Advancing paint solutions and customer satisfaction

FOR THE PAST

60 YEARS, a keen focus on quality and consistency has enabled Berger Paints (Barbados)

Limited to manufacture some of the finest products in the industry. (FP)

BRITISH PAINTS started its operations at Garrison Hill, St Michael, in the early 1960s. It soon moved its operations to a more spacious facility in Fontabelle, St Michael, opposite Pickwick Gap (now Dacosta Mannings Tyre Centre). The incorporation of British Paints in 1963 led to its amalgamation with Berger Paints (Barbados) Limited in 1968. Under the leadership of its Barbadian manager, Tommy Knowles, the new company moved operations in 1971 to its current location at Exmouth Gap, Brandons, St Michael.

At that time, it employed 30 individuals. Fire destroyed the plant in 1995 and Berger Paints quickly rebuilt its operation, but in 1997 ire again gutted its operation.

This unfortunate event, however, did not daunt the spirit of the staff nor the enthusiasm of Berger to continue to manufacture some of the finest products in the industry. In October 2000, Berger Paints gained its first ISO 9002 certification for the management system.

In August 2003, a newer version was completed for the certification of its ISO 9001, endorsing the consistency in which the company’s operations were being managed and in keeping with its aim to establish and maintain international quality standards.

In 2002, Asian Paints took over ownership of the Berger group of companies – including Berger Paints (Trinidad) Limited and Berger Paints (Jamaica) Limited. This change exposed the local operations to a far greater range of products, extensive work in research and development and affiliation with international brands, and allowed Berger (Barbados) to manufacture and distribute a range of products under license including Carboline International; DuPont – for the distribution of Chroma and Nason Automotive Finishes; Petit Marine and Cabot Stains.

In 2004 Berger introduced the Colour World Advanced Tinting System which offered consumers a fan deck of 1 320 colours. In addition to providing formulations for all previous Berger fan decks, this new system computerised and automated the tinting process and opened the brand to a whole new way of tinting paint.

In 2017, Berger Paints Limited in Barbados, Trinidad and Jamaica were purchased by the Ansa McAL Group. This group comprises 48 companies in over eight territories and offers world-renowned brands and product services and state-of-the- art infrastructure in over 30 markets across the world and employs approximately 6 000 people.

Today, Berger Paints (Barbados) Limited provides support to all sectors of society, including sports, schools, colleges and other institutions; community efforts, disaster relief; social, cultural and other national activities.

The Berger team continues to look to the future with resolute optimism; driven by their commitment to service excellence, a passion for innovation and endless quests for creativity, the recognition of social responsibility as a good corporate citizen and the desire to serve the needs of all stakeholders, while developing a competent, skilled and dedicated workforce.