RAGHADAN, one of the largest paint companies in the Arab world, has launched the new Aqua Zolacoat line, which was developed for the region by leading Japanese company Kansai Paint.

This decorative product was developed recently by Kansai Paints after the enthusiastic response to its Zolacoat range in the Middle East.
“Following the success of Zolacoat, the Japanese giant was inspired to offer an environment-friendly, aesthetically-appealing multi-colour and pattern coating to the market. Therefore, a team of marketing and R&D staff came together to establish the design features of the coatings that could be used for both exterior and interior surfaces. Following 14 months of extensive research, testing and modification, they finally developed Aqua Zolacoat,” Dr Hisham Ali, sales and marketing director of the Saudi-based company.
Aqua Zolacoat is a water-based system that offers extensive design and colour flexibility through mixing of specially-designed bases and binders. “A customer-focused approach in its formulation enables the client to choose from a range of unique patterns through Zola Shop, an online consumer-friendly software. The software offers a virtually endless range of patterns that the consumer may want.

Aqua Zolacoat ... offers a wide choice of patterns

The system gives flight to the creativity of the consumer, who becomes part of the pattern designing process, to produce a unique pattern,” he says.
Aqua Zolacoat is a semi-gloss, multicolour coating that can be applied to most surfaces, in both exterior and interior applications. It has an excellent resistance to the effects of weather, fire, bacteria and fungi and can be easily washed. It is also scratch-resistant, odourless and environment-friendly. Its strong aesthetic and functional features make it suitable for new as well as the repainting applications, he adds.
In view of the harsh weather conditions prevalent in the Middle East, Aqua Zolacoat has been developed to ensure durability in most severe outdoor environment. Extensive laboratory and field exposure tests have been carried out to effectively test the durability of the product,” he says.
Following thorough testing, the product has already been commercially launched and has met with success both on exterior and interior surfaces.
“In the Middle East, Saudi Arabia, Jordan and Egypt will be the first markets to see the launch of this product. Here, it is anticipated that Aqua Zolacoat will take market share from permanent and semi-permanent finishes that include marble, stone coating and texture products,” Dr Ali adds.
He continues: “The launch of Aqua Zolacoat in the Middle East markets is yet another example of Kansai Paint bringing differentiated propositions on aesthetic and functionality platforms to its customers around the globe.”
Raghadan, established in 1974, has been successfully operating in the paints business for 35 years in Saudi Arabia and the wider Arab world. It has four paint factories and six paint companies in Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Qatar, Jordan, Egypt and the UK, in addition to 15 branches, 20 agents and more than 500 authorised distributors throughout the Arab world.
“Raghadan takes pride in providing Saudi and other Arab countries with the latest in decorative paints styles and techniques in coordination with the leading international paint companies,” says Dr Ali. “Its aim is to serve its customers wherever they are and to satisfy their taste and requirements of paints by providing high-quality paints at competitive prices backed by the best service.”
Kansai Paint Company, established in 1918, is Japan’s number one paint manufacturer and among the top 10 classified internationally. Its products are highly valued by customers in Europe, North America, Asia and Middle East. “Kansai Paint’s products, developed using latest technology and extensive research and development, have earned the reputation of being highly durable. The fact that the company holds a major share in automotive paints is a reflection of the emphasis that the company puts on technology. It is also a leading supplier of protective coatings, marine coatings, auto-refinish and decorative coatings,” he concludes.