With a stronghold in the decorative segment, Berger Paints India is equally focused on scaling its industrial coatings business – an essential pillar driving its long-term growth and diversification strategy. In conversation with CW, Sanjay Chowdhury, Vice President and Business Head, Berger Paints India, shares how the division is innovating across infrastructure sectors, enhancing sustainability and positioning itself as a solution-driven partner for high-performance, large-scale projects.How does Berger’s Protective Coatings, an industrial coatings division, contribute to overall growth and what are the company's expansion plans?Industrial coatings help balance the seasonal nature of decorative paints. Protective Coatings serves sectors like oil and gas, shipping and heavy engineering, providing long-lasting protection in harsh environments.During the past decade, Berger Protective Coatings has a CAGR of 14 per cent; post-pandemic, between 2020 and 2025, it has been 20 per cent, showing resilience amid strong headwinds. The division has stood out with outstanding growth. We will keep expanding in projects, especially in renewables, marine, oil and gas, railways and metros, and large infra.How is Berger meeting the demand for high-performance coatings in infrastructure projects like railways and metros?Berger Paints was recognised at the Rail Analysis Innovation & Excellence Summit, 2023 and 2024 (two consecutive years), for delivering innovative solutions that extended and brought new lease life to Indian Railways’ coaches. Berger Paints is actively addressing the demand for high-performance coatings in infrastructure projects, particularly in railways and metros, through a combination of advanced technology, strategic partnerships and specialised product lines. Advanced protective coatings for rail infrastructure: Mono-coat systems have replaced multicoat paints for wagons. And now, with the introduction of fluoropolymer coatings that offer exceptional corrosion resistance, protection against moisture, oxidation, and industrial chemicals giving extended durability in harsh environmental conditions, Berger stands as a solutions provider. Berger has been able to offer decades of durability and assured performance for railway bridges, including Bogibeel Bridge, Chenab Bridge and the new Pamban Rail Bridge. Metro-rail flyovers and stations are well protected for corrosion, be it concrete or steel infrastructure. Carbonation, fire and environmental corrosion are addressed with our various high-performance protection coatings.Compliance with global standards: Berger aligns its products with international norms like the Japanese (JIS) standards while it has always been keeping abreast with ISO benchmarking coating systems that include sustainability, largely emphasising on low-VOC and environment-friendly coatings.Adding a feather to our cap is the Atmanirbhar Bharat orientation with a focus on localisation by leveraging global partnerships while manufacturing locally to meet regional needs efficiently, as for the Bullet Train Project.How is Berger integrating sustainability and ESG principles into product innovation and manufacturing?Sustainable product innovation is the benchmark for our leadership. Berger began its sustainability journey over a decade ago with the launch of Aquagreen Coatings – water-based, low-VOC products with antibacterial and antifungal properties, ideal for sensitive environments like hospitals and pharmaceutical plants. This was followed by a specialised product line for industrial infrastructure, aligned with green product development and focused on low-odour, non-toxic and eco-friendly formulations that meet global environmental standards. Berger’s pipe coatings come with WRAS approval and certification, making them suitable for pipes carrying potable water and compliant with global safety and health standards. Solventless coatings are engineered for infrastructure protection, offering sustainable, long-term durability – particularly for steel structures – and are widely specified in green building projects.Berger received the Gold Award for excellence in EHS practices during the CII-SR-EHS Excellence Awards 2023. Under the energy and sustainability vision, we have progressed effectively and persistently to receive the 16th CII Encon Award 2023 for Naltali Plant 4th and the Green Urja & Energy Efficiency Award was won by Jejuri plant. As for the Waste Management Sustainability Leaders Award, in 2023 we were awarded by Hulladek Recycling for sustainable e-waste recycling.With rising competition, how is Berger differentiating itself through innovation, technology and customer engagement?We take a holistic approach towards innovation, from the product to services. Our product innovations like high-voltage insulation coatings, corrosion under insulation coatings, thermo-indicative paint, direct-to-metal polyurethane and epoxy coatings for direct application on wet surfaces continue to shine and add great value to our customers. Taking total responsibility for the committed performance of our coating solutions, we have built the model of ‘Supply-Apply’, which is basically ‘CAAS; coating as a service’. This has been a gamechanger that is now highly preferred by large project owners. Our initiatives on customer-centric management differentiate our offerings and engagement with large buyers with fast and easy access to our solutions and onsite application training, technical services and inspection monitoring.
