Briefs

TOA-Chugoku Paints has spent about Bt200 million on a completely built-up warehouse at the Wellgrow Industrial Estate in Chachoengsao. It will also spend Bt60 million on setting up a production line to boost its capacity to 1,900 tonnes per month from 1,500 tonnes at present as part of its production expansion for export, managing director Pisit Boonchanya said yesterday.
The company is also interested in investing in Myanmar and Cambodia.
This year the company set a target to boost sales 15 per cent to Bt1.7 billion. First-half sales were up 15 per cent to Bt850 million due to the boom in infrastructure projects.
The market for paint for heavy industry and ships has continued to grow and reached Bt3.3 billion last year. – The Nation

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PHD names new chief
PHD Thailand, a global media agency under Omnicom Media Group, has appointed Jerapol Yavapan as managing director – a new position within the agency.
In his new role, Jerapol will help drive PHD’s growth in 2012 and beyond in Thailand, building on its established business foundation that added over 10 clients last year including HTC Mobile, SC Johnson, Hotels.com and Hershey’s.
Jerapol, who took on this new responsibility on July 2, brings 15 years of experience in advertising and communications handling various accounts such as Beiersdorf, P&G, Exxon Mobil, Danone, Adidas and the Tourism Authority of Thailand.
Clint Easthorpe, CEO of Omnicom Media Group Thailand, said yesterday that the advertising industry in Thailand is evolving rapidly and brimming with opportunities.
“Jerapol’s appointment cements our commitment to strengthen the PHD operation in Thailand. With his leadership, PHD Thailand can look forward to a new phase of success and growth and be established as one of the most preferred media agencies in the market,” he said.
“I see huge potential for PHD Thailand to excel in this new landscape and provide clarity and confidence for clients to realise the new competitive advantages,” Jerapol said. – The Nation

Magotteaux opens Saraburi plant

Magotteaux, a subsidiary of Chile’s Sigdo Koppers Group, has shown its belief in Thailand’s economic potential with the opening of its regional production base in Saraburi. The world-leading manufacturer of high quality grinding media and wear resistant parts strives to serve the world’s communities with a management practice that is environmentally friendly and recognised by international standards.
Magotteaux’s CEO Bernard Goblet said yesterday that to mark this important milestone in both countries’ economic cooperation, the group decided to open a production facility in Saraburi and in turn made Magotteaux Thailand its Asian manufacturing and logistics hub. This particular investment, worth about Bt2 billion, is the biggest from Chile to be implemented in Southeast Asia.
The construction of the factory began in August 2011 and was set to complete in February 2012. It has been in production since April. With modern and originally patented technology and machinery, Magotteaux expects to manufacture over 9,000 tonnes of vertical roller mill parts per year. This production potential of Magotteaux Thailand will help transform Magotteaux Group into one of the most important engines of industrial development. – The Nation