Leading British paint manufacturer, HMG Paints of Manchester, has introduced a standalone tinting system, Unit Lite, which offers distributors a virtually unlimited palette for all order sizes, across an extensive range of high performance HMG base coatings. Packed into 2.5 litre cans ready for use on a standard mixing machine, Unit Lite comprises around twenty solid tinters, five aluminium tinters for metallic finishes, and five unique reduced-strength colourants, for more accurate tinting of pale and pastel shades. To support these new Unit Lite tinters, HMG has developed a dedicated colour formulation software package for a PC or laptop, which gives online access to more than 20,000 different RAL, BS and other shades.

One of HMG’s major distributors, Dingbro, the largest independent motor factor in Scotland, has already taken delivery of Unit Lite systems for its branches in Falkirk and Inverness, enabling it to compete effectively with other paint suppliers and offer outlying bodyshops and other trade users instant access to all colours in all pack sizes, across an extensive variety of compliant coatings. In addition to extending the scheme across its key accounts, HMG is offering the system to a strictly limited number of medium-sized surface coatings distributors serving the commercial transport, industrial, wood finishing, model & hobby, caravan refinishing and other sectors.

“We are offering our distributors their own in-house paint factory in an affordable package, at the same time allowing them to reduce stock, eliminate wastage and offer faster turnaround,” says HMG Distribution Account Manager, Martyn Binnington. “It means never having to miss a sale, because they can mix any product in any colour, in any quality. We believe it will give them a distinct local market advantage.”

Developed from HMG’s proven Unit paint mixing scheme, Unit Lite consists of a complete series of multi-system tinters, each manufactured to deliver a specific pigment loading and designed to mix with most solvent-borne paint media. These colourants are packed into 2.5 litre cans for easier handling and require only minimal stirring, typically just 15 minutes per day. To enable greater controllability when adding to the base product, there are reduced-strength versions of the five strongest tints (black, red oxide, yellow oxide, blue and maroon), which are formulated to 10% strength of the standard colourants, for greater accuracy when weighing out. There are also five aluminium tinters, from fine to very coarse grades.

The Unit Lite tinters can be used with a complete series of compliant HMG single- and two-pack base paints, to which colourants are added to achieve the precise shade. These include such popular products as Acrythane XSC98, Raincoat, PVC94, Autosafe, C71 Enamel, Flexithane and Slippy Bottom, as well as pre-cat and acid-cat lacquers, stoving enamel and hammer finishes, polyurethane paint, coach enamel, classic car coatings, chlorinated rubber and basecoats. Single-pack base products are typically dosed at between 8% and 10%, synthetics at 15% and two-pack materials at 20% and they are pre-packed by HMG at optimum levels ready to receive the required amount of colourants, eliminating the cost and wastage of buying extra tins for mixing.

The colour formulation database holds recipes for upwards of 20,000 shades covering all the main directories, including RAL, BS, Pantone, NCS, OEM, commercial fleet, agricultural machinery and house colours. Ensuring extremely consistent colour reproducibility, this software is installed on the distributor’s PC or laptop and linked to HMG’s head office, for uploading regular updates on new shade formulations and base products. Connected to an electronic scale, the system provides for the precise dosing of colourants and, since the customer’s buying prices can be logged onto the software, it will indicate the exact cost of tinters, base paint and the finished product, for pricing out purposes.

Unit Lite is a highly flexible tinting system, covering topcoats, basecoats, undercoats, primers and a range of hardeners for differing drying times, as well as a variety of sheen levels, textures and finishes. It is backed by the manufacturer’s renowned technical support, including the formulation of custom shades and advice on application techniques.

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