Hempel’s Middle East Regional R&D Centre in Bahrain, inaugurated in 2009, has developed its first products and is working on several upgrades that will enhance business prospects for the company even beyond the Middle East.

One of the newest products to emerge from the R&D centre is ContexThermoguard, developed specially for the Middle East to reflect the sun’s rays and counter the sweltering heat. A strong selling point is the economic benefit from lower electricity bills. Villas painted with ContexThermoguard were found to be 5 degrees C cooler than those coated with conventional paints, said Hempel area director Karsten Pedersen.

“ContexThermoguard was also tested for anti-carbonation properties, resistance to chloride ion diffusion and crack-bridging ability with very good results. The product was tested in laboratories in the UK and Holland and at the Dubai Central Laboratory.

“The product is available in light pastel colours and works on two tracks – reflecting the light that falls on it and serving as insulation against heat.”

The Hempel Middle East Regional R&D Centre in Bahrain

Pedersen said the new paint had drawn interest from Bahrain’s housing authority and from the general market.  Manufacturing has begun in Hempel’s Sharjah plant and the official launch could be held soon. Paints developed at the Bahrain research centre can be manufactured at any of the production facilities. In the Gulf region, Hempel has production facilities in Bahrain, Dammam, Kuwait, Doha and Sharjah and total capacity is 75 million litres.  The output can be raised to 100 million litres simply by adding another shift.

Other new products
Hempel’s Bahrain R&D centre has completed the development of anti-bacterial and anti-fungal paints called Mouldex Sheen Finish. Mouldex is ideal for use in the food industry, hospitals and public places such as schools because it is hygienic. Launch of the product could take place in the first quarter of 2011.

Hempel has already launched Topaz Waterborne Road Marking paint which provides more environment friendly options as compared to solvent-borne Road Marking paints.

Also under development are elastomeric coatings for use on structures subjected to weather-related expansion and contraction, particularly bridges.

The research centre is also working on slow yellowing alkyd enamels and on upgrades to improve colour, quality and performance and provide better hiding ability.

A section of the Bahrain factory

Hempel Paints Bahrain reported improved output in 2010, meeting its double-digit growth target thanks to better market conditions and an increase in market share.

Production was around 4.7 million litres during the year, 12 per cent up over the previous year’s figure, said Pedersen. The company’s Bahrain plant has a production capacity of 6 million litres per year but ample space around it makes it possible to enlarge production facilities should circumstances warrant it. Of the total capacity, 60 per cent is dedicated to decorative paints, 30 per cent to industrial paints and 10 per cent to marine paints.

In Bahrain the Topaz range accounts for 45 per cent of Hempel’s decorative paints, Contex 20 per cent and Fusions 15 per cent with Casa and Maestro making up the balance. The company has a well-equipped showroom adjacent to the factory in the Mina Salman industrial area.

Hempel Bahrain’s warehouse in the production complex

Future prospects
Pedersen said the award of the 2022 Fifa World Cup to Qatar had raised prospects of a role for the Bahrain plant to meet some of the paint demand that will arise from projects in the run up to the event. While Hempel has a factory in Qatar, Pedersen said the Bahrain plant could still benefit from the overflow of orders.

Hempel Bahrain is also expecting a share of business from the Bahrain-Qatar Causeway project which will gain momentum in the next few years.

The Bahrain plant has supplied over the years its products to important projects including hospitals, universities, shopping malls and many large residential buildings and office complexes. At the Arabian Shipbuilding and Repair Yard (Asry), as much as 40 per cent of the paint used comes from Hempel Bahrain.

In 2010 the company exported limited quantities to Egypt and expects to send more in years to come as demand there is set to rise. The Bahrain facility sends occasionally consignments of specific products to Qatar that the company’s plant there may not make.