Interview: Subash Gaijes Selvaraj, President – Industrial Coatings, Nippon Paint India

How are advanced industrial coating technologies helping improve the durability, corrosion protection and lifecycle performance of India’s infrastructure projects?
Infrastructure is built for the long term, and coatings play a critical role in protecting these assets from corrosion, UV exposure, chemicals, moisture, and harsh operating conditions. Advanced industrial coating systems help extend asset life, reduce maintenance cycles, and improve lifecycle performance. We combine global technology expertise, R&D-led innovation, and strong technical support to deliver coatings that are engineered for durability and long-term protection. The objective is to help infrastructure developers move from short-term maintenance approach to lifecycle value creation.

How is Nippon Paint supporting the ‘Make in India’ initiative through local manufacturing, innovation and globally benchmarked coating solutions?
We are strongly aligned with India’s manufacturing ambitions. We are strengthening local manufacturing capabilities while bringing globally benchmarked coating technologies suited to Indian operating conditions. Our approach combines Japanese technology expertise, global R&D, and local technical support to serve sectors such as infrastructure, automotive, steel, engineering, and industrial manufacturing. By developing reliable and high-performance coating solutions closer to customers, we are supporting faster supply, improved responsiveness, localisation, and India’s broader Make in India vision. Additionally, we are leveraging our India operations as a strategic hub to export high-quality coating solutions to the Middle East and African markets, further strengthening India’s role in the global supply chain.

With rapid growth in steel structures, warehouses, logistics parks, renewable energy and transportation infrastructure, what role do high-performance coatings play in ensuring long-term asset performance?
As India builds more steel-intensive infrastructure, the role of high-performance coatings becomes increasingly important. Warehouses, logistics parks, renewable energy assets, bridges, industrial facilities, and transport infrastructure are exposed to weathering, corrosion, mechanical wear, and industrial pollution. Our coating experts carefully evaluate these critical factors along with site-specific conditions while developing coating solutions to ensure optimal performance and durability. The right coating system helps improve asset durability, reduce repainting frequency, and optimise total cost of ownership. We view coatings as a strategic protection system that enables infrastructure assets to perform reliably over longer service periods.

Sustainability is becoming a key focus for the construction industry. How is Nippon Paint advancing low-VOC, energy-efficient and environmentally responsible coating technologies?
Sustainability is central to our product development strategy. We are focused on low-VOC formulations, energy-efficient curing processes, and coating systems that extend asset life and reduce maintenance frequency. A coating that lasts longer directly helps reduce material consumption, repainting cycles, downtime, and environmental impact over the asset lifecycle. Our R&D efforts are directed towards developing solutions that balance performance, compliance, durability, and sustainability. For us, responsible innovation means helping customers meet environmental goals without compromising long-term protection and product performance.

How does Nippon Paint collaborate with EPC contractors, consultants and project owners to develop customised coating solutions that reduce maintenance costs and maximise asset life?
Our approach is based on long-term partnership and early-stage technical collaboration. We work closely with EPC contractors, consultants, corrosion engineers, applicators, and project owners to understand the operating environment, performance expectations, substrate conditions, and lifecycle objectives. This helps us recommend coating systems that are technically suitable rather than only commercially convenient. Our technical teams support customers from specification and product selection to application guidance and performance assurance. This collaborative model helps reduce premature failures, optimise maintenance costs, and maximise asset life.

What are some of the latest technological innovations in industrial coatings that are transforming infrastructure and industrial applications?
The industrial coatings space is seeing strong innovation across weather-resistant topcoats, advanced corrosion protection systems, high chemical-resistant linings, corrosion-under-insulation coatings, intumescent fire protection, and sustainable formulations. These technologies are transforming how infrastructure and industrial assets are protected in coastal, chemical, transport, and high-exposure environments. Our focus is on bringing globally validated technologies to the Indian market while adapting them to local project conditions. Innovation is not only about new products but about delivering measurable performance in the field.

Looking ahead, what emerging trends – such as smart coatings, advanced materials and digital manufacturing—do you believe will shape the future of the industrial coatings industry?
The next phase of the industrial coatings industry will be shaped by smart materials, sustainability, digitalisation, and performance-led specifications. Smart coatings with corrosion-sensing capabilities, self-healing systems, advanced weather-resistant technologies, and coatings for newer substrates will gain greater relevance. Digital tools will also improve application monitoring, quality control, and lifecycle asset management. As customers become more focused on predictive maintenance and total cost of ownership, coatings will increasingly become part of a broader asset performance strategy rather than a standalone protective layer.

What is Nippon Paint Industrial Coatings’ long-term vision for supporting India’s rapidly expanding infrastructure and manufacturing sectors?
Our long-term vision is to become a trusted technology and solutions partner for India’s infrastructure and manufacturing growth. We aim to combine Nippon Paint’s global innovation legacy, R&D strength, local manufacturing capabilities, and customer collaboration to deliver coating solutions that enhance durability, productivity, sustainability, and lifecycle performance. As India expands across infrastructure, automotive, steel, renewable energy, logistics, and industrial manufacturing, we want to support customers with future-ready technologies and long-term partnerships that create value throughout the life of their assets.