“We are introducing differentiated technologies across industrial applications. In Coil Coatings, for instance, our FEVEbased technology combines high durability with greater flexibility in colour selection, enabling architectural applications where long-term performance and design freedom are equally important.”
1. Nippon Paint India has a significant presence in the industrial coatings space, where corrosion protection has become increasingly important for preserving the performance and longevity of critical assets. How would you describe Nippon Paint’s journey in this segment, and what has shaped the company’s approach to developing anti-corrosion solutions for India’s diverse industrial and infrastructure requirements?
Nippon Paint’s journey in industrial coatings is shaped by the understanding that coatings are not merely a finishing material; they protect assets, improve performance, and support long-term operational efficiency.
Drawing on our global technology legacy and experience across diverse industrial applications, we have continued to strengthen our presence in India through advanced protective-coating technologies, local manufacturing, technical expertise and customer-led innovation.
India presents a particularly complex environment for corrosion protection. From coastal infrastructure exposed to salt-laden humidity to chemical plants, refineries, bridges and heavy industrial facilities, every application presents different performance requirements.
We therefore develop and deliver coating systems based on specific operating conditions rather than a standardised solution. Our Protective Coatings portfolio includes zinc-rich primers, high-performance epoxy systems and advanced polyurethane, polysiloxane and fluoropolymer topcoats, with systems tested against internationally recognised standards such as ISO 12944 and NORSOK M501.
Ultimately, our objective is to help customers move beyond conventional corrosion protection towards solutions that deliver greater durability, longer maintenance intervals and improved lifecycle value.
2. Corrosion remains one of the most persistent threats to the durability of industrial and infrastructure assets, often beginning as a gradual deterioration before becoming a major structural and financial concern. From Nippon Paint India’s experience, how is the industry’s understanding of corrosion changing, and are asset owners becoming more proactive about protection and lifecycle management?
One encouraging development is the gradual shift in how infrastructure owners and industrial customers evaluate corrosion protection. Traditionally, coating selection was often influenced primarily by upfront procurement costs. Today, people increasingly recognise that the real cost of corrosion extends far beyond the initial coating investment.
Premature coating failure can lead to frequent maintenance, operational disruption, asset deterioration and, in certain cases, expensive structural repairs. As a result, customers are increasingly evaluating protective-coating systems on durability, maintenance intervals, operating conditions, and total lifecycle costs.
We are also seeing greater emphasis on performance-based specifications, independent testing and internationally recognised standards. This is particularly relevant for large infrastructure projects, where assets are expected to perform reliably over several decades.
However, corrosion management needs to begin much earlier in the project lifecycle. The right coating system must be considered during design and specification, supported by proper surface preparation, application controls and inspection.
The industry is moving in the right direction. Still, the next important step is to make preventive corrosion management a consistent part of infrastructure planning rather than treating it primarily as a maintenance responsibility.
3. Construction and infrastructure projects increasingly involve demanding environments from coastal and high-humidity regions to chemical plants, refineries, power facilities, bridges and heavy industrial installations. How does Nippon Paint approach coating-system selection for such varied exposure conditions, and what factors determine whether a coating system will provide long-term protection?
There is no universal coating system that can deliver optimal performance across every industrial environment. Effective corrosion protection starts with understanding the substrate, exposure conditions, operating temperature, chemical environment, and the asset’s expected service life.
For coastal infrastructure, where humidity and chloride exposure accelerate corrosion, a system may require zinc-rich primers, high-build epoxy intermediates and high-performance topcoats. These layers work together to provide sacrificial and barrier protection, while maintaining durability under demanding environmental conditions.
Chemical plants and refineries present different challenges, including exposure to acids, alkalis, solvents and elevated temperatures. Such applications may require specialised chemical-resistant linings or coating systems designed around specific operating conditions.
For bridges, industrial structures and other critical infrastructure, we also consider the relevant corrosivity classifications and durability requirements under standards such as ISO 12944.
Equally important is the quality of application. Even a technically advanced coating may not achieve its intended performance if surface preparation, film thickness or application conditions are inadequate.
At Nippon Paint, we combine coating technology with qualified technical inspection and application support to help ensure the selected system performs as intended throughout an asset’s service life.
4. Sustainability is becoming an increasingly important consideration in industrial coating specifications, from VOC reduction and energy consumption to material efficiency and longer maintenance intervals. How is Nippon Paint incorporating environmental considerations into its industrial coatings portfolio while maintaining the performance standards required for demanding applications?
Sustainability in industrial coatings must be evaluated across the entire product or asset lifecycle. While reducing VOC emissions and improving material efficiency are important priorities, the coating’s durability can also contribute significantly to environmental performance.
A coating system that provides longer-lasting protection and reduces maintenance or recoating frequency can help minimise repeated material consumption, energy use, and associated operational activities over the asset’s lifecycle.
Nippon Paint’s technology development focuses on low-VOC, high-coverage formulations; water-based and powder technologies; energy-efficient processes; and the progressive elimination of heavy metals from relevant coating systems.
We have already transitioned to 100% heavy-metal-free systems in our automotive segment. Within Coil Coatings, we have phased out several heavy-metal-containing products and continue working to eliminate the remaining ones, going beyond current regulatory requirements.
Process innovation is another important aspect. For example, our patented primer-less clear coat composition for alloy wheels reduces the need for a conventional primer stage, creating opportunities to simplify application processes and potentially reduce material and energy requirements.
We focus on ensuring sustainability, durability, and manufacturing efficiency reinforce one another rather than compete as priorities.
5. Nippon Paint has a global technology base while operating in a market with highly diverse climatic, industrial and infrastructure requirements. How is the company leveraging global innovation and manufacturing capabilities to develop coating solutions that are specifically relevant to Indian conditions and support the broader Make in India ecosystem?
India is a strategic market for Nippon Paint, and our approach is to combine global technology capabilities with local manufacturing, R&D and application expertise.
India’s industrial landscape is highly diverse. A coating developed for a coastal infrastructure project may require different performance characteristics from one used in an automotive manufacturing facility, chemical plant or pre-painted architectural metal application. This makes localisation of technology and customer collaboration extremely important.
Our manufacturing facility in Taloja, Navi Mumbai, along with our broader manufacturing and technical capabilities in India, supports our objective of developing solutions that meet local market requirements.
We are also introducing differentiated technologies across industrial applications. In Coil Coatings, for instance, our FEVE-based technology combines high durability with greater flexibility in colour selection, enabling architectural applications where long-term performance and design freedom are equally important.
The broader Make in India opportunity is not limited to manufacturing more products domestically. It is about strengthening India’s technical capabilities, developing application-specific innovations, and creating a manufacturing ecosystem that meets international performance expectations.
Our longer-term ambition is to strengthen India’s role as an important manufacturing and technology base while supporting opportunities in markets such as the Middle East and Africa.
6. As India expands its industrial and infrastructure footprint, what should the industry prioritise to make corrosion management more proactive, sustainable and lifecycle-oriented? What are the key areas where you believe greater collaboration between coating manufacturers, project stakeholders and policymakers is needed to build infrastructure that remains durable for decades?
The first priority should be to integrate corrosion protection into infrastructure planning and design rather than treating it as a downstream procurement or maintenance decision.
For critical assets such as bridges, ports, pipelines, industrial plants, and transportation infrastructure, coating specifications should reflect actual exposure conditions, expected service life, and total cost of ownership. Greater adoption of performance-based specifications and internationally recognised testing standards can help bring consistency and accountability to these decisions.
The second priority is strengthening collaboration between project owners, EPC contractors, consultants, coating manufacturers and application specialists. A coating system is only as effective as its specification, surface preparation, application and inspection. Early technical engagement can help prevent avoidable failures and improve long-term performance.
Third, sustainability must be considered from a lifecycle perspective. Longer-lasting coatings, efficient application processes and technologies that reduce maintenance interventions can support both environmental and economic objectives.
The industry also needs greater investment in technical training, qualified inspection, preventive maintenance practices, and knowledge-sharing across the industry.
From a policy perspective, encouraging lifecycle-based procurement, performance benchmarks and stronger application-quality requirements would support more durable infrastructure.
As India builds its next generation of industrial and infrastructure assets, the objective should not simply be to build faster or at a lower initial cost. It should be to build assets that remain safe, reliable and economically sustainable for decades.
