Hempel is a leading manufacturer of PFP products. Its existing range of PFP coatings for cellulosic fires, Hempacore, includes both fast-drying and waterborne versions, and has been used on civil structures around the globe including airports, train stations, logistics centers, sport facilities, warehouses and industrial factories. A new R&D facility focused solely on PFP coatings will enable Hempel to further expand its PFP product range, including developing PFP coatings for hydrocarbon fires, which are encountered in the oil and gas industry.

Lars Petersson, Group Executive Vice President & Chief Operational Officer at Hempel, commented, "The new facility will significantly increase our fire testing capabilities, enabling us to expand and accelerate our PFP coatings development. This is important for our company strategy, and it will benefit many customers, who have the safety of their employees as a top priority."

The new facility will employ 35 experienced technicians and scientists. It will be located in Santa Perpètua de Mogoda near Barcelona, just five kilometres from Hempel's existing Spanish R&D facility and Spanish head office in Polinyà, which was established in 1964 (although Hempel's presence in Spain dates back to the 1920s).

According to Hempel Group President & CEO Henrik Andersen, it will be in an important addition to Hempel's global R&D network. "At Hempel, R&D begins and ends with the customer. Our 15 R&D centers around the globe all work together as one organization to ensure that our customers get best-in-class solutions and technical support, whether they are global, multinational or local. PFP coatings are a key element in our Journey to Excellence strategy, and the new PFP-focused R&D center will ensure we remain at the leading edge of this important technological area," Anderson said.