Axalta Coating Systems will move its Queensland Training Academy to the Motor Trades Association of Queensland’s (MTAQ) head office and training facility in Eight Mile Plains, Brisbane.
According to Axalta, the partnership will allow the two entities to work closely together in developing training programmes that will proactively attract new talent to the industry. The location is easily accessed by people travelling from all parts of Brisbane, the Gold Coast (to the south), and the Sunshine Coast (to the north), and will become a key training destination for customers in Queensland and northern New South Wales.
Featuring more than 500 square metres of dedicated refinish training space, the centre is equipped with two state-of-the-art down draught spray booths with full-length glass walls to optimise unrestrictive viewing for application techniques and demonstration training. The facility also has two paint mixing rooms, which showcase Axalta’s three premium brands – Standox, Spies Hecker, and Cromax – a functional production planning room, and two dry sanding and preparation bays.
A range of face-to-face courses will be held at the academy, which has several training room options able to cater for groups of two to more than 20. Axalta says the facility also incorporates the “unique” Innovation Hub, where group meetings and smaller conferences can be conducted. Axalta Drivus will also host a range of business management training and educational programmes at the centre.
“Axalta’s new Training Academy highlights our commitment to supporting customers with training at a local state level,” said Paul Polverino, Axalta’s National Training Manager. “Face-to-face training is still an important element of helping our customers drive productivity and efficiencies in the paint shop, and we cannot wait to get training courses started.”
Stephen Morris, Axalta’s Territory Business Manager for Queensland, said the opportunity to relocate within the MTAQ facility was “too good to pass up”. “With industry skill shortages a critical focus for both Axalta and MTA Queensland – who are the leading automotive industry body in Queensland – we plan to work together to develop and deliver programmes that will attract new people to the trade,” he added.
Rod Camm, Group Chief Executive Officer of MTA Queensland, said: “This collaboration is a fantastic opportunity to ensure we are delivering access to the latest training methods and innovations for the entire Queensland refinishing sector. We are incredibly excited to work closely with Axalta to provide industry-leading workforce skilling solutions while also upskilling our own team of technical trainers.”