MANILA, Philippines - Color rises in a new light as Nippon Paint, a leading coating solutions company in Asia, finds its way in building-frenzied Philippines, bringing a brilliant prism of paint innovation, diversity and convenience to its future developments.
“As Asia’s No. 1 coating manufacturer, we are excited that Filipinos will soon enjoy innovative coating solutions of unparalleled quality, together with a color palette that runs into the thousands,†Nippon Paint Southeast Asia Group CEO Wee Siew Kim announced in a launch gala attended by the country’s foremost names in hardware, design and construction industries, with members of the press as well as key members of the Malaysian diplomatic corps.
Founded in Japan in 1881, Nippon Paint now brings a new way for Asians to view color with cutting-edge technology and a myriad of commercially-available hues, earning the brand its long-standing prestige of being the first and the strongest paint brand in the region, operating 56 manufacturing facilities in 15 countries throughout the region. With annual group sales revenue amounting to $5.4 billion, Nippon Paint constitutes a remarkable share in the global paint industry, holding a sturdy lead in the world’s largest continent. Its entry in the Philippine market, alongside the country’s real estate and commercial retail booms, forecasts a P1.5 billion sales turnover in only three years, an estimate that Kim is optimistic they will exceed.
“Given this growth value in the Philippines, we feel that our dominant footprint in Asia will not be complete without a strong presence in this market,†he adds. Starting with sales for automotive paints to its neighboring Filipino consumers, Nippon Paint Southeast Asia now increases its market with the introduction of specialized architectural paints. “With our entry, Filipinos will soon be able to add color to every imaginable surface they wish for. From typical masonry, walls, metal, wood, ceramics and even glass, Nippon Paint not only has the right coating solution, but a rich color palette to choose from,†he adds.
The days of hit-and-miss manual color mixing are now history, with the company’s Nippon Color Creations tinting machines, to be housed in paint centers and modern trade outlets across the Philippines. Tagged as “mini Nippon Paint factories,†these machines are able to produce thousands of colors, on demand, and almost instantly.
“Worrying that your preferred color is not available or in stock is now a thing of the past. In fact, with over 10,000 paint formulations in our library, Filipinos will soon be spoilt for choice,†says Yaw Seng Heng, Nippon Paint Malaysia Group managing director. To prove this, the evening’s hosts Gabe Mercado and Angel Jacob, tapped the help of Handyman CEO Robina Gokogwei-Pe to choose a particular color for the Color Creations tinting machine to mix. Gokongwei-Pe selected the cerulean “Paradise Water†hue, and within 10 minutes, it was mixed on the spot, spot-on, by the groundbreaking machine.
“The Philippines is a growing market, and you are a very colorful people. It really rhymes together with our brand belief of bringing colors alive and I’m sure we will do very well here,†Nippon Paint Malaysia Group general manager Gladys Goh, who, in marking the special occasion, wore a bold statement red dress. “I actually like red a lot because it’s passionate, it’s hot, and aggressive as well. And we are really ready to paint the town red,†Goh added with a smile.
Nippon Paint also elevates the flat nature of architectural paints for wall tinting. With its Momento Special Effects series, the 10,000 Nippon Paint library comes to life in specialized textures like Elegant, Sparkle Gold, Sparkle Pearl, and Sparkle Silver variants. The over-glaze Enhancer series, on the other hand, adds a touch of Frost or Cloud, bringing a touch of the outside to the usual indoor paint. The effects transcend texture and trends in wall décor, making each a statement slab for any room of choice.
As our key cities are set for more construction projects, it’s reassuring to know that our palette will be expanded as well. With Nippon Paint’s latest entry in the Philippine market, perhaps it’s time to push the boundaries of our colorful personalities with even bolder strokes.
“My biggest hope is that Nippon Paint will make a beautiful rainbow in the Philippines,†says Malaysian Ambassador to the Philippines Dato Mohammad Zamri Mohd Kassim.