Jotun invests in new R&D facility for passive fire protection coatings
Jotun is opening a new research and development centre at its site in Flixborough, United Kingdom. The EUR16.87 million facility will focus on passive fire protection and insulation coatings innovation.
The Norwegian headquartered business, with operations in 45 countries, is committed to an on-going programme of R&D. This results in protective coatings such as the “Steelmaster” range and “Jotachar”, the industry’s first mesh free solution for hydrocarbon and jet fires, tailor-made to meet the requirements of industry, consumers and regulators worldwide.
Increasing demand in infrastructure sectors
Jotun is now seeking to expand its specialist team of fire protection chemists and products in response to increasing demand within the infrastructure, oil, gas, petrochemical and energy sectors. “We’re experiencing sustained growth in our advanced fire protection coatings segment and we want to build on that momentum,” explains James Irving, Jotun R&D Manager. “We already have a cutting-edge fire and insulation research facility in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, and this new centre will work in tandem with that established team, increasing capacity and accelerating new developments.
Strong network of third party test facilities
“The UK is a centre of excellence for passive fire protection technology, with a strong network of third party test facilities, classification societies and safety specialists. It’s therefore an obvious choice for this major investment, which we believe will help attract exactly the kind of dedicated, high-level talent we’re looking for to develop further ground-breaking passive fire protection solutions.”
Creation of a 1,600 m2 two-floor facility
Jotun has been owned and operated the Flixborough site since 1989. The new investment will see the creation of a 1,600 m2 two-floor facility, featuring two furnace areas (to test intumescent paints), laboratories, mill rooms, offices and plant space. In addition, an atrium and viewing gallery will overlook the application spaces and conditioning rooms, while a VIP area will provide clients with a unique perspective of the furnaces, giving them a first-hand view of the fire testing process.
