WPCIA Washington November 29, 2018

　　Hempel on Nov. 29 opened its new Center of Excellence in Barcelona.

　　There, the focus will be on the research and development of coating products within the field of passive fire protection.

　　


“We are determined to develop the coatings industry within the PFP field on a global scale,” Group VP and COO Lars Petersson said. “PFP coatings are an important part of our growth strategy. But it is equally important to us to help protect the inside of our customers’ assets and provide safety to the people working or staying there. And applying the right coating is crucial here.”

　　Twenty-nine employees will begin working at the center on Dec. 1. They will form a strong technical organization, which consists of highly skilled technicians, applicators, fire testers, and scientists. 


　　“The organization at the new Centre of Excellence will continue the work in developing PFP products and testing solutions,” Barcelona R&D Director Santiago Arias said. “Hempel already offers a range of PFP products, 
but the team is dedicated to moving forward and I can promise that our product portfolio will soon be expanded with solutions that our customers can trust to protect their buildings and industrial installations.”

　　Hempel invested €6 million into the 3,000-square-meter Center, which features a lab, testing areas and offices.