AkzoNobel announced the acquisition of UK-based Flexcrete Technologies Ltd, whose products are primarily used for the protection and repair of concrete substrates.

The transaction expands AkzoNobel's manufacturing and innovation footprint in the UK, adding to the recently announced investments in the country of around €113 million.

The addition of Flexcrete’s concrete coatings also complements AkzoNobel's position in coatings for the protection and re of metal substrates. This will expand the company's offering in several key industrial markets, including downstream oil and gas and chemical processing, commercial infrastructure, power, water and waste water, and mining and mineral processing.

"This deal generates a number of synergies which will deliver significant benefit to our customers. We are already leaders in protection of metal substrates and the acquisition of Flexcrete aligns perfectly with our existing portfolio of products, allowing us to provide customers with essential concrete and metal protection through one dedicated supplier," said Mauricio Bannwart, Managing Director of AkzoNobel's Protective Coatings business. "The deal also offers us a great opportunity to pursue further coatings innovations in a number of our core markets."

Flexcrete has been working alongside AkzoNobel since 2010, establishing the Intercrete range of mortars and cementitious coatings, which have proven highly successful when used in combination with AkzoNobel's resin-based coating and lining systems.

Flexcrete's original founders, Graham James OBE and Chris Lloyd, will continue to manage the day-to-day sales, manufacturing and technical operations from Flexcrete's head office and manufacturing complex in Leyland, Lancashire, and all Flexcrete staff have been retained as part of the acquisition. AkzoNobel is committed to a long-term presence on the existing Flexcrete site in Leyland.

Graham James OBE, Co-Founder of Flexcrete Technologies Ltd, said: "We are excited about the huge benefits that the acquisition will bring. Although it will be very much business as usual and contacts will remain the same for our customers, the acquisition will enable us to build on our capabilities as a niche technology provider with the development of new, innovative and sustainable solutions for our target markets.

"We will benefit enormously from access to AkzoNobel's Technical Centre where over 300 staff focus on R&D-related activities and intend to strengthen the Flexcrete brand and increase sales both in the UK and overseas. We are already recruiting additional external sales staff to service the demand," he continued.

AkzoNobel - a global paints and coatings company - currently employs 3,300 people in its UK business, which generates revenue of around €1 billion. Key investments include a €100 million state-of-the art facility for decorative paints at Ashington, and a €12.6 million research and innovation hub at Felling.