By Francis Ayieko
Paint maker Crown Paints Kenya has launched an anti-bacterial paint even as it moves to consolidate its position as a market leader.
Known as Medicryl Silk Emulsion, the new product targets health institutions and other work and living spaces that require high standards of hygiene.
In addition to curbing bacteria growth, it is also odourless and fast drying, making it suitable for use in busy environments such as hospitals, restaurants and even schools.
The new coating will be an important component of healthcare as it will help address the perennial problem of nosocomial or hospital infections, which according to the World Health Organisation, affects ten out of every 100 people hospitalised in developing countries. They also account for 75 per cent of deaths of newborn babies in those countries.
Speaking at the launch of the new product last evening, the chairman of the Kenya Medical Association Dr Elly Opot hailed the new product saying it would enhance the provision of health services in the country.
“We commend Crown Paints for introducing this innovative product in the Kenyan market. It will help address the challenge posed by hospital-related infections to both patients and hospital staff,” said Dr Opot.
Innovation
Crown Paints CEO Rakesh Rao said his company was focused on innovative products that provide an enhanced living environment for users.
“We are committed to providing coating solutions that not only have decorative appeal but also improve the living environment. Medicryl will enhance the environment in which we care for patients and help reduce hospital-related infections,” said Rao.
Besides Medicryl, Crown Paints has also introduced other innovative products in the local market such as Teflon Surface Protector, which ensures walls and other surfaces remain easy to clean and resistant to stains.
Crown Paints, which is listed on the Nairobi Securities Exchange, has been expanding its operations into the regional market. It has invested more than Sh250 million to build a paint manufacturing plant in Tanzania.
Crown operates as Regal Paints in Uganda where it is the second largest player in the market.
It also exports products to South Sudan, Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of Congo. The firm saw its performance improve last year, posting a 16.5 per cent increase in its turnover.
Earlier this year, the paint maker said its market share had increased by 20 per cent, thanks to its new surface protector product launched last year.
According to the group chief executive, the Sh80 million Permecote with Teflon has been well received in the market, helping the firm grow its market share substantially for the last one year.
Introduced into the market early last year, Permecote with Teflon is a surface protector against dirt and stains or any objects that spoils the wall’s colour.
Growing market
The paints and coatings market in the country has registered impressive growth in the past few years as manufacturers cash in on the boom in the building and construction industry.
According to Rao, the ongoing boom in the real estate sector has seen Crown Paints’s annual turnover grow from Sh1.2 billion in 2006/07 to about Sh4.7 billion by the end of last year.
