Gulf Construction Online - Jotun scores ‘first’ with floor coating

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Jotun scores ‘first’ with floor coating

01 May 2010

JOTUN Paints has launched what is said to be the world’s first floor coating based on nanotechnology, in the UAE.

Called Jotafloor Rapid Dry, the coating will also support Abu Dhabi’s pioneering initiatives towards greener construction through the use of environmentally safe paints and coatings based on cutting-edge technology.
Rapid Dry is based on nanotechnology that involves the development of materials with particles at a molecular scale, which is now widely available across the Middle East. The new high-end water-based, semi-gloss floor coating is specially formulated to be home and environment friendly. Ideal for high foot-traffic areas as well as light-duty floors, Jotafloor Rapid Dry WB is a fast-drying, 100 per cent pure nano acrylic floor coating solution that offers excellent durability, UV (ultraviolet) protection and aesthetic properties.
It is more abrasion-resistant than the normal acrylic technology, produces low emissions and does not have a strong odour, as harmful solvents used in its production have been replaced with natural water, says the company. The coating also features anti-bacterial properties that prevent fungus and bacteria build-up on surfaces.
Easy to clean with water and non-reactive to day-to-day detergents, Jotafloor Rapid Dry WB can be used for floors requiring a fast-drying, easy-to-apply, light-duty floor coating, such as within exhibition halls and other venues for indoor events. Available in a palette of more than 1,000 colours, the coating is guaranteed not to lose its colour and shine even when exposed to sunlight, and can handle mild spillages and light pedestrian traffic within factories, warehouses and garage showrooms.
Jotun showcased the environment friendly paint at Cityscape Abu Dhabi last month, where the eco-friendly features of its Jotashield Thermo and Fenomastic Gold, were also promoted.
“This is Jotun’s first product to be based on pure nanotechnology, and is the result of our sizeable investment of time and resources into product research and development,” said Terje Langmoe, concrete concept manager, Jotun Coatings. “This unique and environmentally sound product meets the needs of the common end-user segment, and addresses the market call for consistency, quality and sustainability across the range of paints and coatings.”
He continued: “The launch of Jotafloor Rapid Dry WB is reflective of our continuous efforts to offer the latest product innovations in paints and coatings technology, to satisfy the increasingly complicated requirements of our regional customers. This new product is targeted at the end-user market for application-specific premium paint and coating products, and is part of our commitment towards ensuring the availability of suitable high-quality paints and coatings in the region.”
Amidst projections of further growth of infrastructure projects, with research firm Proleads’ data revealing that civil project buildings in the construction or pre-construction phase in Abu Dhabi are at present valued at a massive $247 billion, Jotun is gearing up to leverage the extensive potential in the capital as part of its strategy to secure sales growth of five to eight per cent this year.
“Our sizeable investments towards research and development have led to the formulation of a range of environmentally-safe paints and coatings, and the Jotafloor Rapid Dry underlines our intense focus on pushing the envelope in this area of product development,” said Sverre Knudsen, general manager, Jotun Paints – Abu Dhabi.
As the preferred choice of developers of sustainable projects, Jotun has supplied its Fenomastic Gold, an acrylic option under the Fenomastic range that boasts of anti-fungal properties, anti-flame spread certification and crack tolerance up to one millimetre, to be used for the Masdar Institute of Science and Technology project.
In addition, Jotashield Thermo, a product under the Jotashield range and formulated with thermal insulation properties that result in superior heat deflection and reduced interior temperature and cooling costs, was recently used in the Highland Resort Villas project, also in Abu Dhabi.