Hempel Kuwait, a leading paint manufacturer, said it will increase its production with the opening of a 20,000-sq-m factory in 2017, with the capacity rising to 19 million litres in two shifts.

With the new factory, the company seeks to leverage markets in a number of regional countries like Iraq, Lebanon and Jordan, said a statement from Hempel Kuwait.

The new factory will produce solvent-borne as well as water-borne products, and will also include a regenerative thermal oxidiser in the paint production unit that will remove volatile organic compounds (VOCs) to prevent atmospheric pollution, it said.

Additionally, in order to create the best possible working atmosphere, the factory will also come with cooling facilities, which will provide a suitable environment for workers in the factory to cope with the extreme summer heat in Kuwait, it added.

The expansion plan coincides with Hempel’s golden jubilee anniversary in Kuwait as a result of an alliance with the Al Rashed family, which for the past 50 years has witnessed major developments and has strengthened its position as a leading coating and paints company in the country, said the statement.

Khaled Al Rashed, member of the board of directors at Hempel Middle East-West, said: “We look forward to the big celebration of our five decades here in Kuwait this coming October. Additionally, the establishment of the Mina Abdallah factory in 2017 will increase our productivity by 40 per cent and will put us on the map in the region.”

“We realise that our customers’ requirements vary from one country to another, and therefore, based on our extensive experience in the region, we provide our customers with products and services that match their specific needs,” he said.

Henrik Andersen, group president and CEO of Hempel Global, said: “The Middle East region and Kuwait, in particular, play a very important part of the history of Hempel as 2015 marked our global centennial celebration.”

“During our 50 years in Kuwait, we have built an excellent partnership with local firms, not only in the oil and gas industry, but also when it comes to contractors, architects and consultants. We have dedicated 15 global research and development (R&D) centres which continuously provide local market with newly developed products that cater to special climatic conditions in Kuwait and the region,” he said.

“I would like to thank our valued partners and shareholders in Kuwait and the Middle East for their vision, support and business acumen over the last 50 years,” he added. – TradeArabia News Service