Berger Paints Jamaica Limited (BPJL) has set its sights on meeting local and regional demand for textured coatings, including trowel-on, after commissioning a new factory at its Spanish Town Road-based plant in St Andrew that will facilitate the ramp up of production.

The factory constructed for $130 million and described as a “modern manufacturing facility”, will see BPJL improving its process automation and efficiency. As such, BPJL should double its output, resulting in the production of over one million litres of trowel-on annually.

Additionally, the factory will improve BPJL’s “ability and agility” to produce small batches and customised orders more efficiently, enhance colour accuracy, and deliver a consistent quality.

BPJL’s general manager, Dwaine Williams, pointed out that the scaling up of production with the new factory will position the company to better respond to the rapidly growing demand for textured coatings across the Caribbean.

“The demand for textured coatings is expanding rapidly across the region and our trowel-on brand is widely recognised as the industry benchmark for quality. To harness this growth and solidify our position as a market leader, we are making a bold move to significantly increase our production capacity,” he shared at the launch of the new factory on Tuesday, March 12, 2025.

“This strategic investment is pivotal to both strengthening our market share and enhancing our ability to serve local and regional customers,” Williams continued.

Beyond improving efficiency and enhancing quality delivery, Williams revealed the new “multi-product manufacturing facility” will also drive product innovation.

“It will equip us to launch a variety of new offerings, borne out of local production, including roof compounds, joint compounds, and ready-to-use crack fillers,” he said, adding that some of the new products are already in the market.

While noting that BPJL will launch more new products in 2025 and beyond, Williams noted, “This expansion not only broadens our dynamic product portfolio but also strengthens our position as an innovative leader in the coatings industry.”

A subsidiary of Trinidad-based conglomerate Ansa McAL, BPJL has been in Jamaica for over 72 years. With over 95 per cent of its products locally manufactured and local suppliers accounting for more than 30 per cent of its supply chain, the company emphasised its commitment to building the Jamaican economy through sustainable growth within local communities and the development of Brand Jamaica.

“Today is not just about opening a new facility; it is about progress, innovation, and economic growth. This plant represents a bold step forward – one that strengthens our local economy, creates jobs, and reaffirms Berger Paints’ commitment to excellence in manufacturing and sustainability,” Williams outlined.

For chairman of BPJL Christian Llanos, the decision to invest in the new factory has proven its worth, evidenced by the improvement in the company’s financial performance in 2024.

“In 2023, we faced the challenge of strong demand outpacing [the] capacity of our old machinery, which left our consumers, who love our products, disappointed. This new machinery is capable of producing 980 kilolitres in one shift,” he noted.

Llanos added: “This strategic decision is one of many that have allowed Berger Paints Jamaica to deliver significantly improved results in 2024 compared to 2023. We have seen a 4 per cent increase in revenue and a remarkable turnaround in our pre-tax profitability, shifting from a $255-million loss in 2023 to a $151-million profit in 2024.”

The chairman expressed that the investment in BPJL creates the foundation for a more resilient, profitable company that ensures shareholder value. He reiterated that the trowel-on facility is just “one of our key initiatives” to maintain market leadership.