The Don-Bur Group of Staffordshire is a market leader in the design, development and manufacture of truck trailers and rigid vehicle bodies, producing fleet-volume quantities for major hauliers, logistics companies, multiple retailers and brewers. Its patented buckle-less curtain system helped gain the accolade of Commercial Motor's Trailer of the Year and has revolutionised the way curtain-sided lorries look today.

Don-Bur's in-house design company, Sapphire Graphics, specialises in the production of all types of commercial vehicle fleet livery, from computer-cut vinyls to printed advertising banners, and is a significant user of a unique flexible coating produced by HMG Paints, Plastikote PVC94. It has been specified for signwriting a fleet of more than 500 curtain siders for giant DIY and garden centre retailer B&Q, as well as countless other livery applications.

PVC94 was developed by Manchester paintmaker HMG for application to PVC materials, selected plastics and other difficult-to-coat substrates. Formulated to adhere strongly to rigid and flexible plasticised surfaces, it is ideal for such applications as Plastisol architectural cladding, automotive interior trim, ABS plastics, PVC roofing and lorry side curtains. Available in virtually limitless colours and all gloss levels, it can be applied by brush or spray, drying rapidly to a highly durable film and offering outstanding light fastness and colour retention.

HMG Paints is one of few British manufacturers supplying high performance paint products to the UK truck and bus industry and Don-Bur has been a valued customer for many years. Operating from an 18 acre site in Stoke-on-Trent and employing a 420-strong flexible workforce, it styles itself 'the industry champion' and generates annual sales in excess of £40 million. Its extensive range of trailers and rigid bodies offers outstanding quality, exceptional vehicle lifespan and maximum value for money.

Don-Bur is the only CV body manufacturer to retain curtain production, printing and GRP moulding in-house, affording it greater control over quality and costs. Located in separate premises nearby, its subsidiary Sapphire Graphics designs and applies vehicle liveries to cabs, bodies and curtain sides, counting such notable brands as John Lewis, Scottish Courage, Hayes Logistics, Argos and B&Q among its customers. It employs a mix of traditional signwriting skills and state-of-the-art technology, including 5m wide inkjet machines and the latest 1440 dpi high resolution printers. Lettering on the curtain sides is signwritten by hand, using PVC 94, which is applied directly onto the PVC-coated tarpaulins.

HMG's flexible finish adheres strongly to the material and effectively forms part of the side curtain, withstanding abrasions from road grit and weathering, and retaining bright whites and colours for many years.

"Fleet owners like to project a good corporate image, employing their vehicles as mobile billboards," says Sapphire Graphics' Production Manager, Lee Leighton. "We've been using HMG's PVC 94 for many years with superb results, particularly regarding durability. The finish is excellent and it applies easily, so it's just perfect for this demanding graphics application."

Sapphire Graphics specifies PVC 94 in almost every colour, HMG matching paint shades to specific Pantone references. The distinctive B&Q application uses PVC94 pure white on bright orange trailer curtains and, to date, Sapphire has refurbished 310 existing vehicles and liveried over 200 new units. Thankfully, the B&Q graphics are fairly straightforward in signwriting terms, although even complex designs like Worthington's Bitter and the previous Kronenbourg logo are workable, thanks to the excellent flow properties and adhesion of HMG Paints' unique flexible coating.

Further enquiries to:
HMG Paints
Riverside Works
Collyhurst Road
Manchester
M40 7RU
Telephone 0161 205 7631
email sales@hmgpaint.com