At the Coil Coating & Sandwich Panel Conference 2026 held in Nairobi, industry leaders and stakeholders gathered to assess the fast-evolving coil coating landscape, with a strong focus on Africa’s accelerating infrastructure and manufacturing growth.
Addressing the forum, Subash Gaijes Selvaraj of Nippon Paint India outlined how rising performance expectations and environmental pressures are reshaping demand for advanced coating systems across the continent.
He highlighted the industry’s most pressing technical challenges and opportunity areas—from durability under extreme conditions to cost efficiency and sustainability.
These include the need for enhanced UV and weather resistance to withstand intense sunlight and harsh climatic conditions, superior corrosion protection for coastal and industrial environments, improved scratch and mechanical damage resistance, performance-to-cost optimisation, and future-ready coating technologies that support sustainable construction practices and environmental compliance.
On the company’s strategic direction, he said Nippon Paint is doubling down on next-generation innovation, including work on non-metallic substrate coatings and expanded value-added R&D initiatives aimed at broadening application possibilities and boosting performance benchmarks.
Commenting on the broader market shift, he said, “As infrastructure and industrial development continue to accelerate across emerging markets, the role of advanced coating technologies is becoming increasingly important.
"The industry is looking for solutions that deliver long-term durability, sustainability, and performance while meeting evolving environmental and operational requirements. Innovation and customer collaboration will remain critical in shaping the next generation of coating solutions.”
Reinforcing its regional ambitions, Nippon Paint Industrial Coatings (India) highlighted its expanding footprint in Africa through its operations in Kenya, which serve as a strategic hub for East Africa.
The company also operates a dedicated coil coating facility in Mombasa, supporting steel and metal processing industries across the region and enabling faster supply and improved technical support.
With a strengthened supply network and backing from Japanese technology expertise, Nippon Paint continues positioning itself as a key partner in Africa’s industrial and infrastructure expansion—where demand for high-performance, climate-resilient coatings is rapidly rising.
