But is it possible to meet international standards in Russia? Let's try to consider what is happening with international quality in Russia using the example of one well-known brand - Dulux, whose paints are produced all over the world, in 26 countries.
What are the main stages of paint creation where quality differences can appear?
Stage 1. Development of formulas
The AkzoNobel concern, which produces Dulux paints, has extensive experience in the production of the most difficult paints and varnishes: aviation and aerospace coatings, powder weather-resistant materials for high-rise building facades, coatings for ships and protective paints for bridges. All formulations are developed in several European AkzoNobel laboratories in Sassenheim, Malmö, Montaterre and Slough. Scientists monitor innovations in the field of paints and varnishes and conduct their own experiments, offering the company unique formulas for future products.
Market experts evaluate each formula from the point of view of consumer needs in a particular region - according to these estimates, the formulas are being finalized and adjusted (while maintaining the world quality requirements). The adapted formulas are approved by the Global Research and Development Center, are entered into a single databank - for the exchange of experience and innovations between the company's divisions. This “centralized” distribution of formulas for Dulux and other AkzoNobel brands guarantees proven quality right from the start of paint development.
In addition, the formula of each Dulux paint (wherever it is later produced) is also laboratory tested for compliance with the technical specifications.
Stage 2. Raw materials for paints
The next step is to select the right ingredients. AkzoNobel's factories around the world, including in Russia, use a single approved list of raw materials from leading world suppliers. Almost 99% of the raw materials used in Russia are of imported origin, from leading foreign corporations and industry leaders. This means that wherever the plant is located, it uses the same ingredients for paints.
High-quality dispersants and binders guarantee uniform distribution of the filler in the dispersion medium and the formation of the most even and strong coating film, coalescents help the droplets stick together in the film-forming composition. Mineral fillers of ultrafine grinding (particle diameter does not exceed 40 microns. For comparison: the diameter of a pigment of a conventional paint reaches 100 microns) give the paint better light-scattering properties, give a denser color.
Fine-grained mineral pigments reduce paint consumption: it can be rolled out over a large area, which means savings. When finishing works on large objects, Dulux paints are required 10-20% less than conventional paints and varnishes for similar purposes.
The formula is created, raw materials are purchased - then the paint is launched into production. Do Dulux paints produced in Russia differ in this respect from paints under the same name, but "originally" from other countries?
Stage 3. Production
The Russian production of AkzoNobel is certified according to ISO 9001 standards: quality management standards presuppose the unity of work algorithms - at all plants within the framework of the same technology, workers perform the same actions using the same equipment.
AkzoNobel's factories are world-class, integrated into a global quality system, and equipped to meet the company's general health and safety requirements. At each stage, products undergo double quality control. Thanks to this, the manufactured products are identical to Dulux paints made in other countries and can be sold all over the world. This is partly what is happening: now in the Russian Federation, some of the names of water-dispersion paints are produced for Estonia.
The production in Russia has its own laboratory, which is subordinate to the central laboratory AkzoNobel, located in England. This allows you to monitor the quality of products at local production and promptly respond to inquiries from local consumers.
At the same time, production in Russia was recognized by the company's experts as one of the most stable. Paints are produced with specified parameters, with a clear hit in the middle figure of permissible values. The dosage of the components is done automatically. Control remains the main concern of employees: at the Russian plant Dulux, as at all other AkzoNobel plants, they know the history of every paint can. The company keeps in the archives samples of each batch produced. Therefore, the quality of products released to the market can always be checked retroactively.
Thus, AkzoNobel international standards at all stages of paint creation are designed to ensure consistent quality regardless of the country of production.
But can you trust the company's own claims of quality? Again, world practice presupposes an appeal to an independent examination.
Independent expertise
In addition to its own tests, the company constantly checks paints for compliance with the declared quality using independent examinations. Creation of extreme conditions for a large-scale study of paints and varnishes and evaluation of the results by third-party researchers is a powerful tool of "feedback" that allows you to confirm the consumer properties of products.
In 2014, tests of the Dulux facade smooth paint were carried out in Russia. Experts of the ENLACOM expert and scientific center examined the durability of a complex coating consisting of a facade primer and paint, which were applied in accordance with the manufacturer's recommendations, according to the following scheme:
- front primer "Dulux Trade" - 1 layer;
- water-dispersion paint "Dulux facade smooth" - 2 layers with intermediate interlayer drying.
After 135 cycles of accelerated climatic tests corresponding to 15 years of operation, the experts did not record cracks, fractures, delamination and chips. The verdict of an independent examination is that the durability of the complex coating, as stated by the manufacturer, corresponds to 15 years of operation in an open atmosphere of a temperate climate.
This independent product testing is regularly carried out in the Scandinavian countries and Belgium and confirms that AkzoNobel delivers on its promises to consumers.
Working with color
The AkzoNobel quality is consistently maintained during the tinting phase. The color pigments are constantly being developed to accurately reproduce the color shades from the current Dulux collections. For example, in all countries today pigments with a reduced colorant drop are used - this allows for accurate color matching and the creation of more complex shades based on the 20,000 different tones available in the system (there are 150,000 standard formulations alone).
At the staining stage, working with color is facilitated by the proprietary universal tinting system Acomix, which is suitable for all AkzoNobel Decor paints: Dulux, Marshall and Pinotex. With machine tinting of Dulux paints, the colorant drop is reduced, which significantly increases the accuracy of color matching. At the same time, colorants do not contain organic solvents - thus, after tinting, Dulux paints retain the properties of environmentally friendly products, are free of volatile compounds, dry quickly without leaving unpleasant odors. The pigments used in the Acomix system are highly lightfast - the resulting ink is more UV resistant than conventional coatings.
Quality - regardless of the country of origin
Thus, international standards from leading manufacturers provide for quality at all stages of paint creation: from the development of formulas, the supply of raw materials to the production itself and the final tinting. And of course, under constant supervision by consumers and independent experts. This is the only way to ensure consistently high product quality, regardless of where the factories are located.
