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Celebrating
140 Years

AkzoNobel’s International® brand is synonymous with innovation and collaboration, and has risen to become a world leader in marine, protective and yacht coatings.

Watch Video

Celebrating
140 Years

AkzoNobel’s International® brand is synonymous with innovation and collaboration, and has risen to become a world leader in marine, protective and yacht coatings.

Watch Video scroll

1881-1904 The Beginnings

FELLING, UNITED KINGDOM
Holzapfels Fabric
Time line point
FELLING, UNITED KINGDOM
1881

In 1881, brothers Max and Albert Holzapfel began their journey into the world of marine coatings.

Partnering with Charles Petrie, the trio began mixing paints by hand at a shipyard on England’s River Tyne, aiming to ride the tide of the booming marine industry.

The original barrel used to mix marine paint

The original barrel used by the Holzapfel brothers to mix marine paint

Barrels
Storage used to store paint

Storage shed used to store paint in the late 1800s

1890

A decade later the company became International, adding the distinctive red propeller to its logo.

The original Felling factory site is still home to one of International’s main operational bases 140 years later, with laboratories and offices continuing to innovate in the world of coatings.

International Paints

Felling, UK

Quality control

Product innovation in the 1970s

Felling

Felling HQ

Barrel Filling
Barrel Filling

See where the
brand is today

Our People

Meet the experts and customers that propel our brand

Read more

Innovations

View the technology that keeps industries moving

Read more

See where the brand is today

1889 - Today Global Growth

1889

First overseas factory in Russia

1901

Expanded beyond Europe, manufacturing in New York, USA

1914

The 9th factory opens in Japan, the first in Asia

From the first overseas factory in 1889, International has grown to serve the marine, protective and yacht markets across every inhabited continent
Australia Norway Brazil Denmark Spain UK Locations international
world map
Logo International

International locations in 1953

The brand has sailed through the waters of mergers and acquisitions over the years.

Most notably, International was acquired by Courtaulds in 1968, merging it with the historic PJA Paint Suppliers.

After more years of partnerships and mergers, International was brought under the AkzoNobel umbrella, where it remains today as a leader in marine, protective and yacht coatings.

AkzoNobel paints
PJA Paint Suppliers
PJA Paint Suppliers
International
1968
Courtaulds Logo

Courtaulds merged the two, housing all painting efforts under the International name

1998
AkzoNobel logo

AkzoNobel acquires Courtaulds’ coatings business, including International Paint

1999 - 2017
Logos stablished brands have joined the International umbrella

Over the last two decades, many established brands have joined the International umbrella

The brand has sailed through the waters of mergers and acquisitions over the years.

Most notably, International was acquired by Courtaulds in 1968, merging it with the historic PJA Paint Suppliers.

After more years of partnerships and mergers, International was brought under the AkzoNobel umbrella, where it remains today as a leader in marine, protective and yacht coatings.

AkzoNobel paints
1999 - 2017
Logos stablished brands have joined the International umbrella

Over the last two decades, many established brands have joined the International umbrella

1998
AkzoNobel logo

AkzoNobel acquires Courtaulds’ coatings business, including International Paint

1968
Courtaulds Logo

Courtaulds merged the two, housing all painting efforts under the International name

PJA Paint Suppliers
PJA Paint Suppliers
International

1931 - Today Meeting Evolving
Demands

As shipowner needs changed, International products have evolved in kind.

In 1931, International dedicated a yacht paint operation for pleasure boat builders in Europe and Asia, known as Interlux in North America.

Other aspects of the business, like protective coatings, grew more organically. What started as a quiet demand for these coatings in the oil and gas industry led to a shift in focus and products in the 1970s. These products now boast the largest segment of the International family.

Builders
MARINE
COATINGS
Learn more
Marine Coatings
PROTECTIVE
COATINGS
Learn more
Protective Coatings
YACHT
PAINT
Learn more
Yach Paint

MARINE
COATINGS

Learn more Marine Coatings

PROTECTIVE
COATINGS

Learn more Protective Coatings

YACHT
PAINT

Learn more Yach Paint

Connect with the people fueling our progress

Advertising through the ages

A visual trip back to the earlier days of marketing International products.

Advertising graphic
Coating assets around the globe

Using transformative products to protect sites on both land and sea.

The New York Times Building, USA Sydney Harbor Bridge, Australia Gardens by the Bay, Singapore London Array, UK The Tatiana 2, Turkey Globe-graphic

Today Looking Forward

People
People.

Diversity is our strength, efficiency is our goal. With roughly 2,000 employees around the world, our teams bring experience and innovation to meet the needs of shipbuilders, boat owners and maintenance crews around the world.

People
Planet.

As a global leader in sustainable paint solutions, we are constantly striving to reduce our environmental impact. This year AkzoNobel set forth goals to waste less and reuse more.

People
Paint.

From more sustainable coatings, to drone technology that saves time and money during maintenance, our aim is for quality with every coating.

Propelled
by curiosity

Tyne and Wear

In partnership with the Tyne & Wear Archives & Museums

International products are developed and produced by AkzoNobel