Kansai Plascon
Putting People First in Africa
A proud history and legacy in Africa
Kansai Plascon has a vision to become the leading coatings company in Africa and a drive to inspire confidence and enabling possibility.
The paint and coatings firm has a proud history which stretches back to 1889 when a carriage varnish seller expanded into ready-mixed paint – the first to do so in the country. Since then Kansai Plascon has been “improving the lives of customers through constant innovation.” And today, that vision hasn’t changed.
Over the last 130 years, Kansai Plascon has worked hard to design the most sought-after paints on the market and became the first company to offer paint guarantees to customers. Based on the proven performance of its brands and breakthrough technology, the firm has extended its guarantee from seven to 12 years on its exterior brands, and up to 15 years on its interior brands. Through a strong R&D team, Kansai Plascon is always looking into the wants and needs of consumers
to win over their hearts and minds.
Kansai Plascon integrates sustainability into the heart of its business strategy and has adopted strict measures on all key environmental, social and governance issues, setting bold targets in order to reduce carbon emissions, electricity, water consumption and waste production.
Today, Kansai Plascon is active across Africa and runs a comprehensive network of facilities across Southern, East and West Africa. The firm has multiple manufacturing plants and over 3,000 dedicated employees producing paints and coatings across decorative, automotive and industrial. To delve deeper, we speak with the Alan Cotton, Group Head of Sales and Marketing from Kansai Plascon, South Africa, Cassiem Narker, Director: CSA & Exports of all markets with the exception of South Africa and East Africa and the Country Heads from Kansai Plascon’s divisions across the continent.
ALAN COTTON, GROUP HEAD OF SALES AND MARKETING, SOUTH AFRICA Africa Outlook: Can you give us an overview of operations within your country division of Kansai Plascon?
Plascon was officially formed in
1949 and renamed Kansai Plascon in 2012 after Kansai Paints bought the business from Freeworld Coatings the previous year.
Today, the company operates through an extensive network of facilities across Southern, East and West Africa, with multiple manufacturing plants and more than 3,000 dedicated employees producing paints and coatings, which are distributed to over 20 countries on the African continent and Indian Ocean islands.
From project work and home decoration to preservation of infrastructure and painting of vehicles, Plascon’s superior ranges of paint have become a mainstay in homes, showrooms, roads and cityscapes all over the region.
Africa Outlook: In terms of talent management, can you talk to me about the importance of recruiting and retaining the right employees?
The company increases access to education by providing financial support to employees’ children and dependents up to a tertiary level, while in South Africa it has run a scheme where schools can apply for paint donations to transform their learning environments.
This responsible, sustainable approach to business has laid down a marker for the future, one which will see Kansai Plascon contribute even more economically, socially and environmentally across all the markets in which it operates.
Africa Outlook: What does the future look like over the next few years for your division of Kansai Plascon?
It is true that we find ourselves in an incredibly turbulent and volatile time, not only in South Africa but around the world. We want to continue to be a steady but driving force in the coatings segment and will continue to contribute to the growth in Southern Africa and the rest of the African continent in a sustainable way that improves people’s lives.