mexico, to expand resin production for transportation coatings
• Broke ground in Wuppertal, Germany to expand waterborne coating production capacity
  
• Axalta wins Leading Automotive Brand award in China
• Globalise reach of Abcite™ and Alesta® powder coatings
• Rebrand all Axalta electrocoat products under unified AquaEC™ brand name
• Launch Alesta® ZeroZinc powder products
• Announce the renewal of strategic partnership with the Huajia division of the Yongjia Group under a new name, Axalta-Huajia Coatings
• Celebrate 50 years of commercial powder coatings
• Introduce Acquire Plus EFX™ Spectrophotometer in China
• Broke ground on construction of customer training facility in northwest Houston
• On November 12 Axalta becomes publicly traded NYSE: AXTA
• Open a new product development centre at its facility in Lionville, Pennsylvania, USA
• Launch new generation Voltatex® C6 electrical steel varnish

2015

• Launch Color Block blog for North America market
• Sign joint venture in China with Shanghai Kinlita Chemical to supply coatings for commercial vehicles
• Inaugurate a refurbished technology center for powder coatings operations in Mexico
  
• Announce expansion of global vehicle product portfolio for agricultural, construction and earthmoving equipment (ACE) market
• Open waterborne coatings plant in Shanghai
• Announce support for the Mother River Protection program in China and the China Youth Development Foundation
• Expand customer training facilities in Japan for refinish technicians
• Receive GM Supplier of the Year award
• Receive Hyundai Excellence in Purchasing supplier award in Brazil
• Open first Centre for Coating Technology Training in collaboration with the Automotive Workshop Owners Association in Buenos Aires
• Axalta commences Secondary Offering
• Launch Imron® Hydro and Imron® Elite in China
• Introduce second series of Alesta® Global Color Collection powder coatings
• Standox® celebrates 60-year anniversary
• Open Thailand’s third Cromax® Color Center in Chiang Rai
• Introduce Acquire Plus EFX™ digital spectrophotometer for body shops in Korea
• Begin construction on Asia-Pacific Technology Center in Shanghai
• Cromax® Pro wins Green Repair Innovative Product Award in China
• Celebrate 50-year anniversary of Nap-Gard® Powder Coatings
  
• Announce expansion of powder supply capabilities in the Southern California region
  
• Introduce Ganicin™ zinc-rich, corrosion-resistant coating system for industrial applications
• Commission waterborne manufacturing facility in Wuppertal, Germany
• Acquire Metalak Benelux B.V., importer of Spies Hecker coatings in the Netherlands and Belgium
• Axalta receives Volvo Cars Quality of Excellence Award in Germany 
• Introduce ReplaShade™ custom colour match program for powder customers in North America
• Pledge five year support for Ducks Unlimited conservation programs in North America
• Broke ground on Axalta Customer Experience Center on the campus of Hendrick  Motorsports in Concord, NC
• Announce construction of Global Innovation Center at The Navy Yard in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
• Announce investment in India to double capacity and build coatings development centre

2016

• Axalta celebrates 150 years in the coatings industry
• Ajax operations center in Canada celebrates 60 years of operations
• Axalta Awards First State Robotics Scholarship
• Axalta North America Launches the Learning Campus in Canada
• Axalta and Jeff Gordon launch AquaEC 6100 at the ECOAT16 Conference
• Cromax unveils renovated European training center in Belgium
• Inaugurates expanded resin production facility in Tlalnepantla, Mexico
• Open expanded European Technology Center in Wuppertal, Germany
• Axalta enhances powder coating capabilities at Montbrison, France Facilities
• Axalta Debuts Nap-Gard Enhancements at NACE Corrosion 2016
• Axalta becomes primary sponsor of Dale Earnhardt Jr.’s digital platform
• Become a Founding Partner of the Daytona International Speedway’s Motorsports Stadium
• Acquire Dura Coat Products, manufacturer of coil coatings in North America
• Acquire High Performance Coating, manufacturer of refinish coating products in Malaysia
• Acquire rigid thermoplastics division of United Paint and Chemicals providing interior coating to light vehicle manufacturers
• Acquired Geeraets in the Netherlands, distributor of Cromax products
• Axalta becomes 100% owned by public investors
• Axalta and Ducks Unlimited announce first project, solidifying multi-year relationship