AkzoNobel's Q1 results show progress towards 15 by 20 strategy, despite headwinds from higher raw material costs and macro-economic uncertainty - Seite 2

Turkish town transformed with rainbow of color
We have transformed the lives of hundreds of people in a town on Turkey's Aegean coast through a major "Let's Colour" project as part of AkzoNobel Cares. More than 50,000 liters of our Marshall paint brand has been used to revitalize over 400 homes in the hilltop neighborhood of Tepe in Kusadasi. It's the latest example of how our passion for paint can help to make a difference.

New season sparks into life for McLaren Formula 1 team
Our latest color technology is helping the McLaren Formula 1 team make an impact as the 2019 season gets into gear. The new car livery for the dazzling MCL34 features a fresh twist on the Papaya Spark design which debuted last year. Developed by our Sikkens brand, the coatings system offers numerous performance and sustainability benefits, all with significantly reduced emissions.

Unique Dulux concept store debuts in Shanghai
A new Dulux concept store has opened in Shanghai, China, offering customers a fully interactive experience. Using digital technology and personalized services, it's designed to help make painting less complicated and more fun. The first of its kind in China, the store showcases Dulux's color expertise and sustainable product features. Experts are also on hand to offer advice and real-time demonstrations of customized designs and colors.

AkzoNobel opens ground-breaking R&D innovation campus
A trailblazing lab complex which can test new products in conditions that mimic the world's most extreme environments has been officially opened by AkzoNobel in the UK. Located in Felling, the €12.6 million R&D innovation campus fuses the site's 115-year history of product development with state-of-the-art facilities designed to keep AkzoNobel at the forefront of the coatings industry.

Outlook: We are delivering towards our Winning together: 15 by 20 strategy and continue creating a fit-for purpose organization for a focused paints and coatings company, contributing to the achievement of our 2020 guidance.   Demand trends differ per region and segment in an uncertain macro-economic environment. Raw material inflation is expected to continue during the first half of 2019, although at a lower rate than 2018.   Robust pricing initiatives and cost-saving programs are in place to address the current challenges. We continue executing our transformation to deliver the next €200 million cost savings by 2020, incurring one-off costs in 2019 and 2020.