This article gives an overview of paint manufacturers in Australia, and a review of some of their best products. Note that all advice is general in nature, and you should consult an expert before making a decision.
Australian Paint Manufacturers
Common paint manufacturers in Australia are different from paint manufacturers in the rest of the world. Australia’s climate and weather conditions create unique challenges for paint companies, as the temperature, humidity, amount of rainfall and air quality all have an impact on the protective coating quality and lifespan of the paint system.
Because more than 90% of Australians live within 100km of the coastline, salinity can cause significant issues during construction of structural steelwork. Salt attracts water, which in turn causes corrosion. This is the reason many steel structures which come into contact with salt water will rust quickly – much faster in comparison to steel which is installed in the arid conditions of the inland Pilbara region. However, coatings in these inland areas are subject to high temperatures during the summer, creating a different set of challenges.
Due to these environmental conditions, paint manufacturers in Australia have developed an extensive range of customised protective coatings to protect structural steel from corrosion. These products are refined to suit varying parts of Australia including Perth, Newman, Karratha, Port Hedland, Kalgoorlie, Tom Price, Paraburdoo, Marble Bar and Onslow.
Paint manufacturing companies in Australia include Jotun Paints, International Paints (Akzo Nobel), Dulux, Wattyl, PPG, Hempel, and Sherwin Williams.
Jotun Paints is a Norwegian-based multinational with operations in more than 100 countries. They supply protective coatings for industrial and marine environments, known for durability, quality, and innovation.
Overall, Jotun is a reputable and innovative manufacturer offering high-quality products globally.
AkzoNobel (International Paints) is one of the world’s oldest and largest coating companies. Their marine, industrial and protective coatings are designed for harsh global environments.
AkzoNobel remains a reliable and widely used supplier across Australia.
Dulux Industrial provides coatings for metal, concrete and industrial environments, offering protective, corrosion-resistant and long-lasting finishes.
Dulux focuses heavily on durability, sustainability and application flexibility.
Overall, Dulux Industrial is a trusted provider of high-quality industrial coatings.
Wattyl is an Australian company with over 100 years of local manufacturing, producing decorative, industrial and protective coatings.
They offer a strong support network across Australia and remain a reliable supplier.
PPG Industries is a global leader with 135+ years’ experience. They manufacture architectural, industrial and automotive coatings, known for innovation and sustainability.
PPG is a trusted supplier for high-performance coating requirements.
Hempel is a Danish coatings company specialising in industrial, marine and protective coatings. They service oil and gas, mining and infrastructure sectors in Australia.
Their products provide long-term corrosion, abrasion and chemical resistance.
Sherwin-Williams offers architectural, industrial, protective and automotive coatings. In Australia, they supply both commercial and residential markets.
They provide a wide range of coating systems for varying environmental demands.
Common Products
Jotun Paints
- Resist 86 – inorganic zinc ethyl silicate
- Barrier – epoxy zinc primer
- Jotaprime 250 / Pilot QD – alkyd primer
- Penguard Special – epoxy primer
- Penguard Express – epoxy high build
- Jotamastic 90 – epoxy mastic
- Hardtop AX – polyurethane topcoat
- Marathon 550 – abrasion-resistant epoxy primer
International Paints – Akzo Nobel
- Interzinc 52 – zinc-rich epoxy
- Interzinc 125 – inorganic zinc silicate
- Interzinc 5285 – zinc-rich epoxy
- Intergard 251 – zinc phosphate primer
- Interplus 1180 – epoxy high build
- Interthane 990 – polyurethane top coat
- Interline 975 – tank lining epoxy
- Interzone 954 – ultra-high-build epoxy
Dulux Paints
- Zincanode 402 – zinc-rich epoxy
- Duremax GPE – general epoxy
- Durebild STE – surface-tolerant epoxy
- Weathermax HBR – high build polyurethane
- Luxathane SPX – acrylic polyurethane
Wattyl, PPG, Hempel & Sherwin-Williams
- Hempathane 55610 – polyurethane topcoat
- Epinamel PR250 – polyamide epoxy primer
- Sigmacover 280 – epoxy primer
- Sigmadur 550 – acrylic polyurethane
- Poly-U-400 – acrylic polyurethane
Note: “All colours” refers to the AS2700 Australian colour range.
The wide range of epoxy paints exists because different environments, surfaces, curing times and performance requirements require different coating properties.
Some are designed for chemical resistance, some for marine conditions, some for heat, and others for high-traffic areas. Each formulation is optimised for a specific protective need.
Disclaimer: All information is general and should be independently verified with an expert. Specifications and products can change without notice.
