SIGMA Paints, a pioneer in cutting-edge paint solutions, continues to foster partnerships with leading companies in the region and boost its portfolio of loyal clients through innovation, advanced technologies and a focus on customer care.
The launch of its Sigma Guardian Nano in April won praise from many companies from across Saudi Arabia, including industry majors such as Saudi Aramco, the world’s largest oil corporation with the largest proven crude oil reserves and production, and Radicon-Gulf Consult, a design and engineering consultancy.
Sigma Guardian Nano, based on nano-technology, is the most technologically-advanced range of products within the paint industry in the Middle East, taking building protection to “cosmic levels” and addressing not just the extreme exposure conditions of the Middle East but also the reason for paint failures worldwide, says Sigma Paints.
The result of a revolutionary idea translated into a small protective particle against humidity, scratches, dulling and aging, the system is said to offer the ultimate in exterior decorative protection for concrete and cement-based substrates.
Commenting on Sigma Paint as a partner and its leadership in technological innovation, Abdelkader Al Tayyar, a senior engineer at Saudi Aramco, says Sigma, as a pioneer in nano-technology within the paint industry, continues to introduce new inventions and technologies. “They also offer competitive prices, product availability, long-term service and performance, which helps maintain a loyal partnership with them,” he says.
The Sigma Guardian Nano is a revolutionary innovation for the paints industry, Al Tayyar says, expecting it to be widely applied in future projects due to its high performance, durability and the other numerous features that cannot be found in similar products.
“Many clients are concerned with post-application maintenance. The fact that Sigma Paints offers numerous coating solutions enables them to make quick decisions on what brand to use, knowing these solutions have all the advantages, ranging from colour retention to antifungal properties,” he adds.
Sigma’s Guardian Nano is said to offer the ultimate in exterior decorative protection for concrete and cement-based substrates, making the paint range truly “out of this world” and durable, adding value to a building.
He points out that while constructional professionals are aware of the advantages of specifying a durable system, building owners may generally opt for a product that is initially cheaper. “Consultants may be aware of the economic value of durable systems, however, property owners should be advised of the advantages of durable products since they focus more on cost savings. In my opinion, maintenance painting is more expensive on account of the need to remove the old paint prior to a new paint application,” Al Tayyar explains, indicating that the cost of maintenance painting will rise in the coming years due to increase of labour costs and general inflation.
This apart, it has been proven that a durable coating plays a vital role in extending the life span of a building, while preserving its aesthetic value.
“Having been in the design field for so long, I am well aware that architects or designers feel proud if their designs are kept well maintained. This is accomplished by specifying durable materials that will withstand the impact of weather and environmental conditions,” he continues. Al Tayyar praised the successful launch of Sigma Guardian Nano.
The innovative product was launched in Sultan bin Abdulaziz Science and Technology Centre in Al Khobar before an audience of more than 150 invitees, prominent architects, engineers and consultants.
Ira Linea von Witte, PR and communications manager of Sigma Paints, describes the event as “an unprecedented and powerful demonstration within the industry. It is a milestone in the kingdom’s nano-technology history, as Sigma is not only the first and sole paint manufacturer to utilise nano-technology in paint manufacture, but also the first national company with a 300-year international heritage to offer the sweet ‘Nanofruits’ and tangible benefits to the grand public.”
Prior to the launch, Sigma conducted extensive scientific discussions with the prominent nano-scientist and assistant professor, Dr Zeid A Al Othman from King Abdullah Institute for Nano-technology, who consequently played a significant role in the grand launch of the product.
“Nano-technology is an enabling technology that will impact not only electronics and computing, but various industry fields, such as materials and manufacturing, energy and transportation,” says Dr Al Othman. “As the opportunities and rewards are great, there is a tremendous worldwide interest in the technology. Governments and corporations worldwide have ploughed over $4 billion into nano-scale research and development over the past year alone.”
Sigma Guardian Nano has been engineered in cooperation with the Sigma/PPG laboratories in Europe to ensure that it is not only more than a match for the extreme Middle East exposure conditions but also addresses the common causes of paint failures worldwide, says Sigma’s DTS manager Mike Murphy.
Based on the latest nanometric formulations, the product has been developed with the belief that ultimate protection for buildings can be achieved by providing resistance not only to external elements such as ultraviolet rays, humidity and carbonation, but also to the universal challenges of moisture vapour, evaporation, efflorescence and alkalinity, which emanate from the substrates.
While there are paint systems available that can resist perhaps one or two of the destructive external elements, Sigma Guardian Nano paint system protects from all the main destructive elements both from the outside and from the inside, Murphy concludes.