Jotun Paints, one of the leading manufacturers and suppliers of sophisticated paints in the world, is currently pushing ahead for the timely completion of painting on the Al Khaleej sugar refinery in Jebel Ali, Dubai.

The factory – which is expected to be featured in the Guinness Books of Records as it features the biggest spaceframe free-span dome in the world – will be coated with Jotun’s revolutionary coating system, the Jotacote 412.
Jotacote 412 is a factory-applied high-build, epoxy protective coating system, which is being used on the walls.
The product is one of the numerous systems offered by Jotun Paints, a one-stop solution for a range of products that include: decorative paints, floor coatings, protective and marine coatings, and fire-retardant coatings.
Established in Dubai three decades ago, Jotun Paints has factories and offices in more than 30 countries. The company has two factories in the UAE – in Dubai and Abu Dhabi respectively – catering to the increasing demand for paints and protective coatings in the country.
“We develop paints and coatings that suit this environment, like we have done in various countries, with different climatic conditions, around the world. Our research laboratory here is developing more products for the region, as well as testing products from other parts of the world to check if they are compatible here. Our coatings – especially those used in the oil and gas industry – conform to the international standards and can be used worldwide,” says a Niru Naik, brand manager of Jotun UAE.
“We have upgraded our facilities both in terms of size and technology, to cope with the increasing demand for our products and services,” he adds.
Active in every area of coatings technology, Jotun Paints provides products that protect installations, both offshore and marine, against any attack natural or man-made.
Moreover, the company’s engineers and coating advisors are always ready to advise clients and supervise onsite work to see that the paint or coating is applied correctly.
“Currently, the company is focusing on manufacturing and supplying more environment-friendly coatings with fewer solvents in them,” he says.

WaterFine
Jotun is pleased with the response it has received for one such coating system – the WaterFine system – since its recent launch.
WaterFine, which is an environment-friendly range of products, is designed for offshore and marine sectors, as well as onshore structures where superior lasting protection of steel is required, says Naik.
“The use of water as the solvent/thinner in this system, has given it several advantages. The coating is nonflammable and, therefore, safe; volatile organic compound (VOC) and hazardous air pollutant (HAP) emissions into the atmosphere are minimal, and the system has very minimal disposable hazardous waste,” he adds.
“WaterFine is gaining popularity in the Middle East, as it provides all the above advantages as well as a corrosion protection that is equal or better than solvent-borne coatings.

Steelmaster
In addition, the company has recently launched – the Steelmaster – a new surface coating, which provides exceptional fire protection for up to two hours on steel structures. This ensures the steel structure is able to retain its load-bearing capacity, even if fire-induced high temperatures prevail thus allowing the building to be evacuated.
“This feature allows the fire brigade sufficient time to control the fire,” Naik says.

Jotashield Heritage
Turning to the company’s decorative range of products, Naik says that Jotashield Heritage has become one of Jotun’s most innovative and popular paints in the region.
Designed to a technologically high specification, the paint offers a superior aged effect whilst also offering high-quality durability.
“Targeted at the construction industry, Heritage – which was launched in 2002 – has been a popular addition to the highly successful Jotashield range and has since been utilised for many of the large, esteemed building projects in and around the UAE,” he says. “The product offers an authentically aged, matt appearance which – combined with its advanced pure acrylic composition – makes it a more reliable option than other pigmented cementitious products that have been utilised in the past.
“Being 100 per cent pure acrylic, the paint offers excellent adhesion and water resistance, making it ideal for buildings in close proximity to the sea or water. The high level of anti-carbonation and corrosion protection also ensures that cracking and fading is not as prominent as in traditional cementitious finishes.”
Some of the projects that have benefited from Jotun Heritage’s finishes include the Madinat Jumeirah and the Falcon Centre.
“The successful penetration of the market for this relatively new product can be attributed in a large way to the training programmes Jotun offers to its partners,” says Naik.
He adds: “The application of Jotashield Heritage is a highly skilled process. However, this initially presented a challenge to us as incorrect application of the product could end in substandard results. To solve this problem, we arranged a series of paint seminars for our clients, helping them to understand the importance of the paint technique in achieving the best finish.
“Jotun’s efforts have certainly paid off with the product seeing year-to-year growth, with volume almost doubling in the first year. Equally, the list of clients is impressive with many authentic buildings such as the Khor Fakkan Police Station and Ladies Club in Jumeirah profiting from the Heritage look. The product comes in a variety of matt textured finishes, Traditional, Antique, Classic Tex and Heritage Glaze, and is available in up to 200 different colours through the advanced Jotun Multicolor system.
The company has also recently launched a product range for concrete bridges and flyovers, the sales of which are now growing by the day, Naik adds.