Hempel starts paint production in Russia
SHIPPING INDUSTRY: Danish coatings supplier Hempel has signed an agreement with the authorities in Ulyanovsk, to establish a 23 million euro paint production facility in the city, 893 kilometres east of Moscow.
Scheduled to start production in December 2012, the plant will help meet growing demand for Hempel coatings in the Russian market.
“This will be our first Hempel factory in Russia”, says Hempel CFO Kim Junge Andersen.
“We’ve had a very good experience with our organisation in Russia, and they have become well-established in the market. This plant will significantly increase our ability to service our customers in the region”, Junge Andersen says.
The new plant will feature the latest in environmentally-friendly coating production equipment technology, including a semi-automatic powder handling system, an automatic liquid dosing system and a solvent recovery unit.
Designed to house raw materials and the finished product under one roof, the one-building factory will occupy a 70,000 square metre plot. Under one-shift operation, the factory will produce 16.3 million litres annually. If further capacity is required, the factory can operate with two shifts to raise production capacity to 26 million litres.
In order to meet local and Hempel Group environmental standards, all floors will be sealed to prevent soil contamination in the event of a spill, or to collect water in the event of a fire. Solvents that have been used in the production process will be recovered in a solvent recovery unit and recycled for future use. It is estimated that this method can recover up to 90 per cent. When the plant reaches full production capacity, it will bring around 120 new jobs to the region, including 30 white collar and 90 blue collar positions.
At present, Hempel has 310 products available on the Russian market. With the new factory, it is hoped that this number will expand six fold, with a mix of standard and specialised products for the local market.
“Expansion in the Russian market has been an important element in Hempel’s business strategy. Our investment in this plant will be instrumental in meeting goals for our company as well as for our customers”, says Junge Andersen.
Source: Hempel / maritimedanmark.dk
