The main advantage for Iran’s paint production sector is the availability of cheap petrochemical and oil products, managing director of Shadan Chemical Company said.
Mohammad Ali Asasi added that this advantage significantly reduces the sector’s production costs and enables it to have a competitive edge in international markets.
The Persian daily Forsat-e Emrooz recently published an article on setting up a paint production plant and the sector’s investment potential in Iran.
Asasi said the machinery required are nearly all produced domestically and are competitively priced compared to their foreign rivals in Iran, he added.
According to the managing director, per capita paint consumption in Iran stands at 5 kg, while the global average is more than 20 kg, which is an indicator of Iran’s market potential for spurring demand and consumption of paint.
Asasi noted that the initial investment required for setting up a paint production plant for producing 500 tons of industrial paint is close to $1 million for both purchasing the machinery and acquiring a plot of land.
A 600-square-meter plot of land is needed for setting up the workshop and a 400-square-meter area for the warehouse. Furthermore, the production plant requires at least 80 people to handle the various operations.
Visits must be paid to the Ministry of Industries, Mining and Trade for acquiring the production permit, Department of Environment for ensuring the factory’s location and facilities do not threaten the environment and the Institute of Standards and Industrial Research of Iran for approving the purchased machinery.
The whole process could take about seven months and cost close to $2,000.
The raw material required for producing paint are pigments, solvents, resins and various additives based on the type of end product in mind.
The pigments give the paint color; solvents make it easier to apply; resins help it dry; and additives serve as everything from fillers to anti-fungicidal agents.
Hundreds of different pigments, both natural and synthetic exist. For instance, the basic white pigment is titanium dioxide, selected for its excellent concealing properties and black pigment is commonly made from carbon black. Other pigments used to make paint include iron oxide and cadmium sulfide for red, metallic salts for yellow and orange, and iron blue and chrome yellow for blue and green.
Paint is generally custom-made to fit the needs of industrial customers. For example, one might be interested in a fast-drying paint, while another might desire a paint that supplies good coverage over a long lifetime.
