Hempel, a leading paint manufacturer, is set to open a new factory in Kuwait next year in line with its plans to boost the company's production capacity to 19 million litres from the current 13 million litres.

The 20,000-sq-m facility, which is likely to be launched in the first quarter of 2017, will have cooling facilities, and will produce solvent-borne as well as water-borne products, said a statement from Hempel, which is celebrating 50 years of its operations in Kuwait.

Within five decades, Hempel has emerged as a major force in the country with a 60 per cent share of the marine coatings market, and 30 per cent of the construction paint market.

It is also contributing to major projects including the Jaber Al Ahmad Al Sabah Hospital, Al Sabah Housing Project, First Ring bridges, Kuwait Opera House, Kuwait Towers, and Kuwait National Petroleum Company’s Clean Fuel Project, said a top official.

Karsten Pedersen, group vice-president and CEO of Hempel Middle East-West, said: “Kuwait holds a special place in our hearts. It was our gateway to Middle East markets. Fifty years later, Hempel Kuwait is stronger and more dedicated, with a leading position in the paints market."

He was speaking at the Golden Jubilee ceremony held recently in Kuwait which was attended by a large number of guests including engineers, contractors, consultants, suppliers and other key industry players.

In 1966, Hempel Group partnered with Al Rashed Family, and United Industries Company, establishing Hempel Kuwait, which started producing marine coatings at an early stage to meet the needs of the country’s shipbuilding industry,  and also supplying decorative paints that protected and beautified Kuwait’s infrastructure, including schools, mosques, hospitals and other civil structures.

Hempel Kuwait's production line expanded steadily, and three years after its inauguration, the company began manufacturing protective paints in 1969 and further broadened its product range to produce decorative paints in 1973.

It played a key role in safeguarding the country’s oil industry through partnerships with Kuwait Oil Company, Kuwait National Petroleum Company, and Kuwait Oil Tanker Company. For Hempel, Kuwait was the gateway to other GCC states.

Khaled Al Rashed, member of the board of directors at Hempel Middle East-West, said: “We are proud today as we celebrate the 50th anniversary of establishing our first factory in Kuwait.”

"Hempel succeeded in the past five decades in forging solid partnerships with all segments of the Kuwait society by producing high quality paints that protect people’s assets. Today, the company crowns its great successes with the announcement of the opening of the new factory next year,” he added.-TradeArabia News Service