With the extensive expansion of R&D in Spain, Hempel’s new state-of-the-art centre focuses on bringing high performing fire protective coatings solutions to the global market.
Intumescent coatings – passive fire protection that lengthens the time a steel structure will remain intact during a fire – provide longer evacuation times and allow emergency personnel more time to respond. That means that these advanced coatings solutions not only help protect investments, but can potentially save lives.
Naturally, as global awareness of intumescents has grown, demand has increased. Worldwide, customers are requesting high quality coating systems for fire protection together with Hempel’s package of anti-corrosive coatings. With the expansion of the state-of-the-art R&D centre in Spain, Hempel now has the opportunity to better serve these customers with a more complete protective system.
The market for passive fire protection through intumescent coatings is expected to increase over the coming years. By expanding their product portfolio to include this important safety solution, Hempel also furthers its strategic goal for growth in the Protective coatings segment.
Says Hempel Group Vice President, Marketing & Business Development Klaus Møller, “This expansion is an important step in Hempel’s growth strategy, One Hempel – One Ambition, to become one of the world’s top ten leading coating’s suppliers by 2015.”
“Along with a state-of-the-art facility, we have also established a team with years of experience in intumescent product development,” says Hempel Business Development Manager Lars Risum. “The key focus of the new team is to develop a range of highly competitive intumescent coatings and protective systems to give our customers more integrated solutions.”
Hempel has worked with fire protection coatings for many years. Now, with the new centre in Spain fully operational, Hempel looks to boost its R&D activities and offer customers some of the best performing and competitive coatings solutions in the industry. The new fire protection laboratory includes an advanced testing area with furnaces, pilot manufacturing and application in an impressive 1000m2 area.
“With the new R&D facility and dedicated team, we have overcome many of the challenges in developing an intumescent product range,” Lars says. “We now look forward to bringing these important products to market and providing even greater value to our customers and stakeholders.”
