Al Gurg Leigh's Paints says it is a total solution provider, given its portfolio of market leading brands which can meet the requirements of virtually any coating application.

'ICI Dulux , Leigh's, and Oasis are all names synonymous with high quality and continual development, thanks to Al Gurg Leigh's Paints commitment to research and development (R&D) and innovation ensuring that year on year the product offering gets better and better,' says Philip Mathews, general manager for the Dubai-based company.

ICI Paints is a global market leader in decorative coatings. ICI Paint brands are manufactured in 26 countries with 49 major production sites and are sold in 120 countries.
'A staggering 50 million households per year use ICI paint and in one year ICI produces 1.1 billion litres of paint. That is enough paint to cover 2.8 million football pitches or enough paint to decorate every house in Los Angeles, London and Beijing!!' claims Mathews.

Dulux is the main brand within the ICI Paints portfolio and manifests ICI's leadership and supreme expertise in providing products for paint decoration and protection, he adds.
Al Gurg Leigh's Paints has held the licence to manufacture Dulux in the UAE since 1998.
Mathews comments: 'It's fantastic to have the licence to manufacture and sell Dulux in the UAE, Oman and Qatar.

'Our partnership with ICI ensures that the outstanding quality that Dulux is famous for is consistently achieved, whatever the specification. We are able to draw on the vast R&D resources that ICI Paints invests into the Dulux brand, to ensure that we continue to produce innovative products that are particularly suited to the region.'
Dulux has several new products in the pipeline for 2004 that are once again expected to lead the way for others to follow.

Craig Shaw of Al Gurg Leigh's Paints states: 'Around 35 per cent of ICI Paints business in the last five years has been driven by new product development. That demonstrates that even an industry like paints that is seen as being traditional can't stand still. There are many reasons for developing and bringing new products to the market such as creating the latest designs through to producing cleaner products that are less harmful to the environment.

'We are soon planning the launchof some exciting developments that are a combination of existing and brand new technologies that have yet to find their way to the UAE market.'
Craig Shaw has joined Al Gurg Leigh's Paints from the ICI Paints business in the UK. He has had many years of experience with ICI Paints where he has overseen several positions. Craig will be responsible for the management and development of the Dulux brand in the UAE.

He comments: 'I have been amazed at the sheer size of the construction market in the UAE with investment levels per capita that are unrivalled anywhere in the world. Not only that, but the quality of the projects are truly staggering. This financial basis and commitment to innovation creates a very dynamic and exciting market for everyone to be involved in. It's a privilege for me to go to this market place with Dulux as I believe it to be a product perfectly suited for this type of business environment.

'Whether it's long lasting protection, the latest colour trends or a need to be different, Dulux can compliment any situation. We have enjoyed decades of great success in the global market and have a well deserved reputation for providing quality products that reflect best value for our customers.'

Commenting on the trends in the market, he says: 'The way colour has been specified in new-build and maintenance projects has changed dramatically over the years. White and magnolia and a few favourite BS or RAL colours that were traditionally chosen have been replaced by bold designs with corporate identities being forged through decoration. To help support this need, Al Gurg Leigh's Paints has employed a team of colour consultants for its UAE operation that can give free advice on colour schemes both for domestic and commercial situations. The consultants go to great lengths to fully discuss the colour aspirations and ideas of the client and are experts at understanding exactly what the requirements are. Once all the relevant information has been gathered, a selection of colour schemes and special effects designs will be presented back for approval.'

Leigh's
W & J Leigh & Company, a privately-owned family company, has its headquarters in Bolton UK.
It has several associate companies including Al Gurg Leigh's Paints which was established in the UAE in 1988 to manufacture a wide range of industrial and decorative coatings. Heavy-duty products for the petrochemical industry are manufactured under licence from W & J Leigh and are distributed throughout the GCC.

In addition, Al Gurg Leigh's Paints operates a regional technical laboratory equipped with the latest R&D and analysis equipment providing a high degree of technical commitment to the region. Leigh's Paints are also made in Malaysia, China, Iran, Saudi Arabia and Kuwait.

The Leigh product range covers applications such as international marine shipping and petrochemical plants, as well as general anti-corrosive products and fire-protection systems for steelwork in the construction and maintenance markets. The range includes epoxies, polyurethanes, zinc silicates, acrylated rubbers, alkyds and isocyanate-free finishes. New waterborne products are also available together with high solid/low solvent formulations which comply with new health and safety regulations.