Hempel Paints Saudi Arabia has integrated its bulk storage facilities, making them safer and more environmentally friendly through a process of upgrading and modernising that encompasses new materials and technologies tailored to the hot and dry climate of Saudi Arabia.

"This new storage facility for resins and solvents is just another step on the continuous road to a safer and a more environmentally friendly production process that we plan to carry out at Hempel," says Jorgen Pedersen, technical manager.

The state-of-the-art bulk storage facility consists of 14 vertical-cylindrical floor mounted tanks. The tank farm is situated under a structure that provides shade and plenty of ventilation above and around the tanks. Some of these tanks will be able to hold up to 21 kinds of liquids at a time, thus increasing the variety of raw materials the company is able to store before being used in production processes. Also installed is a new pumping and control system designed to ensure that tankers would be able to safely and swiftly empty their contents causing minimal wastage of time and raw material.

New washing and regenerating systems have been installed to ensure that raw materials are handled in a closed circuit.

These are aimed to protect operators from inhaling fumes and reduce the threat of fire. A fire detection and fighting system has been installed at the tank farm to protect the new tanks as well as the offloading area.

"Over the past 26 years Hempel has been Saudi Arabia's premier brand in paints. During that period it made a considerable investment in the kingdom to ensure its customers enjoyed the best quality products and services. This latest addition to the facility is but the first among many projects that will modernise the factory and ensure Hempel continues to be the leading paint manufacturer in Saudi Arabia," the company said in a statement.