A groundbreaking new development in decorative paint technology is putting Caribbean innovation on the global map, with Barbados-founded paint manufacturer Harris Paints rolling out what it calls the world’s first advanced decorative paint tinting system. The newly launched Quantum Dry system, which debuted at the company’s Barbados headquarters, marks a historic first for the global coatings industry: it is the first product to deliver tinted decorative paint using cutting-edge dry pigment pearls through an integrated single-base color framework, according to the company’s official press announcement.
This new platform builds on the success of Harris Paints’ earlier Quantum i12 system, a color innovation first introduced to the market four years ago. That original platform is already fully operational across all Harris Paints locations throughout the Caribbean region, laying the groundwork for the next-generation Quantum Dry upgrade. The strong commercial and technical performance of the initial Quantum platform even spurred the creation of a standalone spinoff, Quantum Corporation, which has since added an artificial intelligence-powered color matching tool to its product suite and secured international licensing deals for its technology. Today, coatings made with this Caribbean-developed innovation are already on store shelves in markets as far-flung as Italy and Bangladesh.
Unlike conventional paint tinting processes, which depend entirely on liquid colorants to create custom shades, the Quantum Dry system leverages solid pigment pearls to deliver measurable improvements in color quality and consistency. Antonio Vasconcellos, co-CEO of Quantum Corporation, explained that the new system cuts down on unnecessary chemical additives, reduces the overall environmental footprint of paint production, and achieves far more precise color reproduction than traditional tinting methods can deliver. For consumers and contractors, this means more consistent color matching from batch to batch and a lower-impact product compared to standard options on the market.
For its initial rollout, Quantum Dry will be available exclusively at Harris Paints’ Wildey retail outlet in Barbados, before the company scales distribution to additional product lines and expands access across regional Caribbean markets. Dominica is already confirmed as one of the first Caribbean markets set to benefit from the new technology once regional rollout begins. Company leadership frames the launch as more than just a new product release: it is a major milestone for homegrown innovation from the Caribbean, showcasing that cutting-edge global technology can emerge from and scale out of regional markets.
Harris Paints has deep roots in Barbados, first founded in Bridgetown all the way back in 1972. The company began its operations by repackaging pre-manufactured paint products, but just one year after its founding, it transitioned into full local manufacturing, building out the expertise that has led to today’s global innovation.