About Kansai Nerolac Paints Limited (KNPL)
Kansai Nerolac Paints Limited (KNPL) is one of India’s largest paint manufacturers, established in 1920 and today a subsidiary of Kansai Paint Co., Ltd., Japan. The Company leads in automotive and powder coatings and holds a significant share in performance coatings, while being recognised as the third-largest decorative paint manufacturer in India.
KNPL manufactures a comprehensive range of coatings and allied solutions, spanning:
- Decorative paints (interior and exterior)
- Wood coatings
- Construction chemicals and tile adhesives
- Coatings for passenger and commercial vehicles, tractors, consumer durables, and infrastructure applications
Operations and Footprint
Headquartered in Mumbai, KNPL operates across India with:
- 9 manufacturing plants
- 114 depots
- 7 regional distribution centres
The Company’s centralised R&D centre is located in Navi Mumbai, supported by 5 satellite R&D units, reflecting a strong innovation-driven product pipeline and service capability.
The Company’s manufacturing capacity stood at 664.3 million litres in FY 2024–25.
Beyond India, KNPL has a presence in Nepal, Sri Lanka, and Bangladesh through strategic acquisitions and joint ventures. The Group comprises 4 subsidiaries, as detailed in the consolidated financial statements.
Recent Milestones
- Commencement of commercial production at the new Atchutapuram (Vizag) unit.
- Plans to augment capacity at the Sayakha plant to meet rising demand, particularly in automotive paints.
Key Management
- Bhaskar Bhat – Chairman
- Pravin D. Chaudhari – Managing Director
- Hirokazu Kotera – Executive Director
- P. D. Pai – Chief Financial Officer
- G. T. Govindarajan – Company Secretary
Latest Updates on Kansai Nerolac Paints Limited
- Capacity and footprint: Commercial production commenced at the Atchutapuram (Vizag) plant; capacity augmentation at the Sayakha facility is planned to support future industry growth.
- Consumer services and retail: NxtGen Painting Service expanded to 250+ cities. The Company scaled its Nerolac NxtGen Shoppe to 100+ outlets and Shop-in-Shop presence to 200+ locations across India, enhancing the retail experience for homeowners.
- Projects momentum: KNPL expanded to 80+ towns in its projects business and executed marquee projects such as the India International Convention Centre – Yashobhoomi (Delhi) and the Airport Flyover in Varanasi.
- Decorative portfolio: Under its Paint+ strategy, new launches included the Wow Whites range offering best-in-class whiteness with 15% more coverage, and Kansai Select Shikisai, a premium, stone-inspired matte finish. In wood coatings, Nerolac Wonderwood Gloria NXT was introduced, offering high-gloss, scratch- and stain-resistant performance.
- Auto refinish: An economy range was launched to provide cost-effective refinishing for automotive customers. KNPL also rolled out a digital Body Shop Management platform to strengthen engagement and service efficiency.
- Powder and coil coatings: Introduced a pigmented primer-cum-basecoat for alloy wheels and a specialised anti-static coating for ESD applications in powder coatings. In coil coatings, a high-build system was developed for durable applications such as puff panels in major infrastructure projects.
- Performance coatings and technology partnerships: Advanced tin-free cathodic electrodeposition (CED) coatings and stoving primers for 4-wheeler bodies, supported by collaboration with Kansai Paint Co., Ltd., Japan, for technology transfer, colour trend insights, and technical support to Indian clients.
- Wood coatings collaboration: Progress continued under the strategic partnership with ICRO, helping introduce new finishes to market and deepen contractor engagement through the PU+ Loyalty Programme.
- Recognition: The Hosur plant won the Best Quality Supplier Award from TKML for sustained quality performance and green project initiatives.