Thermal Barrier Paint Solution to Reduce Factory Electricity Bills in Thailand | Arranging Local Application Partners | Collaboration Across 3 Bases: China, Thailand, and Vietnam

In the Thai manufacturing industry, continuous increases in electricity rates and prolonged dry seasons have caused factory electricity bills—primarily for air conditioning—to squeeze profits. Focusing on the application of thermal barrier paint to roofs, we provide one-stop support ranging from electricity bill reduction simulations to the arrangement of local application partners and localized currency quoting. As a realistic solution to lower running costs with low investment and short construction periods, this has already been adopted by multiple Japanese factories.

Soaring Electricity Bills in Thailand: What Was Happening Inside the Factories?

Electricity rates in Thailand have undergone repeated increases due to fuel cost adjustments, making the pressure on production costs a chronic issue. Especially in factories with large roof areas, coupled with the prolonged high temperatures of the dry season, air conditioning systems run at full capacity constantly, inflating annual electricity bills to a level that demands executive-level management decisions. On the other hand, upgrading power reception and transformation equipment or installing solar power presents high hurdles regarding initial investment, construction periods, and the shutdown of existing facilities, leaving many facilities unable to take action.
“We want to lower our electricity bills. We also want to deliver results in the context of SDGs and CO2 reduction. However, we cannot commit to capital expenditure on equipment.”——We hear these exact concerns from numerous Japanese factories operating local subsidiaries.

Why Aren’t Electricity Bills Dropping? Radiant Heat from the Roof Keeps Air Conditioning Running Constantly

The root cause revealed through on-site inspections and roof surface temperature measurements is a structural issue: the roof and exterior walls lack heat-insulating performance, allowing radiant heat to flow directly into the interior. In some cases, the roof surface temperature exceeds 70°C during the day, and this heat warms up the ceiling space and indoor air, meaning the air conditioning cannot keep up no matter how much it cools.
Furthermore, factory buildings in Southeast Asia often have outdated insulation specifications, so upgrading air conditioning units alone rarely provides a fundamental solution—this is the main reason why many hesitate when considering upgrading existing facilities.
The basis for identifying this cause comes from cross-referencing the following two points:
・Reviewing current electricity bill data provided by the customer
・Measuring roof surface temperatures and checking roofing materials during on-site inspections
By matching these two datasets, we can conclude with near certainty that “heat inflow from the roof is the dominant factor.”

Countermeasures Attempted Thus Far and Their Limitations

Countermeasures already attempted by many factories share the following common limitations:
・ Adjusting HVAC operating hours: The effect is limited, and the system still faces high loads during production hours.
・ Considering heat-insulating film application on the roof: Frequently abandoned due to hurdles in cost and construction periods.
・ Considering retrofitting insulation materials to existing equipment: Requires halting existing equipment during construction, resulting in too great an impact on production.
Given these limitations, thermal barrier paint emerges as the realistic solution—a move that “reduces heat inflow from the roof without stopping existing operations.”

Solution Approach: Thermal Barrier Paint × Electricity Bill Simulation × Local Application Partners

By focusing on top-coating existing roofs with thermal barrier paint and providing the following three components as a complete package, we lower the hurdle for customers to make the decision to “give it a try.”

FUJICHEMI TRADING’s Support Framework: A Powerful Triad of Japan HQ, Thai Base, and Cooperating Manufacturers

This solution is realized through a clear division of roles among three parties: Japan HQ (Sales/Technical), our Thai base, and cooperating manufacturers.
・ HQ (Sales/Technical): Selects coatings / Prepares electricity bill reduction simulations / Supports decision-making for adopting companies
・ Thai Base (Local Subsidiary): Conducts on-site inspections, selects application partners, and provides local currency quoting/contracting / Manages application and construction / Provides after-sales support
・ Cooperating Manufacturers: Supplies thermal barrier paint / Assists in grade selection / Provides evaluation data
● Supply Framework: Local inventory support and small-lot application are available. This enables a small-start introduction where you can first test the effects on a single building before rolling it out across subsequent buildings.

Results of Adoption: Simultaneously Achieving Running Cost Reductions and Workplace Environment Improvements

We have received the following qualitative and quantitative result reports from adopting companies:
・ Reduction in factory running costs (electricity bills): Achieved a reduction (▲) in electricity bills based on actual customer data.
・ Lower indoor and roof surface temperatures: Stabilized summer production efficiency due to improvements in perceived temperature.
・ Visualization of the payback period: Increased the precision of management decisions, accelerating subsequent rollout evaluations.
・ Rollout track record: Cases exist where introduction to a single building led to expansion across additional buildings and sister factories.
● Introduction Lead Time: Rapid turnaround is possible from the initial consultation through estimation to test painting.

Anticipated Ripple Effects and Rollouts: 3 Returns Beyond Just Electricity Bill Reductions

The effects of adopting thermal barrier paint extend far beyond electricity bill reductions. Please utilize these cascading ripple effects triggered by “heat mitigation” as supporting material for your internal proposals.
1. Workplace Environment Improvement → Lower Turnover Rates and Higher Productivity
By mitigating the extreme heat directly beneath the roof, the workload on workers during hot seasons is reduced. As securing and retaining operators is a pressing management issue in Thai manufacturing sites, improving the workplace environment directly links to lower turnover rates and enhanced productivity.
2. Contribution to SDGs and CO2 Reduction Reports
Electricity bill reductions can be directly quantified as carbon emission reductions, leading to immediate score improvements in CSR and supplier evaluations. In an era where global headquarters’ procurement standards closely scrutinize “suppliers’ CO2 reduction track records,” leaving behind quantitative data holds great value.
3. Extending the Service Life of Rooftop Equipment
Lowering the roof surface temperature reduces thermal stress on outdoor HVAC units and solar panel peripheral equipment, which can be expected to extend equipment life. This creates a double benefit: electricity bill savings combined with delaying future equipment replacement costs.
Furthermore, for customers who establish a proven track record of introduction in Thailand, we can also support the horizontal rollout of identical proposals to your factory bases in Vietnam and China.

Differences from Competitors: Why Choose FUJICHEMI TRADING?

Compared to competitors that only sell coating products (paint manufacturers’ direct sales and local chemical trading companies), our unique strength lies in our ability to provide a seamless, end-to-end service encompassing “electricity bill simulations + local application partner arrangements + local currency settlement.” Our network, which bridges Japanese-level quality and localized cost structures, is the reason we continue to be chosen.
・Difference from Manufacturers’ Direct Sales
They do not provide simulations or arrange application partners, requiring customers to handle these arrangements individually.
・Difference from Local Paint Distributors
We offer selection based on Japanese quality standards, along with technical support in Japanese and proposal materials tailored for executive-level management.

Product Information & Specifications Overview

The main specifications of our proven thermal barrier paints offer a choice of multiple grades depending on the application and roofing materials. Typical specifications are as follows (please contact us for detailed specifications).

How to Utilize & Operational Examples

In actual operations, the following patterns are frequently adopted:
・ Step-by-step introduction building by building: Apply to one building first for effect verification, then expand to additional buildings and sister factories after reviewing results.
・ Scheduling before the hot season: To maximize the effect, it is ideal to complete the application before entering the dry season.
・ Synchronization with existing facility maintenance: Co-execute with roof waterproofing renovations or HVAC upgrades to compress scaffolding costs and minimize weekend production impacts.
・ Standardization across multiple bases: Led by HQ procurement, unify the thermal barrier paint specifications across multiple local factories.

Proposals by Related Application and Challenge

■ Factory Electricity Bill Reduction & Heat Mitigation | Developing Thermal Barrier & UV Cut Sheets with Custom Processing (Japan-ASEAN Collaboration)
■ Reducing Production Line Stoppage Risks via Local Stock in Thailand for Automotive Parts | Supplying Molding Resins and Rubber through BCP Schemes