Akzo moves beyond paint with Nobilas. (News: Europe). (Akzo Nobel).

Source: Chemical Market Reporter, 16 June 2003, v263, n24, p. 4(2), Publisher: Schnell Publishing Company, Inc. ISSN: 1092-0110.

AKZO NOBEL'S coatings operation has launched an auto repair business as part of its strategy of expanding into services beyond paint. The new business, called Nobilas, will be active in Europe and North America. It will be headquartered in the Netherlands and provide repair, accident and claim management services.

Nobilas will act as an intermediary between car body shops and insurance companies, fleet owners and auto leasing companies. The business is putting together an international network of body shops, many of which do not use Akzo Nobel refinishing coatings. Car refinishes accounts for 13 percent of the company's coatings sales of around (euro)5.5 billion ($6.4 billion).

"The establishment of Nobilas is clear proof of the importance we have always given to developing innovative services that enable our partners to do their work more efficiently and profitably, " says Rudy van der Meer, Akzo Nobel's board member responsible for coatings.

The company sees the new business as an extension of services it already provides to car body shops, such as the availability of training centers and assistance to shop owners on the efficient and profitable running of their operations.

Nobilas will have a quality control system under which it will use only body shops whose equipment and staff meet certain standards.

"Because of Akzo Nobel's extensive knowledge in the car repair and automotive industry, as well as some very successful accident management businesses we have initiated in the past, we saw an opportunity to connect all parties involved in the accident management process, " adds Cor de Grauw, general manager of the company's car refinishes operation.

"The (Nobilas) staff is formed by a multidisciplinary team of specialists who were carefully selected from the international fleet, lease and insurance market, " he adds. "We are now in the process of establishing strategic agreements with several global partners."