MANCHESTER, UK - The St Helens Arriva painting team, using an array of HMG Paints products, received the Highly Commended award in the Team of the Year category at an awards ceremony in the UK.

The team became the first painting team to be recognized at the national Made a Difference Awards, an event that rewards outstanding commitment and excellence across the entire Arriva Group.

Led by Chief Engineer Trevor Smith, the team was responsible for preparing and coating Arriva’s premium Sapphire fleet of buses and was applauded for working quickly with strict deadlines and producing an excellent standard of finish.

HMG Paints supplied the team with an array of coatings products that included SAH300 Topcoat, DG142 Undercoat, KX Undercoat, Speedbuild 3 Primer and BDX Primer. The SAH300 Topcoat delivered a gloss finish and also retained a “long wet edge” allowing for easy brushing application, while also ensuring the vehicle is protected against harsh weather conditions, atmospheric pollution and road dirt.

Trevor Smith is proud of his team for winning the award and relished working on the project together with HMG. He commented, “The support that HMG offers can’t be beaten, and they have helped us win this award with the sheer quality of their paint. The Sapphire buses require a first-class standard of finish, and HMG’s products have certainly stepped up to the mark.”

Arriva’s Sapphire buses have been introduced to a number of routes across the country, providing customers with a more direct and luxurious experience. The buses boast lavish seating, free Wi-Fi, charging points and audio-visual journey announcements.

HMG Paints’ Sales Director, Danny Cleary, was thrilled with the results of the project. He commented, “The team deserve all the plaudits they have received for their hard work and, as a result, the range of buses look outstanding. HMG is honored to work with Arriva on its premium Sapphire buses, and we are excited to be leading the way in developing pioneering coating technologies for the bus and coach industry.”