Akzo Nobel Finalizes Construction Manager for $50 Million Expansion in Michigan

---

Researched by Industrialinfo.com (Industrial Information Resources, Incorporated; Houston, Texas). Akzo Nobel Coatings Incorporated (Troy, Michigan), a subsidiary of Akzo Nobel N.V. (LSE: UK:AKZ) (The Netherlands), has finalized the selection of a construction manager, and is gearing up for expansion projects estimated at around $50 million in capital expenditures, as previously reported September 2003. See IIR Industry Alert: AKZO Nobel Plans to Spend $50 Million to Upgrade Michigan Site by 2006.

The expansion consists of a $12 million, 30,000 square foot research and development building (Plant 1515434)(PEC 18001774) that has been engineered by Arcadis out of Southfield, Michigan, and a $15 million paint dispersion plant (PEC 18001775) with resin tank farm engineered by Oneira Corporation out of Oakville, Ontario.

Rudolph/Libbe Incorporated (Canton, Michigan) was recently awarded the construction contracts for both projects. Rudolph/Libbe offers design-build and construction management services and has experience with chemical industry projects, with clients including BASF, Allied Signal, and Alcoa.

Rudolph/Libbe will be going out for bids starting in March and through the third quarter of this year. Construction is targeted to start as soon as April 2004 and will continue on throughout most of 2005.

Akzo Nobel, one of the world leading chemical producers, operates in over 80 countries. They produce chemicals found in everyday household items such as ice cream, toothpaste, bakery goods, cosmetics and glass along with coatings and pharmaceuticals.