“We are continuing to improve the
general conditions of our highways, urban and rural roads,” said outgoing finance minister Njeru Githae.
Several factors are driving the expansion and improvement of the road
network in Kenya, key among them
being the creation of a conducive investment environment and reduction
of poverty levels in this country of 40
million people.
Furthermore, the government has
been keen on reducing road accidents,
which currently kill an estimated 3,000
people every year. To improve road safety, paved roads are being marked with
thermoplastic road marking paint while
well-marked studs now dominate the
unpaved roads.
Kenya police traffic department report an estimated 3,000 people die
every year in road accidents. The department’s head, Benson Kibui, said in
2012, at least 3,097 people were killed
in road accidents, a slight fall from
3,249 the previous year.
Paint makers are seeking out ways
of meeting the demand created by this
road expansion spree. Eastern Africa’s
two market leaders in the paints and
coatings industry Basco Paints and
Crown Paints have grabbed the opportunity provided by the increasing
investment in the road sector to launch
and expand supply of thermoplastic
road marking paint.
Already Basco Paints is executing a
deal with global traffic safety solutions
provider Ennis Prismo for the distribution
of the latter firm’s road marking paint.
Basco has the exclusive right to distribute U.K.-based Ennis Prismo’s thermoplastic paint in Kenya.
“The introduction of Ennis Prismo
road marking paints is a great value
addition to the Kenyan road indus-
try,” said Basco Paints CEO Kamlesh
Shah. “The thermoplastic paints offer
better reliability, visibility at night and
lasts between two to three years com-
pared to the six months of other road
markings.”
“Most of the accidents on the roads
are caused by poor markings and road
signs that confuse drivers leading them
to make mistakes,” said outgoing
Roads Minister Franklin Bett. “Future
road markings feature reflective road
studs that improve road visibility espe-
cially at night.”
Ennis Prismo said contractors using its
products should be assured of “the qual-
ity of the paint and durability was suit-
able for the Kenyan market.”
The U.K.-based company, one of the
world’s largest road products manu-
facturers with over 100 years experi-
ence in the industry, manufacturers
road marking products, traffic prod-
ucts, decorated surfacing and surface
safety solutions.
“Ennis Prismo Thermoplastic road
marking paint is a new generation highway marking system, preferred the world
over, for its ease of usage and extended
life cycle as compared to other thermoplastic and conventional solvent based
paints,” said Shah.
According to a previous statement by
Basco, the traffic safety solution by Ennis
Prismo is developed on performance-based benchmarks and is manufactured
under the code BSEN 1436. It was introduced 20 years ago after the BS3262,
which is a recipe-based road marking
paint, was discontinued.
The profile of Prismo’s thermoplastic road marking includes that of having superior features such as durability,
retro-reflectivity (visibility at night), flow
resistance (ability not to melt when in
high temperatures) and non-cracking
abilities just to mention a few. In addition, they are guaranteed to last for a
minimum of 2-3 years as opposed to current road markings that fade away after
as little as 6 months.
Ennis Prismo Thermoplastic road
marking paint can be done in three
ways; extrusion, spraying or screed
(hand pram). According to Shah, the
paints will be available alongside the
Stimsonite Road Studs also manufactured by Ennis Prismo and one of the
best road marking studs manufactured.
Research has proved that road marking goes a long way in increasing road
safety on roads and is an indispensable
part of road construction as opposed
to an optional component.
According to another leading supplier of thermoplastic road marking
paint in Kenya, Crown Berger Limited,
the material is a formulation of plasticized resin, aggregate, pigment and
glass beads supplied in powder form.
Thermoline is heated and applied to the
road surface where it rapidly cools and
sets. The material consists of 100% solids and is environmentally friendly as it
is solvent free.
Thermoline has unique characteristics, Crown Berger explained, such
as being manufactured from synthetic
resin in combination with pigment,
extenders and retro-reflective glass
beads. It is high retro-reflective performance, visibility and provide less traffic disruption during application and is
fast drying.
The paint product has been made
to fit the unique physical and environmental conditions prevailing in a
region like Eastern Africa and particularly Kenya.
For example, it combines titanium
dioxide for ultra white visibility and
durable chromes for bright yellow lines
with extending pigments for uniform
coloring throughout the coated surface,
Crown Berger explained. The material
also has plasticized hydrocarbon resin
for adaptability to extreme tropical climatic conditions, thermal stability and
weather ability.
Crown Berger said the use of spherical glass beads in making of thermoplastic road marking paint is critical in
ensuring provision of exceptional reflectivity and visibility both during the
day and night.
“Thermoline’s composition enables
it to withstand Kenya’s wide variations
in climatic and surface conditions, outlasting others,” the paint maker said.
Road safety has also been enhanced
by the embedded glass beads, which,
according to the company, make for
a reflecting surface that makes road
marking many times more visible, especially in darkness, enhancing road
safety. Thermoline’s high concentration of aggregates resists skidding, in
contrast with conventional marking
paints, the company added. CW
