Manchester-based paint manufacturer HMG Paints has officially opened the Len Hutton Centre, a facility dedicated to water-based production.

The opening of this department will increase water-based production capabilities at HMG, with the department being named after former HMG Production Director, Len Hutton.

This substantial capital investment, which coincides with the business celebrating its 95th anniversary, is projected to increase capacity by an estimated 50,000 litres per month and allows the business to meet growing demand for its range of water-based products, as customers and the industry shift towards low-VOC, environmentally friendly and sustainable coatings.

The new department, operated by six highly trained staff members, is equipped with 12 high-efficiency mixers and a dedicated washout facility. The Len Hutton Centre will also serve as a hub for developing and manufacturing innovative, water-based coatings for a range of markets.

"This is a huge honour, having a department named after myself makes me feel my name will truly live forever at HMG” said Hutton, whose legacy the new department honours. “I consider it a great privilege to know that my department will be the future of waterborne production for the company, and it is great to have myself named amongst other greats at the business who have similarly had departments named after them throughout the years."

Hutton began his career in production at HMG in March 1974, before moving on to establish and transform the Colour Laboratory, revolutionising how HMG matches and produces its colours, and eventually became Production Director before retiring from the business in 2021. When the new department was established, it was an easy decision for the Directors to honour Hutton, who was an integral part of the company's growth, as well as his commitment to quality for over 40 years.

Speaking at the unveiling of the new department, John Falder, HMG Chairman, remarked: “It’s great to have a department named after one of the true greats of HMG. Len and I started as kids together and across our 45 years of working together, Len became the foundation of our colour laboratory, tints and all the systems that followed. As a business, we were one of four hundred industrial paint manufacturers around at the time Len joined the business, and its thanks to him as well as many others that we are where we are today.”