Look Back | New paint factory opens in Lami

The Fiji Times of July 30, 1966 reported that Fiji’s industrial revolution had another push forward when a new paint factory opened up in Lami.

The plant belonged to British Paints (Pacific Islands) Ltd, a new company and subsidiary of British Paints (Australia) Pty Ltd.

Mr K W McLeod, works manager and chemist said : “The factory is still not in full swing, but we produced 500 gallons in the first four days of operation. We had only about one-third of our plant operating at that stage. We hope to produce about 500 gallons a day eventually.”

Six local employees were at the £50,000 factory but the company’s manager Mr A E Watson, said: “We look forward to employing more local labour when the company grows.”

“We have every confidence in the future growth and prosperity of Fiji and think the opportunities here for business are outstanding,” he said.

Raw materials for the paint and paint tins were imported from Australia. Mr Watson said the company would probably buy cardboard cartons for packaging and wooden cases locally.

“We would like to be able to buy them locally too,” said Mr Watson.

The firms planned to export to other Pacific Islands and already had orders from Samoa and the New Hebrides (Vanuatu). Mr McLeod had worked hard in his laboratory, adjacent to the main factory floor, on quality control of the paint produced and some research.

“We are concerned with manufacturing paints to suit local conditions. This will involve quite a lot of research. High humidity and mould growth are among the problems we intend to tackle.”

The factory was expected to work at full production in the month after the opening (August).

The most important pieces of equipment in the factory were two cylindrical mills which cost a total of about £3000.