India–Germany industrial cooperation is expanding into the construction materials sector, with Indian specialty chemicals manufacturer Zydex Industries and Germany-based KEIMFARBEN introducing locally manufactured silicate mineral coatings for the Indian market.
The partnership brings together KEIMFARBEN’s mineral paint technology and Zydex’s manufacturing, distribution and technical capabilities in India. More than 95% of the product is expected to be manufactured locally, reflecting a broader pattern in India–Germany commercial relations in which German technologies are being adapted and produced for the Indian market.
According to information reported on July 23, 2026, the companies will initially target high-rise residential developments, commercial buildings, hospitals, universities and premium housing projects. Zydex also plans to introduce a separate organosilicate paint range for individual homes and smaller developments through retail channels.
The partnership comes as India’s decorative paints market approaches the ₹1 lakh crore mark and demand begins to move beyond colour and upfront pricing towards façade durability, maintenance requirements and the cost of protecting buildings over their lifetime.
German technology adapted for Indian conditions
KEIMFARBEN, headquartered in Diedorf near Augsburg, traces its silicate paint technology to 1878, when craftsman and natural scientist Adolf Wilhelm Keim received a patent for the mineral paints he had developed.
The German company states that its partnership with Zydex in India began in 2025. Under the arrangement, KEIM’s mineral paint technology is being adapted to Indian requirements and manufactured and distributed locally by Zydex. The strategic licensing partnership was publicly announced in October 2025.
The collaboration illustrates how India–Germany industrial partnerships can combine specialised German research and product experience with India’s manufacturing capacity, domestic market knowledge and distribution networks.
In this case, the coatings are being positioned for Indian climatic conditions, including coastal areas exposed to high humidity, salt-laden air, intense sunlight and heavy rainfall. Such conditions can accelerate the fading and deterioration of exterior building surfaces.
KEIMFARBEN Chief Executive Officer Rüdiger Lugert said: “Backed by nearly 150 years of proven silicate technology, KEIM has delivered durable performance across diverse climates. Combined with Zydex’s local expertise, this partnership is not about introducing another paint, it is about setting a new benchmark for long-lasting, sustainable, and high-performance building protection.”
How silicate mineral coatings work
Unlike conventional acrylic paints, which generally form a film over a building surface, silicate mineral coatings chemically bond with compatible mineral substrates through a process known as silicification.
This bond allows water vapour trapped within a wall to escape, reducing the likelihood of peeling, blistering and moisture accumulation. The technology is therefore being considered for façades in tropical, humid and coastal environments.
KEIM Regalan, one of the principal products covered by the partnership, is an exterior silicate mineral paint formulated for tropical and coastal conditions. According to its technical documentation, it uses potassium silicate as a binder and contains inorganic mineral fillers and pigments.
The product is described as vapour-permeable, water-repellent, low in volatile organic compounds and resistant to fading. However, performance depends on factors including the condition of the underlying surface, preparatory work, application and the use of compatible primers and auxiliary products.
The companies claim that the coating system can provide a minimum 20-year warranty against colour fading and film failure. The applicable warranty and performance will depend on the product selected and the conditions of an individual project.
₹1,500–2,000 crore market opportunity estimated
Zydex Group Managing Director Moulik Ranka estimated that performance-based coatings could develop into a ₹1,500–2,000 crore market in India if developers and property owners begin evaluating paints according to their lifecycle value instead of concentrating primarily on their initial price.
The companies are seeking to challenge the conventional repainting cycle, particularly in coastal regions where acrylic exterior paints may require repainting every four to five years.
Demand for longer-lasting building materials is becoming more relevant as Indian cities add larger residential complexes, hospitals, commercial properties and institutional campuses. Repainting these structures can involve significant financial costs as well as disruption to occupants and building operations.
Zydex Paints Chief Operating Officer Amrendra Mishra said demand for durable and low-maintenance construction materials was rising as developers and property owners sought to reduce long-term operating expenditure, particularly across large residential and commercial assets.
Local manufacturing central to collaboration
The plan to manufacture more than 95% of the product in India is a central feature of the partnership. Instead of relying mainly on imports of finished German products, the collaboration is structured around local production and distribution.
This approach could give KEIMFARBEN wider access to India’s growing construction market while enabling Zydex to add German-origin silicate technology to its domestic product portfolio.
It also fits into the wider India–Germany economic relationship, under which companies from the two countries are increasingly exploring partnerships involving technology transfer, local manufacturing and adaptation for Indian operating conditions.
The commercial success of the collaboration will depend on whether the coatings demonstrate their claimed durability under varied Indian conditions and whether developers consider the potential reduction in repainting costs sufficient to justify adopting a premium system.
Availability of trained applicators and adherence to the prescribed surface-preparation process will also influence performance and wider market acceptance.
M3M agreement provides entry into premium real estate
Zydex Paints has separately entered into a strategic agreement with Indian real estate developer M3M India for the deployment of KEIM Regalan across its developments.
The agreement provides the Indo-German collaboration with an early route into India’s premium real estate sector, where façade appearance, maintenance requirements and the operational cost of repainting are important considerations.
Beyond premium private developments, Zydex plans to conduct technical trials to support the possible adoption of silicate mineral coatings in government buildings and public-sector projects.
The partnership remains a company-level commercial arrangement, but it adds another sector to the expanding landscape of India–Germany industrial cooperation. Its wider significance lies in the attempt to combine specialised German technology with Indian production at scale, while responding to the construction sector’s growing focus on durable and lower-maintenance materials.
