Expanding local testing and formulation capabilities to support high-performance and more sustainable coatings and construction materials in Southern Africa. Watch the video below to learn more
In 2024, IMCD South Africa upgraded its laboratory facilities at the Johannesburg headquarters, a transformation driven by the region’s growing demand for advanced, more sustainable and locally relevant coatings and construction formulations.
The expansion doubled the size of the facility and introduced temperature‑controlled rooms, creating an environment where curing behaviour and performance can be tested with far greater accuracy under defined climatic conditions.
The enhanced laboratory plays a pivotal role in strengthening technical collaboration with key partners, while supporting local formulation development that aligns with regional conditions and standards. Fully integrated into IMCD’s global network of technical centres, this facility contributes to the exchange of global knowledge and expertise, ensuring that innovation developed in Johannesburg resonates both locally and worldwide.
Advanced coatings laboratory supporting multiple market segments
The in-house coatings laboratory supports a wide range of market segments, including decorative paints and industrial coatings, automotive, wood, coil, flooring, metal, waterproofing and high-performance protective coatings. The facility supports technical teams with product development, performance optimisation and technical troubleshooting.
Technical work carried out in the coatings laboratory includes in-depth assessment of colour stability, gloss retention, surface finish, adhesion, drying time and long-term durability. The addition of temperature-controlled environments allows curing behaviour to be evaluated under consistent and repeatable conditions, helping ensure coating formulations perform reliably under local environmental factors such as UV exposure, heat and humidity. Discover more about our laboratory capabilities. Explore Now
Coatings and construction materials formulation and testing with WACKER
WACKER and IMCD have partnered in 2017 to create a collaborative laboratory called WACKER Lab. This facility is now fully integrated into IMCD South Africa’s expanded and upgraded Johannesburg laboratory, bringing together the expertise of two global leaders to support innovation in the regional market. In here, the technical teams perform the evaluation, optimisation and development of construction and coating materials that comply with South African National Standards (SANS) as well as international specifications.
The facility supports a wide range of dry mortar applications, including cementitious tile adhesives, tile grouts, plasters, skim coats, self-levelling compounds and thin-layer spray systems. Formulations are tested and refined to enhance durability and performance while ensuring suitability for Africa’s unique climate and construction conditions.
Customers benefit from access to local technical expertise, application support, formulation guidance and live product demonstrations, showcasing the performance of WACKER polymer binder technologies under real regional conditions.
Developing high-performance and more sustainable formulations for Southern Africa
Sustainability is part of the laboratory’s work, guiding the development of construction and coatings formulations that respond to the local market needs.
A key focus is the creation of lower-carbon building materials, such as cementitious tile adhesives formulated with locally sourced composite cements. These solutions are designed to reduce carbon footprint while delivering the performance levels required on site.
In parallel, the laboratory supports the transition toward more sustainable materials in the coatings industry. One example is by developing and testing water-based formulations that help reduce volatile organic compounds (VOCs) levels while ensuring durability and performance.
Submit your laboratory project request
IMCD South Africa’s laboratory facilities support customer projects across coatings and construction materials, providing practical, application-focused testing to help you develop and optimise your formulations.
We offer a wide range of application tests. For coatings, this includes scrub and washability, block resistance, hiding power, coverage, gloss measurement and stain resistance. For construction materials, testing covers flow and workability, tensile adhesion strength, compressive strength development, linear shrinkage and flexural strength.
If you would like to discuss your project requirements or submit a laboratory request, please complete the form below and your IMCD representative will be in touch.
