AkzoNobel to paint the world's highest arch bridge, the Chenab Bridge

Company Brief

New Delhi, July 28, 2011

AkzoNobel, the world’s largest paints and coatings company, will paint the Chenab bridge, the world’s highest arch bridge under construction over the river Chenab. AkzoNobel will supply the coatings for the entire steel section of the bridge as per the approved paint schemes. It’s globally acclaimed Performance Coatings brand, International® will be used to paint the Chenab Bridge.

The Chenab Bridge, an arch bridge, has been designed to link the Kashmir valley with the rest of India. The Indian Railways has undertaken the mega project of construction of a new railway line in the state of Jammu and Kashmir, from Udhampur to Baramulla, which requires the building of a connecting bridge. Measuring 359 m (1,178 ft) above the river bed, the Chenab Bridge will be the highest arch bridge in the world, and longest span for a BG rail line with arch span of 480 m (1,570 ft), the Chenab bridge spans the Chenab River between Bakkal and Kauri, in Reasi district of Jammu and Kashmir.

Sharing more on this news, Mr B. Ramakrishnan, Managing Director, Akzo Nobel Coatings India Private Limited, said, “AkzoNobel is honoured to be part of this iconic project. It is AkzoNobel’s mission to provide tomorrow’s answers today, whether it is in terms of technology or innovation. We have been entrusted with the responsibility of painting the Chenab Bridge, which requires high-performance and durability from the coatings due to the terrain and scale involved. Our experience in protecting bridges has been reflected in several projects, including, the Sydney Harbour Bridge, the Oresund Bridge, and bridge projects in the UK, USA and China. We are confident about our association with the Chenab bridge project and are looking forward to seeing it through its completion.”

Confirming the high-quality of AkzoNobel’s International®, Coatings, the Executive Director, M&C Directorate, RDSO Lucknow, Bridges, stated, “AkzoNobel’s International® protective Coatings offers high performance and longer asset protection at low maintenance. The Polysiloxane system from International® can sustain a life of 15-20 years in aggressive environments. Polysiloxane as a finish coat gives better ultraviolet exposure performance compared to conventional high performance coatings.”

AkzoNobel’s International® Protective Coatings in India has successfully provided its solutions to many prestigious projects like the elevated Stations of the Delhi Metro Rail Corporation, Infosys at Pune, the Nokia Manufacturing Unit at Chennai, the Volvo-Eicher headquarters at Gurgaon and some major airports across the country. The Chenab bridge project is currently underway and is expected to be completed by the year 2013.

Once constructed, the Chenab Bridge will be the highest bridge in the world. It will surpass the height of the existing tallest bridge Viaduct de Millau in France.

For further information, please contact:

Genesis B-M

Maitreyee Goswami

Mobile: +919873818405

Email: maitreyee.goswami@bm.com