Address:

BX Coatings~Bitmac Limited

Xwieki l/o Naxxar

NXR 09

MALTA

 

Tel: 00356 21 418411-2-3

Fax: 00356 21 435395

e-mail: info@bitmacltd.com

Bitmac Limited was formed in 1964 specifically for the construction of roads using Asphalt.

Very soon after this date it became apparent that the road building business was more or less based on a seasonal demand, and because of the useable labour force at Bitmac Ltd., during the quiet times, it was decided that paint manufacture would be a suitable process to start, as it would utilise the “spare” labour, and the materials manufactured could be stored until sold at a later time.

Consequently in 1978 Bitmac Ltd began negotiations with the Silver Paint and Lacquer Company (SPL) of Batley U.K., to begin paint manufacture, using their knowledge, formulae and machinery recommendations. Following this, in April 1981 Mr. Leslie H. Silver visited Malta for discussions with the directors of Bitmac Ltd. A small paint manufacturing plant was soon set up.

During 1982, Bitmac Ltd. had a small, but nevertheless thriving, paint manufacturing facility, and was producing a range of three water-based decorative paints.

These consisted of a “Water Paint” economic decorative emulsion; a “Plastic” washable decorative paint, and a sand-textured exterior paint. These coatings were made and sold in a range of 6 or 7 pastel colours.

During early 1984, with help from an Italian chemical supplier, Iterchimica  S.p.A., Bitmac Ltd. started manufacturing Aluminised Bitumen paint, for the waterproofing of roofs. As Bitmac Ltd. already imported bitumen; this coating was a natural follow up.

SPL continued to support Bitmac Ltd. with colour charts, advice and supply of the raw materials for water based paint manufacture. Even when SPL joined the Kalon group, there was still a close liaison between the two companies.

Over these last 5 to 6 years, the paint division, BX Coatings, has increased its manufacturing facility threefold.

In addition, some 6 or 7 new coatings have been added to its portfolio, including Flexible Waterproofing coatings, water-based Polyurethane high gloss coatings and undercoats, exterior finishes, Acrylic coatings and many maintenance coatings such as mould removers, anti-fungal coatings and stabilising/priming liquids. In addition, BX Coatings have issued their own range of sales literature and technical literature.

The local market is served mostly via the retail/wholesale outlet at Xwieki and via particular resellers.

During 1999/2000 an entirely new custom-designed factory, of 650 square metres was built, on the Bitmac Ltd. site and the computerised system of tinting various paint bases was installed, together with a state of the art Photo Spectrometer, which enables instant colour matching to almost any substrate or material. During this year, BX Coatings also landed a weekly supply requirement for emulsion paint from a local chain of supermarket shops. In addition to supplying many of the local hotels with decorative coatings and Tennis Court paint.

In 2001, BX Coatings is importing packaging, which is custom printed with 8 colours, and offers a dynamic new design to add appeal to the packaging of the coatings.

BX Coatings can now boast of offering over 3 million possible colour variations, in some 12 different types of coatings.

With Malta aspiring to join the EU, and although competition is strong in Malta with only about 350, 000 inhabitants, BX Coatings are now gearing up for foreign markets with, during 2001, the coming on stream of an automatic bucket filling line to facilitate large quantity, accurate, rapid filling of containers.

BX Coatings now has its own small team of staff, lead by Mr Saviour Ellul B.Ph.Tech., M.NACE, M.MIM, who work independently of Bitmac Ltd., to give the best service, today and well into the next decade.

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