Gulf Construction Online - Al Gurg Leigh helps protect exteriors

Protective Coatings

Al Gurg Leigh helps protect exteriors

01 January 2008

Al Gurg Leigh’s Paints (AGLP), a leading manufacturer of decorative and protective coatings, has recently completed major projects worth Dh15 million ($4 million) to supply high-quality exterior coatings to Dubai Healthcare City, Dubai Mall Hotel, Jumeirah Lake Towers and Capital Towers.

The Dubai-based company’s Dulux Weathershield exterior anti-carbonation coatings have been used to shield the exteriors of these towers.
AGLP manufactures a wide range of industrial and decorative coatings. The protective coatings – including those for fire protection – for the industrial, marine and petrochemical industry, are manufactured under licence from Leigh’s Paints, UK, while high-quality Dulux decorative paints are manufactured under licence from ICI Paints, UK. AGLP manufactures and distributes the full range of paints under the Leigh’s, Dulux and Oasis brands.
With its well-known track record in the region, the Dulux team was awarded the projects for its technical skills and ability to provide high-performance, cost-effective and durable coating solutions, says the company
Murtaza Challawala, marketing and business development manager of AGLP, says: “We feel proud to be selected over so many high-powered competitors for these projects. Having reinforced our position in the market, we are confident that we have met most of their expectations and Dulux Paints is uniquely positioned to undertake and successfully execute such mega projects in future as well.”
Designed to withstand the Gulf’s harsh climate and high temperatures, product has superior anti-carbonation properties which make it well suited to combat high temperatures, extreme exposure to harmful ultra-violet rays, moisture and fine cracks. Challawala says.
“Moreover, the paint does not contain any added lead or mercury, making the product environment-friendly,” he continues. “In keeping with its reputation as the most eco-friendly paint company in the world, Dulux Paints has ensured all projects are carried out in accordance with strict environmental standards.”
Available in several smooth and textured finishes, Weathershield provides a 15-year guarantee for external durability. The paint system is also approved by the British Board of Agreement in the UK.
ICI Dulux uses only highly-skilled professional painters to apply the Weathershield range of paints to ensure safety, economy and effectiveness.
“At Dulux, we offer our customers much more than paints. Our team of experts is actively involved in projects right from conceptualisation to on-site technical supervision. We provide consultancy services on the most effective and economical protection after careful consideration of architectural specifications and functionalities,” he adds.
Among the latest Dulux products launched on the market is Dulux Magic Touch, one of the first products to have an antibacterial certification. It is also approved as a fire spread retardant, apart from its other decorative properties.
The company operates Dulux Decorator Centres, which are targeted at the new home owners market. These centres are located in shopping malls to make buying paints a pleasurable experience, he comments.
In the UAE, AGLP has executed a number of other major projects including the Ibn Battuta Mall, where the combination of the varied themes in the mall’s interiors stands as a testimony of Dulux’s expertise in handling intricate, multi-themed projects. Other developments that have used Weathershield exterior paints include BurJuman shopping centre, Dubai Outsource City, Arabian Ranches, villas in the Meadows and Springs complex as well as Al Mafraq Hospital, Abu Dhabi.
“AGLP is a total solutions company with decorative, industrial, OEM and fire protection systems,” says Challawala. “Our factory in Sharjah manufactures Dulux – decorative range which is known for its environment compliance and non-toxic properties. Dulux, the world’ second-largest paint manufacturer, has many firsts in terms of new products and technology: Weathershield, Pyroshield and Sterishield, to name a few.
Also under the AGLP umbrella is Leigh’s Paints, which leads in the industrial coatings segment, having been one of the first coating companies to supply paints in the region. Dubai Electricity and Water Authority’s (Dewa) first power plant and Port Rashid are protected with Leigh’s coatings. Popular products offered by Leigh’s includes Firetex, a well-known name for fire-rated coatings which has been used on many known landmarks in the UAE and Leigh’s floor/deck coatings, which are known for their performance in car-parks and helipads.
The Firetex range offers up to two hours fire protection to both internally and externally exposed structural steelwork. Experts expect the demand for such fire-protective intumescent coatings to continue to rise at an annual rate of at least 10 per cent.
“The use of fire protection in the Middle East is growing rapidly and we are currently working on various projects, including Dubai Mall, Almas Tower, Etisalat Cable Warehouse, Burj Lake Hotel, a district cooling plant and Dubai Airport, among others,” says Andy Holt, fire protection manager for Leigh’s Paints.
New versions such as Leigh’s Epigrip C400 V2 – one coat solution for steel – and Firetex FX1000 have been launched, while other speciality products are under a feasibility study for a launch in the Gulf market.
“Leigh’s paints comply with the stringent UK/European standards both technically and environmentally. They are approved by the UAE oil sector, and the top consultants in the region, says Challawala.
The Oasis brand caters to the OEM markets of the region incorporating customised products to specific industry needs.
What gives AGLP a competitive edge in the market is its environment compliance and non-toxic decorative products, as well as its ability to offer complete coating solutions under one roof, he says.
AGLP operates a regional technical centre in the UAE, which is a platform for its principals to test and tropicalise products to suit the local environment.