INTRODUCTION
2
JOTUN GROUP
Building on a legacy of innovation
With the official opening of Jotun’s new headquarters and Research and Development (R&D) centre
scheduled for 2020, Jotun is in a strong position to accelerate the development of innovative new products
and services.
In December 1951, Jotun’s founder, Odd Gleditsch sen.
celebrated the opening of Jotun’s first purpose-built factory,
headquarters and laboratory in Sandefjord, Norway. While the
new facility represented a significant investment for Jotun at
the time, Gleditsch sen. was confident that demand for paints
would grow quickly in Norway and that R&D would be the key
to Jotun’s future. 70 years later, the company is celebrating
the opening of its new headquarters and R&D centre on the
same piece of land, marking both a continuation, and a new
beginning, in Jotun’s development.
Global R&D network
With regional hubs serving markets all over the world, Jotun is
not only Norway’s most recognised global brand but one of the
fastest growing paints and coatings companies in the world.
However, with increasingly strict safety and environmental
regulations and a growing number of end users demanding
more specialised products that protect, beautify and add value
to property, Jotun’s future success relies on innovation.
Jotun’s product development process is grounded in the
company’s ability to understand and anticipate the needs of
different end users in all segments. By working closely with local
sales and marketing personnel, particularly in the Decorative
Paints segment, Jotun can engineer products that meet consumer
preferences. And with regional R&D centres in East Europe,
Americas, South East Asia, North East Asia and the Middle East,
Jotun can develop and customise products in other segments to
comply with local regulations, especially in important markets
with increasing strict limits on the use of solvents.
A united organisation
While Jotun’s regional network of laboratories will continue to
play an important role in Jotun’s growth in the years ahead, the
construction of the headquarters and R&D centre in Sandefjord
will help accelerate exciting new services and product innovation.
Jotun’s new well-equipped, state-of-the-art laboratory will
serve as a powerful recruiting tool for top chemists. And for
the first time in more than 40 years, Jotun’s R&D personnel will
share the same building as all other global functions, creating a
more unified, flexible and responsive organisation – just as Odd
Gleditsch sen. envisioned, seven decades ago.
Profitability
2016
2017
2015
2013
2014
30 %
20 %
10 %
0
Return on capital employed, in %
Return on equity, in %
Operating margin, in %
2018
2019
18.6 %
Return on capital employed
11.8 %
Operating margin
17.2 %
Return on equity