Austin Hayes Ltd. has recently launched its new 26 m2 (280ft2) research lab on site in Leeds, West Yorkshire, to support the company’s strategy vision for continuing its growth and expansion in the protective coating industry over the next decade and beyond.

The new lab contains various professional research facilities and instruments, and will be used for assisting in undertaking the Company’s Knowledge Transfer Partnership (KTP) research project: research and development into improving the current production process of epoxy paint systems application. It will also be used for assisting in providing on-site technical support to the Company’s extensive experienced coating application and inspection team. This pattern of investment will continue with several new equipment additions already earmarked for the coming months. Julie Bickerdyke, Managing Director of Austin Hayes, commented; “This new lab will appeal to our existing and new customers. We believe it is one of our great steps forward for our company development, putting us in a very strong position for planned future growth.”

The KTP team, consisting of members from the Chemistry department of Leeds University and from Innovate UK, are impressed by the investment made by Austin Hayes. “The collaboration between University academia research lab and company lab will be a feature of the project” said the KTP research group. Steve Swaine, Austin Hayes Level 3 NACE Coating Inspector, continued, “I am excited about the technical advancement provided by our technical and research team, and I am looking forward to seeing more exciting outcomes from our new lab.”

Use of the new lab will give the best environment for supporting the company’s technical, research and production teams to develop significantly. Austin Hayes are looking to be at the leading edge of protective coating application in the UK, enhance their excellent reputation and improve their ability to compete in the future, in an ever increasingly competitive world market. As stated by Tonia Parris, Technical Director; “We are not standing still, but thinking about the future.”