AKZO BURNING BRIGHT IN PLANE PAINT PARTNERSHIP

AKZO Nobel has taken to the skies in a partnership with Brazilian aeroplane maker Embraer.

Dulux owner Akzo’s aerospace coatings were used for tiger, shark and eagle faces emblazoned on Embraer’s business jets ( pictured).

The paint company’s coating was also used on the rest of the exterior of the aircraft.

The work was carried out by staff at Embraer’s factory in Sao Jose dos Campos, Brazil, which houses an Akzo Nobel colour mixture centre.

Akzo’s performance coatings business had sales of around £5.1bn last year, and made profits of £595m. The Dutch multinational snapped up French adhesive maker Disatech last year, and is now working on decorative stickers for aeroplanes for advertising on their sides.

Akzo, which employs about 3,500 people in the UK, is stabilising after fighting off three takeover approaches from American rival PPG last year.

Chief executive Thierry Vanlancker, who was appointed last year, sold Akzo’s chemicals division for around £8.4bn to Carlyle and Singapore’s wealth fund earlier this year.