Berger’s automotive plant to go on stream by 2009

Kolkata: Berger Paints is working on its upcoming automotive paint plant at Jejuri, near Pune, with a capacity of 750 klpm. The plant is scheduled to be on stream by June 2009 with an investment of Rs 55 crore.

It has also undertaken modernisation and expansion activities at its Goa and Rishra plants along with expansion of facilities in Gujrat and Jammu. The capex will be Rs 100 crore by June 2009.

In another significant move, Berger recently signed agreements to acquire Polish paint firm Bolix, a leading manufacturer of external insulation finishing system (EIFS), through its Cyprus-based subsidiary.

Bolix currently has 13 per cent market share in EIFS in Poland, and Berger is looking to acquire a 15-20 per cent market of the $300 million market in Poland and the Baltic states to start with, Bose said.

BPI has also tied up with Swedish major Becker Acroma to market wood-finish coatings under the brand Berger-Becker Acroma. It already has a joint venture with Becker for the manufacture of oil-coatings at its Goa facility.