Keywords
Citation
(2003), "R&D brings new Spencer paint products to market", Pigment & Resin Technology, Vol. 32 No. 5. https://doi.org/10.1108/prt.2003.12932ead.005
Publisher
:Emerald Group Publishing Limited
Copyright © 2003, MCB UP Limited
R&D brings new Spencer paint products to market
R&D brings new Spencer paint products to market
Keywords: Paints, Coatings, Industrial coatings
Spencer Coatings Ltd, is bringing several new products to market after investing £250,000 in research and development. The Aberdeen- based manufacturer of paint and industrial coatings has been developing a number of products within its existing 50 ranges.
The company is currently trialing a new water-based two pack system for a major US axel manufacturer. The anti-corrosive coating has been developed specifically for use on HGV axels and if the trials are successful will be used on Ford vehicles worldwide. Peter Guest, Spencer's Technical Services Manager, says: "This two pack system is designed to offer easy application and durability as well as respecting environmental regulations. The product is water-based, meaning that less solvent is used in its formulation."
"Our intensive research and development, carried out by highly experienced technicians and chemists in Aberdeen, has led to environmental improvements in all our products from the decorative range to our highly specialised industrial coatings."
Spencer, which recently acquired the business of Pearl Paints and one of its premium product ranges – Wailes Dove Bitumastic, has become renowned for enhancing its products' durability to meet specific client requirements.
Mr Guest adds: We are currently working on developing and re-launching the Bitumastic range particularly for use in the water industry. Despite the name, the range contains very little and, in some cases, no bitumen. However, it is a highly durable protective enamel which has been used to coat ships hulls, pipelines and even the lockgates on the Panama Canal. Bitumastic has many imitators and the name has become a generic term in the paint industry.
Spencer's Newton product range is highly sought after in the automotive industry where their lacquers and solvents are used to coat headlight casings, exhausts and electric motors for agricultural and industrial machinery. Their products are also used to coat a variety of municipal appliances, such as street gratings, drains, water meter housings and cable TV boxes.
The decorative range will also benefit from recent R&D. Spencer is re-formulating many of its paints, moving away from vinyls and towards high quality acrylics for emulsion which offers better colour retention and scrub resistance.
"In the decorative range, we are also moving away from solvent-based products, using less white spirit to ensure compliance with environmental regulations. The principles we use in the industrial range and the experience in developing highly durable products are brought to bear on our domestic paint."
Formerly known for its high quality decorative paints, Spencer Coatings increased its interests in industrial coatings, which account for 80 per cent of the business, and saw its turnover rise from £3.5 million in 1995 to in excess of £5 million in 2002. The company is on target to exceed £6 million in 2003.