Berger setting up training academy for painters in Kerala

Berger Paints India Ltd, which has introduced 'Express Painting', a solution for faster painting services in Kerala and West Bengal, is setting up a training academy for painters at Kochi to upgrade their skill, a top official today said.
'Express Painting has been introduced in Kerala and West Bengal. Trials are going on and the response has been very positive from painters and dealers', its Managing Director and CEO Abhijit Roy told PTI.
'Berger Paints is setting up a full fledged Training academy in Kochi for painters. About 3,200 square feet space has been rented at nearby Chembumukku for the academy, which is expected to start functioning from November first week', he said.

There will be painting booths and equipments for painters. They will be trained on the use of paints and equipments which have been imported, making the painting process safer and better, Roy said.
Total investment would work out to roughly Rs 70 lakh, he said.
In the Rs 1,500 crore Kerala market, Berger enjoys a market share of 23 per cent, he said. In Kerala, the growth rate was the highest and the state was growing in excess of 24 per cent this fiscal against last year's 18 per cent, he added.

Normally, a painting work takes at least 14 days and there is lot of dust around. The dry wall sander, cleans up the walls and sucks the dust in 3 hours against the normal time of 3 days and the automatic rollers used for painting ensures that painting time is reduced to 5-7 days.

A full service team has also been set up which would repair the machines when needed. The equipments would be sold to painters, who would be trained.
The company is eyeing a country-wide sales turnover of Rs 4,500 crore this fiscal against last year's Rs 3,800 crore.
"We expect to grow in Kerala around 25 per cent to cross Rs 300 crore this year against Rs 250 crore last fiscal," he said.
Berger Paints has 9 manufacturing units across the country, with a total capacity of 28,000 tonnes per month. The company recently opened the Hindupur facility in Karnataka with 8,000 tonne capacity per month, he said.

The sales from paint industry, both organised and unorganised, is around Rs 34,000 crore annually, of which the organised sector accounts for 70 per cent sales.