Thesis Abstract

Abstract
The paint processing industry plays a significant role in the economic development of any nation. This case study focuses on Berger Paint Nigeria Limited, located in Orimerunmu Town, Mowe, Ogun State, as a representative example of a paint processing factory in Nigeria. The study aims to analyze the operations, challenges, and opportunities within the factory to provide insights into the paint manufacturing sector in the country. The research methodology employed a combination of qualitative and quantitative approaches, including interviews with key personnel, observation of the production processes, and analysis of relevant data. The findings reveal that Berger Paint Nigeria Limited operates a well-structured manufacturing process that involves raw material sourcing, blending, quality control, and packaging. The factory's production capacity, storage facilities, and quality assurance mechanisms were found to meet industry standards. Challenges faced by the factory include fluctuations in raw material prices, regulatory compliance issues, and competition from both local and international paint manufacturers. However, Berger Paint Nigeria Limited has implemented strategies such as diversification of product range, investment in research and development, and marketing initiatives to address these challenges and maintain its competitive position in the market. Opportunities for growth identified in the study include the expansion of distribution networks, introduction of eco-friendly paint products, and leveraging digital technologies for marketing and customer engagement. The factory's location in Ogun State, with proximity to major markets in Lagos and other urban centers, provides a strategic advantage for market penetration and growth. Overall, the case study of Berger Paint Nigeria Limited highlights the importance of innovation, strategic management, and market positioning in the success of a paint processing factory. The findings contribute to the existing knowledge on the paint manufacturing sector in Nigeria and offer valuable insights for industry practitioners, policymakers, and researchers seeking to understand the dynamics of the sector and explore opportunities for growth and development.

Thesis Overview

1.1 BACKGROUND TO THE STUDY

Paint Factory or plant is an industrial site, usually consisting of buildings and machinery, or more commonly a complex having several buildings, where workers process raw materials into paint. Factories arose with the introduction of machinery during the industrial revolution when the capital and space requirements became too great for cottage industry and workshops.  Paint is a subdivision of surface coating. It is a relatively opaque solid coating applied as thin layer whose films are usually formed by polymerization of polyunsaturated oil. However, other subdivisions of surface coating include: varnishes (clear coating), enamels (pigmented varnishes), lacquers (film formed by evaporation only), printing inks and polishes. Paints generally have very low thermal conductivity, electrically inert and can be washed and cleaned. The various raw materials for making paints include pigments, vehicle, alkyd resins, surfactants, solvents (thinners) and colouring matters.

PAINTS ARE CLASSIFIED INTO TWO PRINCIPAL TYPES:

Resin based paints (Gloss finishes) and Latex based paints (Emulsion paints). The major difference between the two is only in the types of vehicle used and cost.

Resin based paints are used for exterior and interior surfaces and are dry to a lustrous or shinny finish.

Emulsion (Latex) paint involves the emulsion of 2-phases one of which is water and any other phase.

Classically, emulsion is a suspension of one phase in another. Latex paints have as their major film forming constituent synthetic resin latex with or without other film forming constituents added in an oil-water emulsion type system. The continuous phase consists of an alkali – dispersed hydropholic colloid in water and contains two more different types of particles in suspension, styrene –butadeux (SBR) copolymer which was the original quality film former in emulsion paint. Polyvinyl acetate (PVA), acrylic and PVA acrylics copolymers have largely replaced SBR as film former.  From these, resins and latex are made objects with a wide range of colours and texture found in household wares, building materials, electrical and electronic appliances, automobile and aeronautics, clothing, building structures etc. in short it s difficult to imagine contemporary society without painting (colours).

 

Paints are the material employed as finishing for other materials. They are used to protect metals, timber and plastered surface from the effect of weather, heat, moisture, gases etc., thereby improving their appearance. Paints are classified into oil, water and cement and bituminom paints. There are also special paints used for special purpose e.g. heat resisting, fire proofing, chlorinated rubber paint etc. Paint factory is regarded as an important or essential industry in many country because of it effect and function in the environment. Finally, this project (paint factory) will help in improving on the face lift of Makurdi as the capital of Benue State as well as the job opportunities which our teeming youths desire.

 

1.2  STATEMENT OF ARCHITECTURAL PROBLEM

In an industrial building of this nature, it is impossible to solve all architectural problems involved. However, every building has a general architectural problem that has to be solved towards the realization of the design. But, there are some specific problems that are unique to individual projects, for example a paint factory. Subsequently, the core problem this project seek to solve is centered on its purpose; a compromise between man and machine. And this involves a careful flow in the synthesis of: efficient work flow, making a statement to the society reflecting the mass production nature of the paint factory, advertising the paint products to the society as well as creating a welcome impact, expressing orderliness and aesthetic appeal, creating openness in plant to give an impression of attractive working conditions, efficient production and painstaking devotion to the excellence of paint products.

 

1.3 OBJECTIVES OF THE STUDY

The principal objective of this project is to provide an environment capable of meeting the needs of the people of Makurdi and Nigeria as a whole by providing them with a well defined paint factory which is ultra-modern and which will meet their several needs in terms of seeking a solution for good appearance and packaging of good products.

Other objectives include:

i. To create versatile, adaptable and flexible form for easy expansion with minimum damage.

ii. To provide a good production layout with no conflict between raw and finished goods and personnel in circulation.

iii. To create an ideal factory architecture and to introduce a level of automation in the proposed paint factory in Nigeria.

iv. Finally, to help in the state and Federal Government Programme in rural development and this could be achieved through industrial development.

1.4  MOTIVATION

Establishing a house or a commercial space does not stop at having the edifice erected on a piece of land. This is since you have to make sure that your structure preserves its excellent condition so that you can enjoy your investment for a long time. There are many industrial methods that you can do to keep your home or your workspace in good condition, but one of the most effective steps that you should take is to have your walls re-applied with the right paint. For decades now, net and sprays have been the only effective methods for controlling the mosquitoes that causes malaria and dengue. I think by introducing the factory, it will lay more emphasize on protection by inventing a way of embedding pesticide in microcapsule stirred into house paints. And this insecticide will be realized slowly from the paint and will remain effective for two to four years, while spray will be typically re-applied at least every 6 months. The paint will act like a vaccine for houses and buildings.

The introduction or provision of paint factory in Makurdi will help to increase the effectiveness of other producing industries around e.g.

Most industries producing steel and aluminum building cladding.

For yatch, small boats and craft, fishing fleets manufacturers.

For all furniture and plywood industries

For most petrochemical plants-protective coating

For all kinds of vessels that visit Nigeria port.

For manufacturers of refrigeration, bicycles, other household articles, drums and industrial components –powder paints. For building industries etc

Therefore, one should realize that this material is utilized in many industries and that such service industry should be established for the propagation of other. Finally, I intend to increase the awareness of this service industry in Nigeria, and s that’whatprompted my motivation towards proposing this project.

1.5  AIMS

The ultimate aim of this project is to create, functional, simple, pleasing, economical, orderly, flexible, safe and convenient industrial building –paint factory and to satisfy the key words of the aims, the following are inevitable:

i. To achieve an effective and efficient design for a factory with a serious view to flexibility, adaptability and versatility of the building structures. Therefore, the aim is to realize a purely functional planning with a specific purpose of smooth and maximum efficient working of the different machineries, the administration of the complex and the overall production.

ii. To create a system that will allow personnel; operational and administrative to enjoy efficient and pleasant working environment.

iii. To provide efficient circulation system between the individual units of the factory and within the layout as a whole thereby facilitating easy movement and assemblage of raw materials and distribution of finished products.

iv. To enhance the psychology of workers towards efficiency by creating an aesthetical industrial architecture.

v. To reflect the use to which the factory is to be put into which will be in form of an advertisement for the products.

vi. There will be a deviation from the old idea which emphasizes much on mass to a modern approach which gives emphasis on lines and planes (volume).

1.6  SCOPE OF WORK

The factory will undertake on mass production basis, the manufacture of paints and other paint products. It will also consist of four major paints of an industrial building; Research, Manufacturing, Administration and Welfare.

The research includes laboratory and library to investigate and recommend possible way of producing better products and raw materials. The manufacturing section, according to the manufacturing process, include: dispersion, mixing, sieving and canning. The administration comprises of offices, personnel and sales while the welfare section includes the factory cline and staff canteen. Other components include the maintenance block, staffproducts,anddeliveryvisito bays and yards etc.

1.7  RESEARCH METHODOLOGY

To really collect important information towards the realization of this project and to make an important contribution to Architecture, some research activities had been carried out and data collected through;

i. Visits to existing paint factories site of the projects to determine their production processes, organizational chart and determine the requirement and conditions to be fulfilled in the setting up of such factory.

ii. Use of libraries, research institute, books, journals and unpublished manuscript of thesis reports.

iii. Visits to relevant Government establishment like the ministry of commerce and industry, for collection of data, byelaws, history and other important information.

iv. Personal interview of some people.

v. Internet.

1.8  LIMITATION OF RESEARCH

Due to the limitation of standard paint factories in Nigeria, one is limited to researching with only the small scale private paint factories. In researching with the private factories it was discovered that the factories were over protective of their setting. They feared that their competitors might get hold of information given out for the research and have a hold over them. Some of them that co-operated discourage photographs. Also the fact that the country is not in peace due to the Boko Haram and other threats, the factories are conscious and at the same time trying to protect their life and properties. Materials on paint factories are not much available in libraries, research institutes, records and documents on paint factories in Nigeria.

1.9  IMPORTANCE OF THE PROJECT

The importance or the breaks through this project hope to achieve are:

To provide a comprehensive setting for paint industry in Nigeria in order to help improve the economy attains technology and industrial independence.

To create job opportunities for the increasing labour forces.

It will help in saving foreign exchange by providing goods which would have been purchased abroad.

1.10     HISTORICAL DEVELOPMENT OF FACTORY

The factory began with the shop-connected residence as in Ancient Egypt, then the open air workshops and the home the home industry as in Greece. Then, some specialized craft and trades like metal smiting, carpentry, pottery, shoe making were home industry; therefore, operation were in dwelling houses.