One of the automotive industry’s first hydrogen-powered spray booths has been installed by AkzoNobel at a new training center in Belgium.
Located near Brussels, the groundbreaking facility is part of a multi-million euro program to expand and upgrade the company’s network of more than 40 Automotive Training Centers (ATCs), which are located across the globe.
Designed to go beyond local and legislative requirements, the new spray booth highlights how embracing the latest technologies can contribute to more sustainable operations. The site itself – which is 30% larger than the one it’s replacing – has been constructed to be BREEAM certified, further demonstrating AkzoNobel’s commitment to reducing carbon emissions across the full value chain by 2030.
The hydrogen-powered combi spray booth is fully equipped for traditional repairs and includes an all-in-one repairs workstation. It also has a special air filtration system which uses “active carbon” to filter any volatile organic compounds (VOCs) generated during the painting process. An extra high efficiency particulate air filter (HEPA) produces clean air (up to 99%), which is filtered back out into the atmosphere.
A wide range of training programs is offered by the ATCs, including application training, product and system training, and training in new digital color processes. There’s a particular emphasis on quality improvement, process improvement and repairs to radar capable vehicles, as well as the new generation of electric vehicles.