HEMPEL Paints formally opened in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, its largest decorative paints factory in the Middle East built at a cost of SR100 million ($26.66 million).

The plant, its first 100 per cent water-based paints factory in the Middle East, has annual production capacity of 32 million litres and occupies an area of 7,500 sq m.

Hempel said the launch was a culmination of its efforts to reinforce its leadership in the vibrant Saudi market as well as respond to demand in the Middle East and other markets.

Hempel Group president Pierre-Yves Jullien remarked the new facility would meet demand coming from the Saudi market.

Jullien said Jeddah was strategically located on global sea lanes and had proximity to the seaport located in King Abdullah Economic City (KAEC), which would facilitate logistics for shipping goods to local and global markets.

 Hempel would meet growing demand from the region arising from investments in new buildings and infrastructure, which rely on dependable paints and thermal insulation systems that meet the laws on energy conservation in buildings. Jullien said the decorative market in the region enjoys substantial growth potential “where it is currently valued at SR3 billion per annum.”

Visitors at the new plant in Jeddah

 “Through this latest 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.”

In other remarks, he said: “The company’s total sales input in its respective market in the kingdom amounts to approximately SR400 million and we expect this number to grow during the next coming five years after the launch of this factory. 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.”

Hempel enjoyed customer confidence because it provided customers advice based on its knowledge, while catering to their paints-related questions regarding selection and application, the official stressed.

Engineer Essam Mohammed Al Suhaimi, Hempel Paints Middle East West chairman, noted that the new factory offers products which cater to the entire market and that “its variety and colour-richness will surely 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.”

Al Suhaimi highlighted that Hempel met all quality control requirements and was certified to ISO 9001.

He added that the new factory utilises the latest technologies including power silos, automatic filling, automatic palletising and automatic transfer of pallets to the finished goods warehouse. It will provide training and generate jobs for Saudis.

Through its partnership with Al Suhaimi Holding Group, Hempel has been present in the Saudi market for more than 40 years in Dammam and maintains strong market positions. Considered one of the best decorative paint companies in Saudi Arabia, its paints have been widely used in various projects including residential projects, commercial buildings, sports stadiums, schools, hospitals and airports. Hempel’s products are available through direct supplies and through showrooms and distributors.

“The opening of the new factory serves as further proof of Hempel’s commitment toward the Saudi community and is another milestone in the company’s long history in the kingdom, during which time it has been able to achieve a number of great successes,” the company said.

Present at the opening ceremony was the Danish ambassador to Saudi Arabia, Ole Frijs-Madsen.