SMOOTH OPERATORS Chugoku Paints B.V. is one of the market leaders in the development and manufacture of specialised paints and coatings for the marine industry. Philip Yorke talked to Wim Versteeg, the company’s sales director, about its ultra-smooth anti-fouling formulations that are revolutionising the market.
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hugoku Paints B.V. is a subsidiary of Chugoku Marine Paints Ltd of Japan. The company has been developing unique paint formulations since it was founded in 1917. As one of the company’s premier European operations, CMP Europe’s main office in the Netherlands is the hub for its European business development activities. CMP is a global operator with a service network in over 30 countries and more than 80 locations worldwide. CMP Europe’s product portfolio includes a wide variety of specialised paints and coatings which are being supplied to almost all major operators in the marine industry. 134 Industry Europe
New anti-fouling technology A few years ago at the Nor-shipping trade exhibition in Oslo, CMP launched its latest innovative marine paint product known as SeafloNeo. This break-through in anti-fouling technology further extended the company’s technological lead over its competitors. This unique paint can be applied in the conventional manner and creates a smooth finish that is unrivalled in the marketplace. In fact it is so smooth that it significantly reduces friction and therefore cuts fuel consumption by up to 5 per cent. This product does not rely on the commonly used silicone compound but rather a different, unique polymer.