Brewing up a perfect antimicrobial solution

Oct 14, 2021 | News

Howard Town Brewery was established in 2005 and is an award-winning brewery and brewery tap based in Glossop, Derbyshire, on the edge of the UK’s Peak District National Park.

Having occupied a modest 1,500 ft² unit at absolute capacity for over a decade, Howard Town embarked on a painstaking renovation of a 6,000 ft² warehouse next door, putting in a state-of-the-art Simatec brewhouse. As part of the renovation Howard Town Brewery worked closely with HMG Paints to specify the correct coatings. Due to the environment, a unique coating was developed by Manchester-based HMG, dubbed ‘Brewery Paint’. The high gloss antimicrobial acrylic coating was utilised on the walls and ceiling of the refurbished brewery. The coating utilises a silver ion additive which provides lasting and effective protection against harmful bacteria, mould, fungi and viruses.

Additional coatings

2021 has seen the HMG Paints Research and Development team develop two additional
decorative formulations, which following ISO 22196 analysis have been proven to achieve over 99% reduction of E. Coli and Staphylococcus aureus on coated surfaces.

“We’re delighted with the initial test results of our antimicrobial products and look forward to working with more companies to develop antimicrobial paints for use across a number of other industries,” explains Lloyd Roberts, HMG Laboratory Manager.

“The last 18 months has seen significant investment in the R&D department within HMG and we have a number of exciting new systems in development that contain innovative technology such as graphene, along with the antimicrobial brewery solutions.”

The antibacterial active ingredient prevents harmful bacteria cells from dividing and stops microbes from multiplying. HMG plans to fully market the range of coatings, which are suitable for walls and ceilings in rooms requiring a high standard of hygiene, in Q3 2021. Recommended for interiors, hospitals and other healthcare facilities as well as various food production facilities, such as dairies and breweries, the coatings will be available direct from HMG Paints, and a select number of distribution partners.

Untapped resource

Howard Town is best known for being a traditional cask brewery with a long-standing reputation for quality cask ale, meticulous about balance and consistency. As part of the refurbishment, HMG’s standard range of decorative products were also used in the new
Tap Room, where customers can sample the beers on site. For the Tap Room, the company used HMG’s Vinyl Matt Emulsion and Trim Paints, which were colour matched to the Howard Town brand colours.

“This project highlights what HMG does best, in working with Howard Town we found a bespoke solution for their needs,” comments Paddy Dyson, Marketing Manager. “Being a local manufacturer was also key, as we could manufacture and deliver the paint directly to Howard Town as it was needed. We now look forward to working with more decorative customers who require antimicrobial products, along with introducing the technology into our industrial product portfolio.”

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