‘We are all much tougher than we think’ – Sigma Coatings Malta Managing Director Patrick Tabone

As a leading player in Malta’s architectural, industrial and marine paints sector, Sigma Coatings Malta has a deep-rooted presence in the local market. For decades, it has navigated evolving market trends and consumer demands while upholding a rigorous commitment to quality. Today, under the leadership of Managing Director Patrick Tabone, the company is harnessing opportunities in sustainability and innovation, ensuring it continues to lead its sector as it looks ahead to 2026.

“In a previous life, I was fortunate to be part of the team negotiating Malta’s accession to the EU,” says Managing Director Patrick Tabone, reflecting on a diverse career path that has taken him from diplomacy to education, ultimately leading him to Sigma Coatings Malta. “The experience gave me valuable insights into many different policy areas and sectors across the economy, both within the EU and in Malta.”

This broad perspective was later balanced by a more granular focus during his time as a College Principal. “Education is about relationships and getting things right – not just on average, but for every single student you’re responsible for.” For Patrick, this combination of strategic planning and meticulous attention to detail has provided important lessons that remain with him today.

His leadership style has also been shaped by a personal passion of his that demands immense discipline and perseverance: ultrarunning. “Discipline and resilience are the keystones of ultrarunning, but they’re also integral to running a business,” he notes. The sport, he says, teaches you that no matter how tough things get, if you can keep on moving in the right direction, you will get there in the end. “It’s also taught me that we are all much tougher than we think.”

This resilience was recently tested when the company was targeted by a financial scam – an unexpected challenge for Patrick and his team. “It really bothered me,” admits Patrick. “We thought we were far too streetwise for something like that to happen to us – but it did. Since then I’ve heard of so many others it’s happened to – if you haven’t done so already, please check your security systems and other defences, and tighten them up.”

A tight-knit organisation, Sigma Coatings Malta is part of a global legacy stretching back a scarcely credible 300 years, when a Pieter Schoen started grinding pigments for local painters in Westzaan, in the Netherlands. The local company’s roots lie in the marine sector, establishing itself as early as the 1960s as a key supplier to the Malta Drydocks. Supplying ships, Patrick explains, requires rigour and precision: “We have to ensure they get exactly what they need in the very short time they are in port.”

That customer-first philosophy became a core principle that now underpins the entire operation of Sigma Coatings Malta. Today, while marine and industrial paints remain a very significant part of its operation, the company’s largest division is architectural paints. Sigma Coatings supplies its products to over 150 hardware stores across Malta and Gozo, and has also greatly expanded its network of in-store tinting machines, allowing customers to get paint mixed to the exact shade they want on the spot.

The business works in collaboration with PPG, a huge multinational that is the owner of the global Sigma Coatings brand. “This partnership is very valuable to us, and one that we are proud of,” affirms Patrick. “It gives us access to a massive research and development (R&D) capability and an unwavering focus on innovation.” The company uses only the best, approved, raw materials and suppliers to manufacture its products – a principle that remained non-negotiable during the supply chain crises of recent years, and one that is central to the company’s strong local reputation for quality and consistency. “The moment a competitor switches to substandard materials, the market picks it up,” he emphasises.

Despite global turbulence and what Patrick describes as “a more cautious local mood”, 2025 shaped up to be a record year for the company. Strong tourism numbers have helped Malta’s economy grow overall, but Patrick also credits “a growing love affair with colour” as another key driver of Sigma Coatings’ success. “People want to bring more colour into their homes and businesses as a way of sparking joy, and obviously we’re very well equipped to help them do that,” he smiles.

Nevertheless, challenges remain, notably in terms of the labour market and recruitment. Globally, ongoing geopolitical instability continues to affect trade and supply lines, which Patrick notes can directly affect the company. While the worst of the price increases experienced between 2020 and 2023 appear to have eased, uncertainty around fluctuating trade tariffs persists. Patrick also remarks that while the paint and coatings sector evolves at a measured pace, “key trends are clear: I expect to see a continued increase in demand for specialised coatings, greener products and water-based coating solutions where possible,” he elaborates.

While some businesses may view the green transition with trepidation, Patrick sees it as a great opportunity, especially given Sigma Coatings’ collaboration with PPG. “PPG is committed to developing the next generation of paints,” he explains. “Our collaboration means we are perfectly placed to support our customers through this transition. There is constant research to make sure that our products have the lowest carbon footprint possible while staying well ahead of regulatory requirements.”

Closer to home, Patrick is quietly encouraged by a positive shift in consumer behaviour, with consumers preferring to invest in quality products when they can. “People are increasingly recognising that the longer lifespan of a premium paint is ultimately much more cost-effective,” he says. Research shows that the Sigma Coatings brand continues to be the one most used by Maltese families – a point of pride as he looks to 2026 with cautious optimism.

“I predict a year of growth and consolidation, but we are ready for anything. There should be some excitement around the soft launch of Sigma Expert Semi-Matt, a best-in-class, next-generation, ecolabel interior paint,” he discloses, “and we’ll continue to improve and extend our colour services. More broadly we will also deepen our strategic collaboration with PPG and extend it to new products and services.”

It is an approach that mirrors Patrick’s wider philosophy – that progress should be steady, purposeful and built to last, a belief he reinforces with a hopeful remark on the wider business community: “I’m sensing a backlash against the ‘get very rich, very quickly, at all costs’ mindset. Many people are seeing that there is so much more to improving our quality of life, and I see more businesses embracing the path of responsible, sustainable growth that will benefit Malta’s economy and society at large.”

This article is part of the serialisation of 50 interviews featured in MaltaCEOs 2026 – the sister brand to MaltaCEOs.mt and an annual high-end publication bringing together some of the country’s most influential business leaders.