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 VideoAkzoNobel’s International brand is synonymous with innovation and collaboration, and has risen to become a world leader in marine, protective and yacht coatings.
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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 by the Holzapfel brothers to mix marine paint
Storage shed used to store paint in the late 1800s
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.
Felling, UK
Quality control
Product innovation in the 1970s
Felling HQ
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
First overseas factory in Russia
Expanded beyond Europe, manufacturing in New York, USA
The 9th factory opens in Japan, the first in Asia
International locations in 1953
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.
Courtaulds merged the two, housing all painting efforts under the International name
AkzoNobel acquires Courtaulds’ coatings business, including International Paint
Over the last two decades, many established brands have joined the International umbrella
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.
Over the last two decades, many established brands have joined the International umbrella
AkzoNobel acquires Courtaulds’ coatings business, including International Paint
Courtaulds merged the two, housing all painting efforts under the International name
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.
A visual trip back to the earlier days of marketing International products.
Using transformative products to protect sites on both land and sea.
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.
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.
From more sustainable coatings, to drone technology that saves time and money during maintenance, our aim is for quality with every coating.
In partnership with the Tyne & Wear Archives & Museums
