Axalta acquires United Paint division

Philadelphia-based Axalta Coating Systems (www.axaltacs.com/corporate/en_US.html), which supplies liquid and powder coatings, has bought United Paint’s automotive-interior rigid thermoplastic coatings business for an undisclosed sum.

Production will initially continue at United Paint’s Southfield facilities in Michigan before a phased transfer to Axalta’s facilities.

Axalta vice-president Steven R Markevich said: “United Paint’s technology is a great fit, as we look to offer our customers in the global vehicle-manufacturing industry a complete range of coating systems. Vehicle interiors are a logical extension of the expertise we have developed to serve the growing automotive plastic components market, as traditional materials are replaced by lightweight alternatives.

“Vehicle manufacturers will now be able to rely on Axalta as a single-source supplier of coatings for vehicle interiors as well as exterior surfaces.”

United Paint CEO J Geoff Piceu said: “We believe Axalta is an excellent long-term home for our automotive-interior rigid thermoplastics coatings business.”