Markets Served: Automotive  coatings, Decorative coatings, Industrial coatings, Marine and Protective coatings

Operating in Japan, Europe, the U.S., Southeast Asia, India and China, Kansai Paint Co. Ltd. offers a broad range of coatings solutions for various markets, including automotive, decorative, industrial and marine coatings. It divides its business into automotive (30.7%), automotive refinish (5.2%) industrial (26.3%), decorative (25.6%), marine and protective (6%) and others (6.2%).

By region, Japan comprises 30% of sales, India 25%, Asia 13.4%, Africa 8.2%, Europe 22% and others 1.4%.

Kansai Paint operates three automotive paint plants from its headquarters in Osaka, Japan and is the leading supplier of automotive coatings to Toyota, Suzuki, Nissan, Honda, Peugeot and Renault worldwide.

Kansai Paint employs 17,414 people and has 89 facilities in 29 countries. Kansai Paint currently ranks No. 1 in Africa, No. 2 Japan, No. 3 in India and No. 8 in Europe in terms of market share.

Kansai Paint Renews Focus on Europe

Kansai Paint recently presented its eighteenth medium-term plan that outlines its strategy up until 2030. According to Coatings World’s Europe Correspondent, Terry Knowles’ February 2025 column, Kansai is focusing on Europe first and foremost for the remainder of the decade.

“The prominent visibility of Europe as a leader in sustainability and sustainable technologies is something that Kansai clearly wants to tap into and spread around the world through its other operations,” Knowles reported. “The key objective for the company in Europe is the future development of innovative industrial coatings technology (and in Japan, similarly for automotive coatings).

The former Helios company operations have grown rapidly – at 14.5% p.a. – since the company was acquired by Kansai Paint prior to 2018.

In the year of acquisition, it represented 12% of Kansai’s consolidated sales, whereas in 2024, it represented 19%, having outstripped the parent company’s collective growth of 6% p.a. over the same six-year period.

The star performer in Kansai’s global cast has, since then, been boosted by an array of supporting European industrial coatings acquisitions. It is currently the third-largest arm of the Kansai Paint group and has annual revenues of €737 million. It boasts 19 production sites in Europe, two in the Americas (one north, one south) and two in Asia.

By leveraging companies it has acquired (Weilburger and CWS), the objective is to achieve a turnover of €900 million by 2027. Some of this will be achieved as a matter of consolidation into the parent and the rest is expected to occur through global growth.

There are three main areas of activity at Kansai Helios: decorative paints, industrial coatings and performance chemicals. Of these, the industrial coatings portfolio has experienced the fastest growth (13.6% p.a.) with decorative paints recording the slowest (1.9% p.a.) since the time of acquisition.

Performance chemicals sandwich the two together with growth of 6.6% p.a. The Industrial Coatings operations accounted for almost three-quarters of Kansai Helios’ sales in 2024, as seen from the chart below.

In 2023 and before it acquired the Weilburger Coatings business, Kansai Helios had 1.6% of the European paint and coatings market, placing it ninth after most of the other major formulators. Kansai Paint also held a further 0.6% of the market through its non-Kansai Helios operations. The top ten paint companies operating in Europe now account for about 47% of all coatings demand, with the top two taking about 11% each.

When the figures are examined through the lens of industrial coatings only, the picture and outcome is different. Kansai Helios is then placed fifth in the European industrial coatings market with 2.9% share and other Kansai operations 0.9% (again, pre-Weilburger acquisition). The European industrial coatings market was valued at US$16 billion in 2023.”

Innovative Technologies at the Heart of Strategy

Three leadership positions are now claimed in the European industrial coatings sector. In the overview, these emerge as follows:
• Railway coatings – leads and claims 20% of the market. Innovations here include polyaspartic clear coat technology.
• Core plate varnish – leads with 40% market share with key technologies being chromate-free and bonding core plate varnishes for EVs.
• High-temperature coatings – leads with 50% of the market and flourishing with polysiloxanes.
• Non-stick coatings – placed third, holding 13% share.
• Powder coatings – fifth place and with 5% and strengths in low-temperature curing polyester powders, also powder in powder solutions.
• ACE coatings – fifth place again but with 4%; this area benefits from ultra-high solids formulations and the use of polyaspartic clear coats once more.

Markets Served: Automotive coatings, Decorative coatings, Industrial coatings, Marine and Protective coatingsOperating in Japan, Europe, the U.S., Southeast Asia, India and China, Kansai Paint Co. Ltd. offers a broad range of coatings solutions for various markets, including automotive, decorative, industrial and marine coatings. It divides its business into automotive (30.7%), automotive refinish (5.2%) industrial (26.3%), decorative (25.6%), marine and protective (6%) and others (6.2%).

By region, Japan comprises 30% of sales, India 25%, Asia 13.4%, Africa 8.2%, Europe 22% and others 1.4%.

Kansai Paint operates three automotive paint plants from its headquarters in Osaka, Japan and is the leading supplier of automotive coatings to Toyota, Suzuki, Nissan, Honda, Peugeot and Renault worldwide.Kansai Paint employs 16,844 people and has 91 facilities in 29 countries.

Overview of Financial Results

According to Kansai Paint’s Financial Results for FY2023, the company achieved the upwardly revised plan in February, and reached record highs in sales and all phases of profit.

• Further progress in overall price pass-though and expansion of automotive sales volume led to a double-digit year-on-year increase in company-wide sales.
• In India, competition in the deco sector is intensifying, while sales in the automotive and industrial sectors continue to grow. In addition, efforts to improve productivity continued, and high profit levels were maintained. (Segment profit: +35% YoY)
• The increase in profits in the Japan segment due to higher sales prices and productivity improvements contributed significantly to the improvement in profitability. (Japan segment profit margin: 8.7%  13.0%, +4.3%).
• Improved capital efficiency through continuous improvement of capital efficiency (sale of low-profit assets, significant improvement in CCC) and share buybacks. The dividend payout ratio, excluding one-time gains, will be maintained at 30%, and the annual dividend will be increased by 2 yen (from 38 yen to 40 yen) based on further growth in earnings.

Key Happenings in 2023

Acquisition of Kansai Paint Africa Halted by AkzoNobel

Amid concerns of creating a monopoly, AkzoNobel and Kansai Paint have mutually agreed not to proceed with the company’s intended acquisition of Kansai’s paints and coatings activities in Africa.

Commenting on the decision, AkzoNobel CEO, Greg Poux-Guillaume, said: “It’s disappointing that this intended acquisition cannot move forward, but we remain committed to our strong businesses and leading brands in Africa. As AkzoNobel’s performance rebound gathers pace, we’ll remain focused on our key priorities, including the strengthening of our balance sheet, which will be accelerated.”

The two companies have agreed that no break-up fee will be involved.

Kansai Helios Acquires Weilburger Coatings

KANSAI HELIOS, the company’s hub in Slovenia, has completed its acquisition of WEILBURGER Coatings, the entire industrial coatings business of GREBE Holding in Weilburg, Germany. WEILBURGER Coatings with its headquarters in Weilburg consists of 100% of WEILBURGER Coatings GmbH in Weilburg, Germany and 100% of WEILBURGER Asia Limited in Hong Kong, China.

The deal was first announced in February 2024. This consolidation represents an important step to further strengthen KANSAI HELIOS’ market positions in various industrial coatings segments and expand its geographical footprint internationally.

With the completion of the acquisition, KANSAI HELIOS becomes the new owner of WEILBURGERCoatings which consists of group companies in Germany, Italy, France, Turkey, USA, Brazil, India and China. WEILBURGER Coatings is a well-established company group, that look back on more than 120 years of tradition.

With about 600 employees at seven production sites and several trading offices, the company has achieved global success. The group has grown well-known brands such as GREBLON, senorail and senotherm®. With a turnover of around 150 million Euro, WEILBURGER Coatings is known for its outstanding performance in the field of non-stick coatings, high temperature coatings, railway coatings and specialty coatings.

This consolidation is a decisive step towards strengthening KANSAI HELIOS’ market position in a broad range of industrial coatings segments and promoting an expansive international presence. By strategically pooling resources and expertise, the company aims not only to extend its competitive edge, but also to deepen its connections to global markets, promoting sustainable growth and innovation.

Markets Served: Automotive  coatings, Decorative coatings, Industrial coatings, Marine and Protective coatings

Operating in Japan, Europe, the U.S., Southeast Asia, India and China, Kansai Paint Co. Ltd. offers a broad range of coatings solutions for various markets, including automotive, decorative, industrial and marine coatings. It divides its business into automotive (26%), automotive refinish (5%) industrial (28%), decorative (27%), marine and protective (6%) and others (8%).

By region, Japan comprises 35% of sales, India 20%, Asia 17%, Africa 9%, Europe 17% and others 2%.

Kansai Paint operates three automotive paint plants from its headquarters in Osaka, Japan and is the leading supplier of automotive coatings to Toyota, Suzuki, Nissan, Honda, Peugeot and Renault worldwide.

The company employs 16,459 people. The company reported sales of $3.63 billion. Sales increased due to recovery from the COVID-19 impact last year, volume increase and price increases.

Overview of Financial Results

According to the company’s 2002 Annual Report, during the fiscal period under review, the world economy observed a recovery trend reflecting the moderated impact of COVID19. However, the pace of the recovery decelerated due to the ongoing monetary tightening in many countries under the influence of the worldwide inflation, in addition to the restricted supply and a rise in the raw material prices amid geopolitical risks that became apparent. Under these circumstances, the Chinese economy has been sluggish due to temporarily stricter movement restrictions implemented in many regions due to the spread of COVID-19. In the United States and Europe, the economy continued to pick up gradually despite monetary tightening policies causing downward pressures on the economy. In other regions, the economy was on a recovery trend or showed signs of recovery. The Japanese economy, under the impact of high resource prices, sharp fluctuations in exchange rates, deceleration of the overseas economy and other factors, observed a recovery in line with the ongoing infection control and economic activities. The Group’s consolidated net sales for the period under review were up 21.4% year on year. Operating income up 6.6% year on year because of efforts to improve profits by passing on to selling prices the selling cost, which had increased as sales grew amid continued impact of soaring raw materials prices.

Beckers Announces Sale of Railway Coatings Business to Kansai Helios

Beckers Group announces that it has reached an agreement to sell its Railway Coatings business to Kansai Helios for an undisclosed sum. The asset purchase agreement for the sale of the railway coatings business of Beckers´ company Becker Industrie SAS, Montbrison (France) was signed on Dec. 9, 2022. After completion of closing conditions, Kansai Helios will acquire all business assets of Becker Industrie SAS in the Railway Coatings segment.

The transaction is an outcome of Beckers’ strategic review and part of the transformation of Beckers into a focused sustainable innovation-based leader. It allows Beckers to increase efficiency and reinvest into strategic core segments and new products.

As a part of this transaction, Kansai Helios will establish its first subsidiary in France, Kansai Helios France SAS. With this acquisition Kansai Helios will further strengthen its competitive position in the railway coatings sector in Europe and worldwide.

After closing the process, Kansai Helios France SAS will take over the relevant employees of Becker Industrie SAS in the Railway Coatings business and add further resources in order to ensure continuity of the professional service that customers are used to. The transaction is expected to close in the first quarter of 2023. Beckers will continue to serve its railway customers in India and China.

“This is a strategic deal for both parties,” Christophe Sabas, Beckers Group CEO, said. “The Railway Coatings business will become an important part of Kansai Helios’ growth strategy, while Beckers will be able to put more energy and resources behind our strategic businesses and new developments. We are very pleased to sell the Railway business to Kansai Helios. Our committed Railway Coatings employees have been a much-appreciated part of Becker Industrie S.A.S. and I wish them the best of luck in the future. We know Kansai Helios well and I am confident that joining the Kansai Helios family will be good for those employees, customers and other stakeholders.

“For Kansai Helios, the Railway Coatings development and production has always been of great importance, and we have achieved a strong market position in recent years, being the largest producer of railway coatings in Europe with important brands such as Wefa, Rembrandtin and Helios,” added Dietmar Jost, executive director, Kansai Helios Group.

“Beckers’ innovative industrial coatings designed to protect railway vehicles products guarantee the highest quality and environmental protection,” Jost noted. “The purchase rounds off our portfolio perfectly. This business acquisition is a further step of Kansai Helios in the railway coatings segment, following our most recent asset acquisition and establishment of Kansai Helios Wefa in Essen, Germany. The Beckers Railway Coatings team is excellent and we are delighted that they have chosen the Kansai Helios team to continue to serve their valued existing and new customers in France and around the world.”

Markets Served: Automotive  coatings, Decorative coatings, Industrial coatings, Marine and protective coatings

Operating in Japan, Europe, the U.S., Southeast Asia, India and China, Kansai Paint Co. Ltd. offers a broad range of coatings solutions for various markets, including automotive, decorative, industrial and marine coatings. It divides its business into automotive (26%), automotive refinish (5%) industrial (28%), decorative (27%), marine and protective (6%) and others (8%).

By region, Japan comprises 35% of sales, India 20%, Asia 17%, Africa 9%, Europe 17% and others 2%.

Kansai Paint operates three automotive paint plants from its headquarters in Osaka, Japan and is the leading supplier of automotive coatings to Toyota, Suzuki, Nissan, Honda, Peugeot and Renault worldwide.

The company employs 16,459 people.

The company reported sales of $3.11 billion. Sales increased due to recovery from the COVID-19 impact last year, volume increase and price increases.

Overview of financial resultsJapan: In the automotive coatings sector, sales in the new car area and paints for automotive components remained unchanged year on year due to an increase in exports and a decline in domestic sales, reflecting a decrease in car production from the previous year. Sales in the industrial coatings sector recorded a year-on-year increase due to robust sales of paints for industrial machinery and other products.

Sales in the decorative coatings sector decreased slightly on a year-on-year basis due to a decline in demand for DIY paints. In the automotive coatings (for refinishing) and the protective coatings sectors, sales increased year on year.

India: The automotive coatings and decorative coatings sectors faced the impact of the stagnant economy amid the second wave of the spread of COVID-19.

Europe:  In Turkey, while sales increased on a local currency basis, the impact of the depreciation of the currency on raw material prices put pressure on profits. In addition, equity in earnings of affiliates decreased due to the reaction to the reduction in tax burden applied to the preferential treatment for capital investment received in the previous year for equity method affiliated companies. Also in other European countries, mainly the industrial coatings and the automotive coatings (for refinishing) sectors saw a year-on-year increase in sales due to strong demand, resulting in year-on-year growth in net sales in Europe as a whole.

Asia:  In China, sales in the automotive coatings sector increased year on year, reflecting a recovery of car production. Sales in the industrial coatings sector increased year on year on the back of robust sales of paints for industrial machinery.

Africa: While South Africa and neighboring countries continued to face a sluggish economy due to the rebound of COVID-19, the decorative coatings sector succeeded in absorbing demand, which led to growth of sales in the South African region.

Others:  In North America, sales of paints for automotive components grew year on year, although automobile production remained flat compared with the previous fiscal period.

AkzoNobel to Acquire African Paints and Coatings Activities from Kansai Paint

AkzoNobel is to further strengthen its African footprint after reaching an agreement with Kansai Paint to acquire its paints and coatings activities in the region. Completion, which is subject to regulatory approvals, is expected during the course of 2023.

Present in 12 countries in Africa, Kansai Paint has regional consolidated revenue of around €280 million. The transaction includes the Plascon brand, which has more than 100 years of heritage in South Africa.

Together with AkzoNobel’s Dulux brand, they’re the longest-established paint brands in the region. The intended acquisition also includes automotive and protective coatings, and coatings for wood and coil.

“Acquiring Kansai Paint’s activities in the region will help us to further expand our paints and coatings business in Africa and provide a strong platform for future growth,” said AkzoNobel CEO Thierry Vanlancker.

“Kansai Paint shares our commitment to innovation and sustainability, and we look forward to combining our expertise, which will result in a wider range of innovative products and more sustainable solutions for our customers.”

Added Kunishi Mori, Kansai Paint’s president: “We are convinced that AkzoNobel is the best owner as AkzoNobel considers the decorative paints business as a core business and will therefore be able to unlock the full potential of the business, thereby contributing to the development of the African economy.”

For Prejay Lalla and Arvind Shekhawat, CEOs of KPAL and KPEA (the respective Africa entities being sold by Kansai Paint in this transaction), this agreement is an opportunity to further enhance growth. “We believe that AkzoNobel will be the owner who will elevate the business to the next level as AkzoNobel is willing to invest in ESG, is committed to innovation, workforce development and broader career opportunities as well as the long-term success of its paint businesses in Africa.”

Markets Served: Automotive  coatings, Decorative coatings, Industrial coatings, Marine and protective coatings

Operating in Japan, Europe, the U.S., Southeast Asia, India and China, Kansai Paint Co. Ltd. offers a broad range of coatings solutions for various markets, including automotive, decorative, industrial and marine coatings. It divides its business into automotive (26%), automotive refinish (5%) industrial (28%), decorative (27%), marine and protective (6%) and Others (8%).

By region, Japan comprises 35% of sales, India 20%, Asia 17%, Africa 9%, Europe 17% and Others 2%.

Kansai Paint operates three automotive paint plants from its headquarters in Osaka, Japan and is the leading supplier of automotive coatings to Toyota, Suzuki, Nissan, Honda, Peugeot and Renault worldwide. The company employs 16,459 people.

The company reported sales of $3.77 billion,  a 4.8% decrease over the previous year. Despite growth in local currency bases in Europe and the U.S., Kansai’s consolidated net sales were adversely affected by currency conversions stemming from currency depreciation mainly in developing nations. Furthermore, with a decrease in automobile production in Japan, India and Asia, and other factors, consolidated net sales were down on the previous year.

Overview of Financial Results by Segment

Japan: In the new car area of the automotive coatings sector, sales fell short of the previous year, reflecting a year on year decrease in car production and exports. Sales in the industrial coatings sector decreased year on year as paints for automotive components and paints for industrial machinery that had recorded robust sales became sluggish in the second half. The decorative coatings and protective coatings sectors saw slight year on year increases in sales amid robust growth of the market. Sales in the marine sector decreased slightly year on year despite a recovery mainly in sales of paints for ship repair. In the automotive coatings sector (for refinishing), sales decreased year on year in a weak market despite intensive efforts to expand sales of high-value-added products. As a result of those factors, net sales in the segment were 155,078 million yen (down 2.7% year on year).

Asia: In China, reflecting a year on year decrease in car production, sales in the automotive coatings sector decreased year on year despite expanded demand from major customers. In the industrial coatings sector, sales decreased year on year in paints for construction machinery due to weaker demand from major customers. As a result, net sales decreased year on year in China as a whole. In Indonesia, amid the strong sense of decelerated economy, sales in the automotive coatings sector decreased year on year, reflecting a decline in car production compared with the last year. Also in Thailand, sales decreased year on year following a decline in car production. As a result of those factors, net sales of the segment were 60,176 million yen (down 5.7% year on year).

Africa: Amid the sluggish economy in South Africa and neighboring countries, Kansai Paint continued to promote sales. Despite a decline in raw material prices and improvement in profitability compared with the same period last year, the company continued to face significant pressure from currency depreciation and the intensified price competition. As a result of those factors, net sales of the segment were 35,742 million yen (down 9.4% year on year).

Europe: In Turkey, while sales in the local currency increased, profitability was negatively affected by the rise of raw material prices due to the weaker local currency. Meanwhile, equity in earnings of affiliates increased despite sluggish demand in the decorative coatings sector on the back of a weaker domestic economy. In other European countries, sales in local currencies increased mainly in the industrial coatings sector which enjoyed strong growth. However, the translated result in Japanese yen was negatively affected by currency conversion. As a result of those factors, net sales of the segment were 68,168 million yen (down 5.2% year on year).

Others: Sales grew in North America, owing to efforts to expand sales of paints for automotive components in the industrial coatings sector. Equity in earnings of affiliates also increased. As a result of those factors, net sales of the segment were 6,021 million yen (up 1.1% year on year).

Recently Launched Products:

Kansai recently developed a new range of blues created using its database analysis. The new range of blues was created by analyzing the characteristics of its most popular blue using the company’s original auto body color database. “Ocean Blue Next” expresses depth with purity, and was developed based on Kansai Paint’s sophisticated technical skills and market analysis capabilities.

• New Black for Self-driving: LiDAR is a sensing technology for self-driving cars in which distance is measured by detecting light reflected back from objects that have been illuminated with an infrared laser. However, LiDAR’s detection sensitivity markedly declines for objects with a high degree of jet blackness. Developed this year, “Black Panther” employs Kansai’s unique technology to ensure high reflectivity even in the infrared range, and this enables the detection of infrared light reflected off it even while it retains a jet black design.

• Global Trend Colors: “Linen Velvet” is one of the “Global trend colours” of the Kansai Paint Group. It was devised together with experts in color development from seven countries, primarily in Asia, based on the latest lifestyles in each country and surveys of color trends at motor shows and other events. Keeping in mind the characteristics of linen velvet – which includes an elegant texture – this color was developed by utilizing the gentle luster of pearl pigment.

Markets Served: Automotive  coatings, Decorative coatings, Industrial coatings, Marine and protective coatings

Operating in Japan, Europe, the U.S., Southeast Asia, India and China, Kansai Paint Co. Ltd. offers a broad range of coatings solutions for various markets including automotive, decorative, industrial and marine coatings. It divides its business into automotive (38 percent), industrial (25 percent), decorative (25 percent), and marine and protective (seven percent) segments.

Kansai Paint operates three automotive paint plants from its headquarters in Osaka, Japan and is the leading supplier of automotive coatings to Toyota, Suzuki, Nissan, Honda, Peugeot and Renault worldwide. The company employs 15,731 people.

The Group’s net sales for the period under review were up 6.3 percent year on year while operating income declined to 9.8 percent year on year due to a rise of raw material prices and an increase in selling, general and administrative expenses.

A rise in raw material prices, ordinary income reached 5,398 million yen (up 1151.3 percent year on year) reflecting an increase in equity in earnings of affiliates as a result of recording impairment loss of goodwill in the Middle East in the previous year and the absence of amortization of goodwill in the current fiscal year.

In its yearly financial report Kansai reported that during the period under review, the global economy continued to face heightened geopolitical risks and uncertainties concerning political, policy and trade developments in different countries. Under such circumstances, in spite of signs of a moderate slowdown in economic growth in China and Europe, the global economy as a whole continued to enjoy a turnaround with robust corporate revenue and improved employment in the United States together with ongoing recoveries in emerging countries in Asia. The Japanese economy, which had been temporarily weak due to the impacts of natural disasters such as heavy rains, continued to experience mild recovery supported by a gradual pickup in the global economy as well as improvements in capital expenditures and employment and income environments.

Kansai Paint Fight Malaria with Anti-Mosiquito Paint in Uganda

Kansai Plascon, a subsidiary of Kansai Paint Co., Ltd. officially launched the world’s first anti-mosquito paint in Uganda, with the goal of supporting the country’s efforts of being malaria-free by 2021. This would place Uganda alongside Morocco, the only certified malaria-free country in Africa, having registered no cases since 2010.

The revolutionary new paint is a modified emulsion paint powered by Plascon’s unique mosquito “Knock Down” technology and it is being offered as a value-for-money alternative indoor residual spraying.

While malaria interventions such as mosquito nets, prophylactics and insecticide spraying are still in use, the deadly disease continues to account for more than one million deaths on the African continent each year.

Working in a public-private partnership together with the Ugandan Ministry of Health, other agencies and stakeholders, Kansai Plascon has developed an innovative Kansai Plascon Anti-Mosquito paint. The modified acrylic emulsion paint is powered by its unique mosquito “Knock Down” technology, giving people the peace of mind of a mosquito-free environment.

The Kansai Plascon Anti-Mosquito paint is specially designed to be safe to use in residential homes, public and commercial buildings.

With a smooth matt finish, it is a durable easy-to-clean product, which is available in a range of different colors. Ideal for walls and ceilings, Plascon Anti-Mosquito Paint is low VOC and lead-free, safe for the family and maintains a smooth matte finish when applied.

“Kansai Plascon’s Anti-Mosquito paint is the only product of its kind. It has been approved by all the local bodies necessary including; the Ministry of Health, Ministry of Internal Affairs the National Drag Authority, National Environment Management Authority, and National Health Research Authority. It is lead-free, a low emission product that can be used anywhere, which makes it the ideal way to put people at ease if they are living in or visiting a high-risk malaria area,” Kansai Plascon VP Dr. Kalpana Abe said.

“The ‘Knock Down’ technology works by disrupting the mosquito’s nervous system on contact, reducing its ability to remain on painted walls or flying too far away, resulting in it being knocked down. The knock-down effect lasts for up to two years, offering lasting protection from malaria infection and other mosquito-borne diseases,” Dr. Abe continued. “The launch of the Kansai (Plascon) Anti-Mosquito paint kicks off with the ‘Hold my Hand to 5’ campaign where Plascon has pledged to donate paint to some of the underprivileged communities.”

“The ‘Hold my Hand to 5’ campaign aims to highlight the plight of the most vulnerable malaria victims: Our children, while driving consumer education on the fight against malaria. Kansai Plascon plans to forge strong partnerships with government, NGOs and the private sector to ensure the campaign has an enduring and holistic impact,” Regional Brand Manager Lungi Koni said.

Markets Served: Automotive coatings, Decorative coatings, Industrial coatings, Marine and protective coatings

Operating in Japan, Europe, the U.S., Southeast Asia, India and China, Kansai Paint Co. Ltd. offers a broad range of coatings solutions for various markets. It divides its business into automotive (38 percent), industrial (25 percent), decorative (25 percent), and marine and protective (seven percent) segments.

Kansai Paint operates three automotive paint plants from its headquarters in Osaka, Japan and is the leading supplier of automotive coatings to Toyota, Suzuki, Nissan, Honda, Peugeot and Renault worldwide. The company employs 15,731 people.

Kansai Paint celebrated its 100th anniversary in 2018.

Since it was founded in 1918, Kansai Paint has grown over the past 100 years to become a company which conducts business globally. Going forward, the entire group is united in its resolve to continue as a corporate group which contributes to the development of people and societies around the world through business. To achieve this idea, Kansai Paint used its centennial as an opportunity to further strengthen the corporate DNA and established a new group company philosophy.

“We leverage superior technology to contribute to our customers and society, in a sustainable manner, with innovative products and services, through a competent workforce, built on a culture of customer focus, integrity and respect to our stakeholders,” company President and CEO Hiroshi Ishino said.

Kansai Paint Philippines, Inc. (KPPI), one of the country’s growing paint suppliers, recently announced the appointment of Akiyoshi Watanabe as KPPI president and GM.

Watanabe takes over from outgoing president Takushi Yamamoto, who started his Philippine assignment in April 2015. Under Yamamoto’s leadership, the company saw steady growth in sales and client base.

He also spearheaded the company’s foray into the Protective and Decorative paint business, which was bolstered by the KPPI partnership with Japanese contractors for the construction of the newly opened Bohol Panglao International Airport.

Upon his return to Japan, Yamamoto will assume the position of manager at Kansai Paint’s Kyushu Office.

Markets Served: Automotive coatings, Decorative coatings, Industrial coatings, Marine and protective coatings

Operating in Japan, Europe, the U.S., Southeast Asia, India and China, Kansai Paint Co. Ltd. offers a broad range of coatings solutions for various markets. It divides its business into automotive (38 percent), industrial (25 percent), decorative (25 percent), and marine and protective (7 percent) segments.

Kansai Paint operates three automotive paint plants from its headquarters in Osaka, Japan and is the leading supplier of automotive coatings to Toyota, Suzuki, Nissan, Honda, Peugeot and Renault worldwide.

Kansai Paint acquired all shares of European coating manufacturer Helios Group. With the acquisition of Helios Group, Kansai Paint accelerated its growth strategy to become one of top paint producers in the world. Before the acquisition of Helios, Kansai already had a strong presence in Asia, Africa and Middle East, but very limited in Europe. Helios Group is a coating manufacturer with strength in different types of coatings and mainly operates in Central, Eastern and Western Europe and CIS countries. A successful acquisition provides Kansai Paint with a foothold for full-scale expansion into Europe. Both companies aim to expedite business growth by boosting sales further and creating synergies through the utilization of both groups’ technologies, know-how, products and sales networks.

David Kubala, one of the two CEOs of Helios Group said: “Helios already has the sales network in European markets, with its numerous trusted brand names. We hold a strong position in industrial, car refinish and decorative coating segments. Our portfolio is similar and in some cases complementary to Kansai Paint’s. Kansai has a strong commitment to R&D and innovations and Helios obtains efficient production, strong R&D department with well-skilled people and advanced equipment. For all these reasons amongst others, Helios is the right company for Kansai to expand and develop business in Europe.”

Kansai Paint Group Announces First Ever EPA-Approved Anti-Mosquito Paint

Kansai Paint Group said it received approval from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) for its Kansai Anti-Mosquito Paint. The Kansai Anti-Mosquito Paint is designed for interior use and contains a synthetic pyrethroid insecticide. The paint has been shown to significantly reduce the presence of mosquitoes in painted areas, contributing to effective mosquito population control and reducing the spread of many mosquito-borne diseases. Formulas for all base colors have been approved for use in this product, enabling Kansai to offer a wide swath of attractive colors.

Kansai Paint Group began development of the Kansai Anti-Mosquito Paint in 2013. After several years of extensive testing, the application was officially submitted to the EPA in early 2017. Approval was secured in just over 12 months, marking a near-record authorization time for products in this industry. The Kansai Anti-Mosquito Paint is the only anti-mosquito paint that is approved by the EPA. It is currently approved in Uganda and Zambia and is expected to be available in the U.S. by summer 2018.

Contact with the active ingredient in Kansai Anti-Mosquito Paint, disables the nervous systems of mosquitos and prevents them from flying and biting. Use of the active ingredient in this product has not shown to be dangerous for humans, either by physical contact or oral ingestion. Further, presence of the active ingredient does not affect the paint’s aesthetic quality, as the Kansai Anti-Mosquito Paint provides a smooth, matte finish with superior opacity and whiteness.

Production of the Kansai Anti-Mosquito Paint in the U.S. will be led by U.S. Paint, a subsidiary of the Kansai Paint Group, which was acquired in 2016. While the product has been available for limited sale around the world, approval from the EPA marks a significant advancement in the company’s ability to compete in the U.S. market. EPA approval is also expected to hasten approvals abroad.

Markets Served: Automotive coatings, Decorative coatings, Industrial coatings, Marine and protective coatings

Operating in Japan, Europe, the U.S., Southeast Asia, India and China, Kansai Paint Co. Ltd. offers a broad range of coatings solutions for various markets. It divides its business into automotive (38 percent), industrial (25 percent), decorative (25 percent), and marine and protective (7 percent) segments.

Kansai Paint operates three automotive paint plants from its headquarters in Osaka, Japan and is the leading supplier of automotive coatings to Toyota, Suzuki, Nissan, Honda, Peugeot and Renault worldwide.

Kanai’s Business Overview by Segment – Japan: In the automotive coatings market sector, although automobile production declined year on year, sales were at the prior-year level due to coating exports and other factors. Sales rose sharply in the marine coatings sector as a result of recovery in the shipbuilding market and sales expansion efforts.

India: In the automotive coatings sector, the Group worked to further increase market share amid continuously rising automobile production. The Group engaged in sales promotion activities in the decorative coatings sector as well, especially during the demand season, at a time of continuing demand expansion spurred by growth in the Indian economy. Asia: In Thailand, automobile production showed no signs of a full-scale recovery, and demand remained weak. Business results in Indonesia were affected by a decrease in automobile production resulting from weakness in the Indonesian economy. In China, overall sales decreased due to factors such as weak demand for construction machinery, despite signs of sales recovery in the automotive sector, partly as a result of the introduction of tax incentives for compact cars in the second half of the fiscal year.

Equity in earnings of affiliates in China rose on an increase in the share of sales to non-Japanese automakers. The overall business results for Asia declined year on year, in part because of the impact of currency conversion. Africa: Despite continuing sales promotion efforts, sales fell slightly on a local currency basis at a time of weakness in the economies of South Africa and neighboring countries. Investment in sales promotion and other factors put pressure on profits, and substantial currency conversion effects contributed to weak business results. Other regions: In Turkey, although growth continued, the impact of depreciation of the Turkish lira on raw materials prices and other factors put pressure on profits, and currency conversion substantially affected the business results. Whereas automobile production in North America increased, growth in automobile production in Europe was sluggish, and equity in earnings of affiliates decreased.

Markets Served: Automotive coatings, Decorative coatings, Industrial coatings, Marine and protective coatings

Operating in Japan, Europe, the U.S., Southeast Asia, India and China, Kansai Paint Co. Ltd. offers a broad range of coatings solutions for various markets. It divides its business into automotive (38 percent), industrial (25 percent), decorative (27 percent), and marine and protective (6 percent) segments.

Kansai Paint operates three automotive paint plants from its headquarters in Osaka, Japan and is the leading supplier of automotive coatings to Toyota, Suzuki, Nissan, Honda, Peugeot and Renault worldwide.

Kansai’s Business Overview by Segment – Japan: In the automotive OEM coatings market sector, sales increased due to higher demand from key customers and other factors. Sales rose slightly in the marine coatings sector, partly as a result of an underlying recovery trend in the domestic market. In the industrial coatings, decorative coatings, protective coatings and automotive refinish paints sectors, market conditions were weak, and demand declined.  India: In the automotive coatings sector, sales increased for reasons including gradual recovery in automobile production and an increase in production at key customers. Sales rose sharply in the decorative coatings sector as well thanks to buoyant domestic demand spurred by growth in the Indian economy following the inauguration of a new government.   Asia: In China, sales in the automotive coatings sector increased on continued economic growth, despite sluggish demand from key customers. with no sign of recovery from a decline in automobile production.  Africa:A lthough the South African economy was weak, sales continued to increase as a result of sales promotion efforts.  Other Regions: In Turkey, the automotive sector made a particularly important contribution to improvement of business performance thanks to factors including higher production at key customers and the capturing of new demand.

Markets Served: Automotive coatings, Decorative coatings, Industrial coatings, Marine and protective coatings

Operating in Japan, Europe, the U.S., Southeast Asia, India and China, Kansai Paint Co. Ltd. offers a broad range of coatings solutions for various markets. It divides its business into automotive (38 percent), industrial (26 percent), decorative (26 percent), and marine and protective (6 percent) segments.

With $3.113 billion in sales revenue for 2014, Kansai Paint operates three state-of-the-art automotive paint plants from its headquarters in Osaka, Japan and is the leading supplier of automotive coatings to Toyota, Suzuki, Nissan, Honda, Peugeot and Renault worldwide.

Kansai’s Business Overview by Segment

Japan: In the field of automotive OEM coatings, in the first quarter of the year the government ended their policy of subsidies for the purchase of so-called eco-cars which along with other factors caused a reduction in the number of new cars produced, and this in turn led to a decline in sales. However, the company made a transition to recovery in the second quarter of the year onward. The field of industrial coatings saw recovery in the demand for coatings applied to automotive components, along with last minute purchasing before the consumption tax increase and other factors. In the field of decorative coatings, along with a rise in home improvement work on houses and apartments prior to the increase in consumption tax, Kansai implemented a sales promotion for its strategic products. In the field of protective coatings, there was a growth in demand from various sectors including public works projects, and the company experienced sales growth in each field. However, there was a slowdown in the market conditions in the fields of automotive refinish paints and marine coatings that led to weak sales. As a result, overall sales increased in this segment. On the other hand, the cost of raw materials increased which put pressure on profits.

India: In the field of automotive coatings, worsening business confidence combined with the high cost of fuel and high interest rates allowed weak market conditions to continue. However, its principal customers increased their production volume and this, in addition to an increase in sales prices, has meant that sales of coatings for the entire period under review have continued to grow. In the field of decorative coatings, despite the slowdown in the domestic economy, continuing expansion of demand as well as an increase in sales prices during the second half of the term under review has driven a growth in sales. At the same time, the depreciation of the rupee in the latter half of this term has led to a rise in the cost of raw materials which put pressure on profits.

Asia: In Thailand, despite the domestic economy being weakened by political turmoil in the latter half of the period under review, performance for this term was higher than last year. In addition, increased automobile production and domestic demand remained firm in Indonesia, and just as in Thailand, there was an increase in revenue and profits. In China, a worsening in relations between Japan and China occurred, but key customer demand picked up in the second half of the period, which combined with effects of the foreign exchange rate, led to a recovery in business performance. In addition, the business results of PT. Kansai Prakarsa Coatings, an Indonesian company that became a consolidated subsidiary in April 2012, contributed to consolidated business results. In accordance with the acquisition of shares in this subsidiary, amortization of goodwill was continuously accounted.

Africa: The South African economy suffered from sluggish growth due to the European economic downturn, along with the impact of soaring raw material prices. However, sales growth continued at an increased pace following signs of recovery in the European economy in the latter half of the term, which lead to improved revenue. In addition, the business results of Astra Industries Ltd., a Zimbabwean company that became a consolidated subsidiary in July 2013, contributed to consolidated business results. In accordance with the acquisition of shares of Kansai Plascon Africa Ltd. in 2011, amortization of goodwill was continuously accounted.

Other Regions: There were signs of recovery in the European economy, and the trend was towards increased domestic demand in Turkey, which led to a rise in sales, especially in the field of industrial coatings. Sales growth was further supported by the acquisition of new customers in the automotive sector. Moreover, with the increase in automotive sales in North America, equity in earning of affiliates increased, which also contributed to this growth in revenue.

Kansai continues to make inroads into the Africa coatings market. In addition to the company’s acquisiton of South Africa’s Freeworld Coatings, it recently acquired a 63.25 percent interest in Zimbabwe’s coatings market leader Astra Industries.

“Part of our strategy was to use Kansai Plascon in South Africa as our platform for growth into the rest of the African continent and we are happy to say that the acquisition of Astra is the first step in making this a reality and demonstrate our commitment that we made at that time,” said Nauman Malik, Kansai Plascon CEO. Kansai Plascon is the company formerly known as Plascon South Africa and was renamed after its merger with Kansai Paint.

Markets Served: Automotive coatings, Decorative coatings, Industrial coatings, Marine and protective coatings

Operating in Japan, Europe, the U.S., Southeast Asia, India and China, Kansai Paint Co. Ltd. offers a broad range of coatings solutions for various markets. It divides its business into automotive (39 percent), industrial (27 percent), decorative (27 percent), and marine and protective (7 percent) segments.

With $3.126 billion in in sales revenue for 2013, Kansai Paint operates three state-of-the-art automotive paint plants from its headquarters in Osaka, Japan and is the leading supplier of automotive coatings to Toyota, Suzuki, Nissan, Honda, Peugeot and Renault worldwide.

Kansai’s Business Overview by Segment

Japan: In the field of automotive OEM coatings, in the first half of the year the government policy of subsidies for the purchase of so-called eco-cars seemed to bear fruit and as a result sales increased. The second half of the year saw a reduction in the number of automobiles manufactured due to the end of the subsidy system and a reduction in the number of automobiles exported, however looking at the entire period under review there was an overall growth in sales. In the field of industrial coatings Kansai recorded a slight decrease in sales, even with an increase in demand for coatings applied to automobile components. In the fields of auto refinishing, decorative and protective coatings, Kansai saw an increase in sales for the term under review due to its efforts to expand sales of new products. In the marine coatings, demand for new vessel construction continues to suffer and as a result registered a slight decrease in sales in this sector.

India: In the field of automotive coatings, the high cost of fuel and high interest rates have combined to blunt the growth of auto sales, however, sales of coatings for the entire period under review have continued to grow. Despite the slowdown in the growth of the Indian economy, Kansai saw continued growth in decorative coatings. However, the escalating cost of raw materials continues to put pressure on its profits.

Asia: In Thailand, solid exports combined with the effect of government policy has led to a significant increase in the number of automobiles sold during the  period under review, and in Indonesia, domestic demand continued to grow steadily, both factors contributing to an increase in our revenue and profits. In China, the slowing pace of economic growth, coupled with a worsening in relations between Japan and China, led its main customers to reduce output for a short period, which caused a reduction in sales. PT.Kansai Prakarsa Coatings, a company that became a consolidated subsidiary in April 2012, now contributes to its consolidated business results.

Africa: Kansai Plascon Africa Ltd. (originally trading under the name Freeworld Coatings Ltd.), a company based in the Republic of South Africa, became a consolidated subsidiary in April 2011 and contributes to its consolidated business results for the entire period under review.

Other Regions: Despite a slow-down in economic growth in Turkey accompanied by a worsening of the sovereign debt crisis in Europe, Kansai’s revenue registered an increase, especially in the field of industrial coatings. Moreover, with the recovery in North American automotive sales, equity in earning of affiliates increased, which also contributed to this growth in revenue.

Kansai Plascon Announces African Acquisition

Africa’s number one coatings company, Kansai Plascon Africa Limited has partnered with Astra management and staff to acquire a 63.25 percent interest in the issued share capital in Astra Industries Limited, from the Finance Trust of Zimbabwe (Private) Limited. The deal, worth in the region of $5.5million, will place Kansai Plascon at the head of the coatings market in Zimbabwe. The acquisition shows Kansai Plascon’s faith in Zimbabwe, which is in the process of rebuilding its economy, as well as the confidence it places in the experienced management team that heads up Astra. Astra Paints, Astra’s major subsidiary, is Zimbabwe’s leading paint company. The other operating subsidiary is Astra Chemicals, which markets and distributes a diversified range of chemical products to industry. Astra Paints is currently the largest paint manufacturer in Zimbabwe and has two operating factories in Harare and Bulawayo. Astra Paints also enjoys 40 percent of the market share in Zimbabwe, with an especially strong footprint in Harare and Bulawayo. One of Kansai Plascon’s key strategies is to expand its leadership position into the rest of Africa. The inclusion of Astra Paints in Zimbabwe further strengthens Kansai’s presence in Southern Africa, as it already has factories and brand presence in Botswana, Namibia, Zambiaand Malawi. Where Kansai Plascon does not have a factory in a region, it exports out of South Africa into retail outlets and directly to contractors. It has been exporting to various countries in Africa since 2004 including: Mozambique, Seychelles, Mauritius, Kenya and Nigeria. Hiroshi Ishino, president of Kansai Paint, indicated that it has been Kansai’s intention to invest in Africa through its holding in Kansai Plascon. This investment, he said, is the first major acquisition since Kansai Paint acquired Freeworld in 2011. According to Kansai Plascon’s chief executive officer, Nauman Malik, the acquisition of Astra Paints, Zimbabwe, will further entrench Kansai Plascon’s leadership position as the number one coatings company in Africa. “The acquisition will allow the organization to focus further on its expansion plans and its aim to continue leading the industry.”