Ford Motor Company approves Akzo Nobel waterborne technologies

Sassenheim/Norcross -- Ford Motor Company has approved Akzo Nobel's car repair waterborne technologies for both Sikkens and Lesonal brands to be used for Ford dealership warranty repairs.

"Superlative technology, safe working conditions and a cleaner environment are issues that concern every person working in the collision repair industry," said Tim Loden, Director of Marketing for Akzo Nobel Car Refinishes of the Americas." Loden continues, "It is for these three reasons that Akzo Nobel is pleased and honored that Ford Motor Company has chosen to approve our waterborne technologies for both the Sikkens and Lesonal brands."

Ford's Body, Paint, Damageability Engineer, Gerry Bonanni, comments on the approval, "We know that waterborne technology is definite technology evolution. It is imperative that products we approve be the best. Following months of extensive testing under the exacting standards set by Ford, the Sikkens Autowave and Lesonal WB paint systems have been approved for all collision repair centers worldwide repairing Ford vehicles."

Akzo Nobel, the world's largest coatings company, has been a pioneer in waterborne technology. The Sikkens Autowave paint system was introduced to Europe during the early '90's. Lesonal Basecoat WB was then introduced end 2002. Both paint systems have embodied the superlative color match and product engineering that Akzo Nobel is known for.

Akzo Nobel is a Global Fortune 500 company and is listed on both the Euronext Amsterdam and NASDAQ stock exchanges. It is also included on the Dow Jones Sustainability Indexes and FTSE4Good Index. Based in the Netherlands, we are a multicultural organization serving customers throughout the world with human and animal healthcare products, coatings, and chemicals. We employ more than 62,000 people and conduct our activities in four segments - human and animal health, coatings and chemicals - subdivided into 13 business units, with operating subsidiaries in more than 80 countries. Consolidated revenues for 2005 totaled EUR 13.0 billion. The financial results for the full year will be published on February 15, 2007.

Akzo Nobel Car Refinishes supplies paint, services and software for car repair, commercial vehicle and automotive markets. The main brands include Sikkens® and Lesonal® in car repair, and Sikkens Autocoat® BT in commercial vehicles. Automotive plastic interior and exterior components customers are also served under Akzo Nobel Car Refinishes.

Source: Akzo Nobel