ICR is a key player in the market for short, medium and long oil alkyd resins in the Gulf Co-operation Council (GCC) region. Alkyd resins are used extensively as the base manufacturing component in solvent borne paints, varnishes and ink products.

Alkyds are film-forming polymers which have the advantage of relatively low glass transition temperatures conferring good flexibility. They are easily pigmented and offer a wide range of compatibility with other coatings additives and yield coatings with broad performance and application characteristics.

They are formed by a process of condensation polymerization between the key ingredients in a heated and stirred steel reactor of which ICR has seven currently in use.

Alkyds are split into three types

• Long oil alkyd resins, which are used in decorative enamels and varnishes. These products form around half of ICR's production.
• Medium oil alkyds, which are used to manufacture automotive refinishing enamels, air drying industrial enamels, road marking paints and anti-corrosive primers.
• Short oil alkyds, which are used principally to produce very fast drying industrial spray enamels and varnishes.

The company also manufactures thermoplastic acrylic resins and styrenated alkyds, which are major constituents of technically sophisticated, premium paint products.

• Thermoplastic acrylic resins offer exceptional fast drying times and offer superior weather resistance and UV light degradation performance over standard alkyds. They find increasing use
  in the region as the base resin for superior quality exterior construction top coat paint finishes.
• Styrenated alkyds are used for fast drying spray paints with superior water and mineral oil resistance. They are also used for hammer finishes and industrial staving enamels.

ICR has plans to further enhance its production output from its current 12,000 tonnes to 14,000 tonnes per annum (TPA) in the autumn of 2006 to reflect the current consumption demand growth of its alkyd customer base.

The management team includes specialist chemical and production engineering staff as well as individuals with extensive experience of chemicals marketing drawn from world class companies.

In total ICR employs 40 staff. Transportation is outsourced to a local specialist logistics company.

Company milestones

• Incorporated in Dubai, UAE in 1998, ICR began commercial production from its purpose built factory in Jebel Ali Industrial Area in 2000.

• Drawing on expertise in alkyd resin production from Nimir Pakistan, ICR rapidly developed a dominant position in the short, medium and long oil alkyd resins market in the Gulf Co-operation Council (GCC) region.

• The company expanded its capacity in 2004 with the addition of a further plant to manufacture thermoplastic acrylic resins and styrenated alkyds.