Partner Article

International Paint invests in Felling

One of the largest employers in Gateshead has announced the investment of £6.4m to build a new laboratory.

International Paint’s new testing facility for fire protection products will create 14 new jobs and secure a further 30 at the Felling site. It is due to be completed in early 2011.

Fire protection coatings are used to protect steel structures such as buildings and oil and gas installations. The market is growing rapidly due to increasingly stringent fire protection regulations worldwide, and forecasters expect demand to double by 2018.

“The new facility will significantly improve our ability to develop and bring new products to market,” said Dipak Mistry, Technical Manager for International’s Protective Coatings business. “The new laboratory will give us a state-of-the-art Centre of Excellence for Fire Protection Development here in the North East.”

International’s products are used on a number of iconic landmarks, including the Sage Gateshead, the Millennium Bridge, the London Eye, the Beijing Olympic “Aqua Cube” and seven stadiums being used for the 2010 FIFA World Cup.

Robert Taylor, Managing Director of International Paint, said: “This significant investment in Fire Protection in the current economic climate is an indication of our commitment to research and technology, which we see as key to our future success in the Protective Coatings business.”

The project also received a grant of £249,000 from regional development agency One North East. The RDA’s Director of Business and Industry Ian Williams, said: “International Paint operates at the cutting edge of its industry so I am delighted that One North East has been able to support a project that will help it to continue to develop world-leading products at its Felling plant.”

International Paint currently employs 5,700 people worldwide, including more than 900 at the Felling site.

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Ruth Mitchell .