Gulf Construction Online - Sigma celebrates Oman’s renaissance

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A Park Inn Muscat suite ... one of Sigma’s decor projects.

Sigma celebrates Oman’s renaissance

01 September 2010

JULY 23 was Oman’s 40th Renaissance Day, commemorating the accession to power of the sultanate’s current ruler HM Sultan Qaboos bin Said. Sigma Oman and its partners marked the occasion with a remarkable success story of their own while heralding a resurgence of the paint manufacturer’s decorative business in the sultanate.

Commenting on how Sigma has fared in the country, PR and communications manager Middle East Ira Linea von Witte says: “Oman offers a sustainable platform for companies that advocate quality and hence offers a prosperous environment for Sigma Paints, which has been pursuing innovative and sustainable solutions since 1722.”
Like Oman, Sigma Oman has kept a low profile for the past decade although its progress has been impressive from the quality point of view.
“Sigma has set an example by providing durable paint solutions of consistent quality,” she says. “In the protective coatings (PC) sector, only major quality players can meet the stringent paint requirements for pipelines and plants as any failure can be extremely expensive for all parties,” Witte continues.
Sigma has scored major successes in the protective coatings segment, particularly in the oil and gas sector where huge tanks for major international players, such as Sohar Fertiliser, Sohar Aromatics (25 tanks) and Salalah Methanol in the new Free Zone area, sport Sigma protection. They all entail complex paint systems including six to 10 different products.
Sigma’s ongoing projects in the sultanate include projects for Petroleum Development of Oman (PDO) spearheaded by Shell as well as British Petroleum (BP).
In the decorative sector, she says, Sigma follows the same quality principles. Its project portfolio of décor projects includes Oman’s biggest shopping centre, City Centre and the Park Inn Muscat, for which the company provided both interior and exterior paints.
“Park Inn Muscat is the first hotel in Oman and only the second in the Middle East to secure the Green Globe stamp of approval, an international accolade for environmental performance,” she says.
Oman’s 40th Renaissance year has also seen the resurgence of Sigma’s decorative paints business in the sultanate, thanks to its recent close cooperation with Galfar Engineering and Contracting, one of the largest engineering construction firms in the region.
Over the past few months, Sigma has secured many prestigious projects jointly with Galfar including the new National Heart Centre at the Royal Hospital, involving a total painting area of 57,334 sq m. Construction commenced in January on the RO40 million ($104 million) new centre, which comprises a three-storey extension block.
Sigma recommended Sigmacryl Premium ABF, its highly effective anti-bacterial and anti-fungal paints for the interiors. Certified by independent UK-based laboratory and experts, the system is based on an environment-friendly medium incorporating silver ion technology to provide lifelong surface protection from harmful microorganisms. The same system was also specified for the new accident and emergency section (11,547 sq m of total painting area) of the Khoula Hospital, she says.
“Other projects that Sigma has secured in Oman include Ras Al Hadd airport, Caledonian College of Engineering, Duqm Beach Hotel and a private car museum of the Royal Court (Diwan), showcasing vintage vehicles collected throughout His Majesty’s four-decade reign,” von Witte says.
The flooring of the car museum will be coated with the versatile Sigmacover 480, which has excellent resistance to abrasion, chemicals and water, and can be enhanced with extra non-skid properties with the addition of quartz sand.
“As Sigma has a strong brand image, we deal only with reputed contractors and applicators or recommend experienced Sigma applicators,” says Chetan Kosambia, sales manager of Sigma Oman.
Commenting on Sigma’s tie-up with Galfar, Kosambia says: “Galfar’s professionalism, integrity and quality and its commitment to health, safety and the environment (HSE) are in line with Sigma’s principles of operation. With Galfar Group, we are certain that our products are being applied as per specifications.”
Highlighting the importance of coatings conforming to European standards, Jai K Salvi, Galfar’s vice-president strategic planning, says: “In an era of advanced technologies, we build partnership with companies that strive for innovation and enhanced efficiency. I got acquainted with Sigma’s quality 15 years ago when I joined Galfar and my chief engineer recommended Sigma for a quality-conscious client - this project was painted to perfection.
“Not all clients are quality-conscious, yet we always aim to meet our own elevated standards. Over the years, we have cooperated closely with various quality paint manufacturers, some of whom unfortunately manipulate and adjust the product quality according to the pricing structure. And while they may be professional enough to nudge the limit, it gives us no guarantee of quality consistency.”
“Sigma and Galfar’s pursuance of quality and sustainable business models is bound to bear fruit,” concludes Witte.