Philadelphia, USA – 14 April 2020 - Axalta (NYSE: AXTA), a leading global supplier of liquid and powder coatings, today announced that it is leveraging its global operations and technical know-how to provide critical equipment and products to people and organisations in its local communities around the world.

"Axalta is committed to worldwide efforts to support the safety, health, and well-being of hospital professionals, first responders, and our employees," said Robert Bryant, Axalta's Chief Executive Officer. "Our entire global Axalta family is pulling together to use our collective energy and resources to help fight coronavirus in the communities where we live, work, and raise our families."

"We are putting our manufacturing might and supply inventories to work in order to offer products that will make a difference where they are needed most – whether that be in hospital rooms, on ambulances, or on the manufacturing floor," continued Bryant.  "We will continue to look for opportunities to leverage our capabilities to the fullest and remain steadfast in our goal of serving our communities and the true heroes on the front lines of this fight."   

Axalta's coronavirus relief efforts include:

• Production of thousands of gallons of hand sanitiser: Axalta's plants in Front Royal, Virginia, USA; Mount Clemens, Michigan, USA; Tlalnepantla, Mexico; Guarulhos, Brazil; and Wuppertal, Germany are shifting their manufacturing to produce thousands of gallons of hand sanitiser that meets the high standards of the World Health Organization. This vital product will be donated to local hospitals and first responders, as well as used at Axalta plants to ensure the safety of employees and their families.
• Sending much-needed PPE to hospitals globally: Axalta is donating personal protective equipment (PPE) such as facemasks (including its N-95 inventory), coveralls, closed hoods, and protective sleeves to hospitals throughout the world. Medical professionals can use the PPE normally worn in Axalta's manufacturing facilities and by our customers to reduce the risk of contracting or transmitting coronavirus. These donations have thus far occurred in the United States, France, Belgium, and Germany.
• Providing seat covers to medical professionals: Axalta is donating more than 5,000 seat covers, typically used in bodyshops, to local hospitals that are low on protective supplies. Medical professionals use the seat covers in their own cars to reduce the risk of transmitting coronavirus when they are visiting those affected by COVID-19.

Axalta has now been on the front lines of coronavirus efforts for several months. In February, to rapidly fulfil a critical need order at the request of a major customer, Axalta's Changchun, China plant was granted a special permit to resume work (after all employee safety requirements were met) to manufacture paint for a fleet of ambulances that were in high demand at the peak of the outbreak in China.

About Axalta

Axalta is a leading global company focused solely on coatings and providing customers with innovative, colourful, beautiful and sustainable solutions. From light OEM vehicles, commercial vehicles and refinish applications to electric motors, buildings and pipelines, our coatings are designed to prevent corrosion, increase productivity and enable the materials we coat to last longer. With more than 150 years of experience in the coatings industry, the 14,000 people of Axalta continue to find ways to serve our more than 100,000 customers in 130 countries better every day with the finest coatings, application systems and technology. For more information visit axalta.co.uk and follow us @Axalta on Twitter and on LinkedIn.