HEMPEL Paints, a leading global decorative and protective paints company, has chosen Bahrain for inaugurating its first regional research and development (R&D) centre focused on the decorative segment.

The $500,000 state-of-the-art facility, opened last month at Hempel’s factory in Mina Salman, will be the focal point of all the company’s decorative R&D activities in the Middle East. It will be the eighth such centre in the world after the US, Denmark, Germany, Spain, Korea, China and Singapore.

“This is our first regional R&D centre focused on the decorative segment, and will strengthen Hempel’s position in the region by fulfilling customer demands for innovative products and solutions,” said Pierre-Yves Jullien, chief executive officer, Hempel Group.

“The new facility will act as the research centre for all six of our manufacturing facilities in the Middle East – in Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Kuwait, Syria, Qatar and Bahrain,” he said.

He said the company has a strong history of innovation focused on customer needs and its ‘One Hempel Everywhere’ strategy ensures that every customer receives great value from their solutions.

Bahrain was chosen for its easy access to the outside world and its easy business environment, added Jullien.

Hempel group R&D vice-president Martin Wiese said the company is innovation-based and its products are a result of detailed research.

Middle East R&D manager Johnson Puthanangady said customers would soon be aware of the benefits of the new centre.

“It will enable us to focus on local legislation and national standards in various countries and initiate quick action to be in line with the same. Besides, this it will help to improve our colour matching and colour psychology skills,” he said.

About two per cent of the turnover will be used for R&D purposes, said Puthanangady, adding that it will take from 16 to 18 months for a product to hit the market. Equipment for the centre has been brought from the UK.

Hempel Bahrain has a local market share of 15 per cent. It has been involved in many major projects in Bahrain including Amwaj Islands, Bahrain City Centre, Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland – Bahrain, Salmaniya Medical Complex, and developments for the ministries of housing and education and other government and private sectors.