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AkzoNobel pioneers digital revolution in yacht coatings
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The XpertEye headset, Virtual Reality Spray Gun and Awlgrip® 3D Color Visualizer all feature in AkzoNobel’s first Yacht Paint Application Center in Asia-Pacific.
Staff at AkzoNobel’s Yacht Paint Application Center in Australia
AkzoNobel’s Yacht Coatings portfolio, including the renowned brands Awlgrip® and International®, offers premium products, all supported by a first-class technical team dedicated to assisting applicators and boat owners worldwide.
Awlgrip® – which celebrated its 50th anniversary in 2023 – has built a reputation for the highest-quality finish and performance in yacht coatings. Its extensive product range includes a wide selection of colours and effects, valued for their depth of image and proven durability. Backed by expert technical support, Awlgrip® ensures effective product use across the globe.
Similarly, the International® brand stands as a global leader in high-performance yacht coatings, and has become synonymous as the premium coatings brand for above and below the waterline by boaters and professionals. International® provides innovative solutions that protect, enhance, and improve the performance of all types of pleasure craft – everywhere, every time.
In 2024, AkzoNobel opened its first Yacht Paint Application Center (YPAC) in the Asia-Pacific region, providing world-class product and technical training with the latest digital paint application tools. The expansion to Australia increased AkzoNobel’s global training centres to five.
AkzoNobel’s Virtual Reality Spray Gun
Building on its commitment to innovation, AkzoNobel introduced several digital tools – including the Virtual Reality (VR) Spray Gun, XpertEye headset, and Awlgrip® 3D Color Visualizer – to further support the yachting industry.
Designed to enhance training for both experienced and new applicators, the VR Spray Gun simulates real-world yacht painting techniques without using any physical product. Applicators can use virtual versions of Awlgrip® and International® product systems to practise adjusting spray-gun settings, mastering application angles, and perfecting techniques for primers, topcoats and fouling control.
The VR Spray Gun provides users with instant feedback on their technique, which allows them to refine their skills before working with real coatings. The equipment is portable and intrinsically safe, allowing the AkzoNobel technical teams to transport it anywhere to help train distributor representatives, boatyard and applicators.
The XpertEye headset is among AkzoNobel’s new technology
For applicators and boatyards seeking remote technical support, the XpertEye camera headset is a safe, hands-free visual assistant tool that connects users directly to the AkzoNobel technical team for real-time technical support. Users can stream live video and capture images, enabling the AkzoNobel team to observe issues and provide immediate guidance remotely.
The software is compatible with both Apple and Google operating systems, and can be accessed via mobile devices, ensuring support is always within reach. This digital solution enhances access to AkzoNobel’s renowned technical team, enabling applicators to resolve challenges efficiently with minimal disruption to their work. By reducing delays, the XpertEye headset helps customers save time and money, ensuring projects are completed promptly and vessels can return to the water sooner.
The Awlgrip 3D Color Visualizer is an innovative and industry leading tool designed to empower boaters and applicators by simplifying their journey to find the perfect colour for their boat. Unique algorithms provide users with a visual representation of what a boat could look like in a 3D virtual environment.
Awlgrip® 3D Color Visualizer
Users have instant access to tens of thousands of colours from the extensive Awlgrip colour database. The launch of this tool reflects AkzoNobel’s commitment to enriching the customer’s experience when it comes to the important and often emotive subject of colour.
Through its continuous commitment to innovation and customer support, AkzoNobel is redefining excellence in yacht coatings. By combining industry-leading products, cutting-edge digital tools and world-class training facilities, the company is empowering boaters and applicators to achieve superior results with greater efficiency. AkzoNobel remains dedicated to driving progress in the industry, ensuring yachts look and perform at their best.
