Prominent Paints, a fully integrated member of PPG and a leading paint manufacturer in South Africa, is addressing the skills shortage within the local paint industry through its training academy.
Since its inception almost 35 years ago, the academy has invested in the training of almost 12 000 learners – a number the Group is committed to growing.
A free service – anyone from paint contractors, artisans, and entrepreneurs, to home owners, and DIY enthusiasts – can register for the Product Knowledge and Basic Paint Technology courses which span a full day. Once learners have completed these introductory courses, they are free to enroll for a more comprehensive online eLearning course. A certificated course, learners only receive their accreditation from Prominent Paints once they have completed and successfully passed the eLearning module.
According to Technical Services Consultant at Prominent Paints, Herman Rabe, the courses are both theoretical and practical and the introductory modules cover everything from the paint make up, to calculating the Dry Film Thickness (DFT) and the influence the micro and macro climates will have on paint when applied. The fundamentals of surface preparation are covered extensively, as is choosing the right paint system for various substrates.
“Our courses run once a month from the Prominent Paints head office in Alberton. Not wanting to limit training to one province, on request, our trainers will travel to any other region or even African countries to deliver this sought after service,” says Rabe.
“At Prominent Paints, we feel that DIY should be about more than just paint, it is about responsible and strong leadership, innovative paint solutions, real partnerships and a passion for doing the right thing and our corporate responsibility projects must mirror this,” adds Rabe. “With so much more than just colour to consider when searching for a paint solution, we believe in investing in the artisans and individuals who are going to be choosing and using our products.
“As a manufacturer and marketer of paint products that adhere to international best practices and actively promote the drive towards environmental sustainability, Prominent Paints is a brand with substance and our corporate responsibility projects must mirror this,” concludes Rabe.
