HEMPEL Paints, a global leader in paint manufacturing, recently inaugurated its largest decorative paints factory in the Middle East in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, at a cost of SR100 million ($26.66 million).

Occupying an area of 7,500 sq m, Hempel’s first 100-per-cent water-based factory in the Middle East has a production capacity of 32 million litres a year.

The launch, which was attended by Ole Frijs-Madsen, the Danish ambassador to Saudi Arabia, is a culmination of Hempel’s efforts to reinforce its leadership in the Saudi market, as well as respond to vast production demand in the Middle East and other markets.

“We are very proud of the launch of Hempel’s newest paint factory and are confident that it will meet the demands created by the Saudi market,” said Pierre-Yves Jullien, Hempel group president and CEO.

He continued: “The factory was built in Jeddah due to its strategic location on global sea lines and its proximity to the seaport located in King Abdullah Economic City (KAEC), which will facilitate logistics for exporting goods to local and global markets.

“The decorative paints market in the region enjoys substantial growth potential where it is currently valued at SR3 billion ($799 million) per annum. Through this factory, we will meet the growing demand in the region witnessed by vast investments in new buildings and infrastructure, which rely on dependable paints and thermal insulation systems that meet the laws on energy conservation in buildings.”

The factory has a capacity of 32 million litres a year.

Jullien indicated that the company’s total sales input in its respective market in the kingdom amounts to approximately SR400 million ($106 million). “We expect this number to grow during the next coming five years after the launch of this factory,” he said.

“This is largely due to Hempel’s commitment to providing its consumers with the highest quality products and services, including decorative, protective and marine coatings.”

He underscored the company’s keenness on making its expertise available to customers by providing them with advice based on Hempel’s knowledge, while catering to their paints-related questions regarding paint selection and application.

“For these reasons, Hempel enjoys the confidence of its customers,” he pointed out.

Essam Mohammed Al Suhaimi, Hempel Paints Middle East West chairman, noted: “This latest factory offers products which cater to the entire market. Its variety and colour-richness will meet the different tastes of its consumers, thus further reinforcing our leadership in the Saudi market and other markets in the region and around the world. Hempel doesn’t back down from securing top-notch quality products, where it has met all quality control requirements as evidenced by its certification by the ISO 9001.”

He said the factory utilises the latest technologies used globally to produce paints, including power silos, automatic filling, automatic palletising and automatic transfer of pallets to the finished goods warehouse, and is equipped with the latest machinery and highly skilled, trained and qualified labour force consisting of over 70 employees.

The factory will also create job opportunities for Saudi youth, and to ensure that, Hempel will provide the necessary training required in order to prepare potential employees for this line of work, according to
Al Suhaimi.

Through its partnership with the respected Al Suhaimi Holding Group, Hempel has been present in the Saudi market for more than 40 years in the city of Dammam and maintains strong market positioning, thanks in large part to its high quality products suited for every taste.