PAINTVISION GLOBAL BUSINESS SUMMIT & AWARDS 2025
Overview of the sessions, Day 2:
Session 1- Dr. Guru Raj “Be Future Ready Future Is Now”
Dr. Guru Raj delivered a technical session on ‘Be Future Ready because the future is now,’ focusing on water-based protective coatings. He introduced himself as the technical director of Raj Speciality Editors, highlighting the Indian government’s new Chemical India portal initiative, which requires chemical manufacturers to register their production capacities and purchases. Before going into the key formulation, he explains what the challenges are that you face while working on the water-based protective coating. The main challenge you will face is selecting the raw materials and building a performance comparable to your current solvent-based system. This regulatory development signals a shift towards stricter environmental regulations similar to reach. He emphasized the importance of transitioning from solvent-based to water-based coatings, discussing key performance parameters including coating life, shelf life, and dispersion stability. He detailed the main ingredients of water-based coatings: resins, solvents, pigments, and additives. He provided comprehensive insights into various additives essential for water-based coatings, including wetting dispersal agents, defoamers, biocides, rheology agents, adhesion promoters, and corrosion inhibitors. He explained how each component affects the coating’s performance and highlighted the importance of proper selection based on specific requirements. The presentation concluded with information about Chait RSA, an online platform developed by RSA for paint manufacturers to troubleshoot problems and access solutions in multiple languages.
Key points in the session:
- The need for manufacturers to register on the Chem India portal for chemical production and purchase tracking.
- Paint manufacturers need to transition from solvent-based to water-based systems to meet future regulatory requirements.
- Manufacturers should implement proper selection criteria for additives based on specific coating requirements.
- Paint manufacturers should utilize the Chait RSA online platform for troubleshooting and technical support.
Session 2 – Vikas Kumar – “From colour to code, how AI is reshaping the paint industry”
This session focused on integrating artificial intelligence into business operations. The session began with Vikas Kumar sir sharing experience and knowledge about AI implementation. He introduced himself as a professional marketer rather than a technical expert, emphasizing that AI is becoming increasingly important with a 100% certainty of transforming business practices. The discussion covered various aspects of AI implementation, including YouTube’s role in providing resources and educational content about AI. He highlighted that AI is the future and presented ideas about process optimization, particularly in dispersion and mixing operations. The conversation then shifted to virtual color simulators and batch monitoring systems. The importance of real-time monitoring and process optimization was emphasized, with particular attention to customer base management and supply chain operations. Also focused on the future scope of the AI: instant shade matching using AI, chatbots for 24/7. He concluded with discussions about industrial operations, including vehicle management and metal supply considerations, and emphasized the importance of maintaining a strong customer base and implementing efficient systems. and the final wording was “colour inspires AI empowers, together they can transform.”
He also shared the data on sector-wise usage of AI:
- Learning and education – 25%
- Business – 30%
- Healthcare – 10%
- Entertainment- 35%
Key points in the session:
- To implement AI-based process optimization systems
- Team to develop virtual color simulator implementation plan
- Management is to establish real-time batch monitoring systems
- Supply chain team to optimize the vehicle management system
- Team to implement customer base management system
Session 3 – technical session with Ankit Goel and Manish Malhotra
Session started by Manish Sir questioning Ankit Sir about their planning and status of the company, in which Ankit Sir replied Growth this time is different because we’re already a significant player in the categories we’ve entered. Earlier, we had just one main product and were building a portfolio of 50–100 SKUs. Now, we’ve established the portfolio and are ready for the next phase. We have a strong market share in MHEC, RDP, PVA, and our one-pack solutions, and that share is growing rapidly. While the overall paint industry is slowing down, the segments we focus on, like epoxy tile grouts, are expanding quickly. In response, we’ve added epoxy resins and hardeners tailored for these applications. We’re also strengthening our portfolio with new principals. For example, in water-based paints, we’ve partnered with Jinx, the largest HCG manufacturer in China. For CMC, we’re sourcing from Henster, which acquired CP Kelco’s China unit. This gives us access to Nuyeon-level technology at competitive Chinese pricing. The company has recently expanded its product line by adding epoxy resin and hardness work specifically for epoxy-tile grouts. He emphasized the industry’s dynamic nature, noting that new products emerge every five years, offering extraordinary growth opportunities, and mentioned examples of customers who have achieved 10X growth in three to four years, particularly in the tiling sector. The discussion concluded with advice for both newcomers and existing players to consistently invest in R&D and focus on developing new products and that he has a large lab, which he plans to expand, enabling him to conduct in-house R&D and launch products independently
Session 4 – Mr. Satish Jain, Allnex Resins – Innovative waterborne chemistry for all next generation
In this session, he covered that Allnex has a global footprint with new expansions, sustainability efforts, and the introduction of new products like Residol AY SF8002, a water-based resin for wood coatings, general industry, and protective coatings. It is developed by core sher technology, called a 3rd generation product as it has 3 layers. It has special gravity close to solvent-based technology. He includes that Allnex is a global leader in industrial coatings with:
- 34 manufacturing sites
- 23 R&D centers
- 6 joint ventures worldwide
The company is expanding in Asia, with new plants in Maharashtra, India, Jiaxing, China, and planned expansion in Thailand. The company’s business segments include liquid coating resins and additives, radiation cure products, powder coatings, and Tvastika products. The company focuses on sustainability through five pillars: circular economy, renewable resources, energy efficiency, safer materials, and emission reductions. various product lines for wood coatings, including Setakma series products for different applications, from cutting to top coats. For general industrial and protective coatings, products were categorized from C1 to C5 based on performance requirements, with solutions ranging from one-component systems to two-component epoxy-based systems.
Key points in the session:
- Suggested using Residol VL5547 for wiping stain applications.
- Recommended to implement Setakma 6L16 for cutting applications in wood coatings
Session 5 – Dr. Anil Bansal – Innovative filler technologies for glossy surface
Firstly, he introduced his company APS Minerals, which was set up in 2019 and has been expanded in various cities like Udaipur and Vadodara. In this session, he discussed the study of low-scene and high-scene emulsants with lower costs from last year. They mentioned Mendat’s case as a heavy expert with requirements for huge packages in paint and putty manufacturing. The discussion covered sub-micron calcium carbonate, explaining that the particle size ranges from 0.5 to 0.7. They emphasized this as a critical aspect of the high-growth product line. Later, he introduced a white glow product, describing it as a unique offering in their portfolio. They also discussed a pigment technique product specifically designed to replace T.I. (Titanium dioxide) for various applications. The presentation concluded by describing a full-text product used for lifetime applications and temperature control in rice processing, emphasizing its quality and various industrial applications.
Session 6 – Panel Discussion on Raw Material
This session focused on pigment manufacturing and supply chain strategies in the Indian market. They provided insights into pigment classification, explaining that pigments are divided into organic and inorganic categories. Inorganic pigments are tied to metal pricing, while organic pigments are linked to oil chains. They emphasized the importance of maintaining multiple suppliers (L1, L2, L3) post-COVID to ensure business continuity. highlighting the significance of identifying consumer needs and designing specifications accordingly. They shared an example of a successful product development for cycle manufacturers, where despite a 5% price difference, the superior quality justified the cost. Later, Arun Kuma mentioned how he imported OCBN from China and said that the cost could be decreased if raw material is made in house and told that you should work on what quality your consumer wants.
Later, Dr. Gaurav C. Srivastav entered and said lab research is impractical as they dont have facilities to research their own product, and these types of labs are not helping it. He also placed a counter question asking “if ever those who do lab research interacted or visited summits, events, exhibitions or cold mopping in their marketing term?”
In which Dr. SC Srivastav replied that labs are just a market, either create a common lab to help the industry, and he also said to never ever work for a customer, work for technology, AI, and innovation
To which Dr. Gaurav replied: “It’s easy to say to open a common lab, but who will work there voluntarily? Who will pay them? How will they stay if they are getting better pay from others?”
The meeting concluded with a discussion about research institutes and paint technology institutions, with a particular emphasis on the role of organizations like HPTI in advancing paint technology education and research.
Session 7 – Discussion with Mr. Meet Sanghvi, Kemko Corp.
He introduced the merger of two internet companies in China, explaining how their products have evolved in the Indian market. He noted that while these products were previously sold at a premium, they have become more affordable due to Anti-Dumping. He mentioned that he recently started his warehouse in Mundka, Delhi, where he will be offering premium products at lower prices, specifically mentioning a reduction of 10 rupees per kg on low one billions products. He promised to maintain prices below import prices for the next six months. Identifying himself as a chemical engineer, emphasized LD’s superior quality due to their control over raw materials through owned mines. MR. Manish Malhotra raised concerns about quality assurance and the need for complete solutions, including chemical techniques and technical support, in which he replied price will decrease, not the quality, and assured that the quality and mentioned that all raw materials are in-house, which is cheaper. In conclusion, he thanked Manish Sir by mentioning, “My business was spread out, but entering Delhi, especially Mundka, wouldn’t have been possible without Manish Sir. His support was key in helping me step into Delhi and grow my business.”
Key points in the session:
- Pledged to provide technical support as a chemical engineer.
- Ensure inventory maintenance across 15 warehouses in India.
- Continue supplying premium quality products at the lowest possible price in the Indian market.
Session 8 – Talk Show on Railway Coatings by Dr. Gaurav C. Srivastav.
Dr. Gaurav started the session by stating a comment, “ It is Difficult to Enter in railway coating, is a myth, railway coating is nothing but a combined structure”. He addressed the critical role of pigment chemistry in coating performance. According to him, pigment technology has been a subject of extensive discussion over many years. He discussed certification requirements, particularly emphasizing the necessity of third-party certification through NABL-accredited labs. They also touched upon voting systems and the availability of various coating types, including pure acrylics, PUD, and modified acrylics, noting their permeable surface characteristics. He also explains how to fill a tender through a collaborative journey. A journey in which you allocated a tender but you don’t have facilities, then you simply just collaborate with rest remaining tender partner. In concluding time, audiences asked some questions like how normal coating made for houses and railway stations differ, to which his reply was “For specification, durability is a major factor, tier 1 and tier 2 railway stations and metro stations require higher coating in terms of durability, finishing, and high performance”