Michael Harding Art Formulas Ltd
#MoreThanManufacturing
From Bedroom Batches to British National Treasure
In Michael Harding Art Formulas鈥 milestone 40th year, Michael himself sits down with Adelphi Manufacturing鈥檚 Dean Willis, to discuss the global phenomenon his business has become, and the stages of growth which got him there鈥
A Relationship of Trust:
> 30 Years’ Collaboration
After purchasing his first tubes from Adelphi Group Chairman Stephen Holroyd in 1983, Michael first met Sales Director Dean in 1993, when increasing demand for his paints meant that the manual filling and crimping output was no longer sufficient.
鈥淚 started the business in my bedroom, with batches of 15-20 tubes, and only 20 colours!鈥 remembers Michael.
Investing in an early Centrac filling machine was 鈥渁 huge step forward, almost like getting electricity鈥, he laughs, whilst the FCC manual tube closer enabled him to crimp one tube every 3 seconds; a significant improvement. He takes the time to show Dean the original equipment; now a little careworn but still fully operational almost 30 years later!
鈥淪maller scale machinery is vital, as it鈥檚 what enables businesses like mine to get going.鈥
Above Left: The manual FCC Tube Closer, which Michael purchased from Adelphi Manufacturing in 1986.
Below Right: The TGM E250Matic, purchased from Adelphi Manufacturing in 2021, which now infeeds,
orientates, fills, double-crimps and outfeeds up to 8,000 tubes per day.
Global Growth – “A Small Empire!”
Now with over 350 colours in his portfolio, a global reputation for the very highest quality, and endorsement from the likes of Damien Hirst and David Hockney, Michael鈥檚 business boasts 14 dedicated employees, and exports to over 30 countries worldwide.
Michael鈥檚 Production Engineer Jon Slatter laughs 鈥渋t鈥檚 a small empire 鈥 we鈥檙e taking over the world!鈥
The business was even featured in the prestigious Parliamentary Review (2016/17), which recognised nationally leading businesses of 鈥渙pportunity and aspiration鈥, introduced by then-Prime Minister the Rt Hon Theresa May MP.
鈥淭he finest quality oil paint鈥
David Hockney 鈥 One of the most influential artists of the 20th century, and an important contributor to the 1960s Pop Art movement.
鈥淏eautifully honest paints, for the beautifully honest act of painting鈥
Chris Ofili 鈥 Turner Prize winner.
鈥淭hese are the best oil paints in the world鈥
Sir Howard Hodgkin 鈥 A celebrated British painter, whose work is most often associated with Abstract art.
Automation Enables Exponential Expansion
Within the past five years, Michael Harding Art Formulas has invested in additional automation, to further increase production capacity as demands continue to grow…
TGM S400 鈥 At a Glance:
- Fully automatic, filling Oil Paints into 40ml, 60ml, 225ml tubes.
- Exceptional output of 45 per minute at Michael Harding Art Formulas.
- 5,000 tubes of two colours are now being fully processed per day (infeed, sensor, orientation, filling, double-crimping and outfeed), including stripping and cleaning time.
- When filling one colour per day, the output would be 鈥渆asily 8,000 per day鈥, says John.
- 316L stainless steel 鈥榳etted鈥 parts ensure durability and long service life, as the parts are cleaned using a Kerosene mix in between colours!
- Production Engineer Jon says of the service they receive
- 鈥淲henever I have a query Dean gets back to me, he鈥檚 good as gold!鈥
- Additional air-assisted rams on the upward stroke of the filling piston, due to the thickness of the oil paint.
TGM E250Matic 鈥 the Most Recent Investment:
- Fully automatic, filling watercolours into 15ml tubes.
- Machine operator Leigh Carrick says聽 – 鈥渋t鈥檚 really reliable. It puts a smile on your face to see it running so well聽 鈥 it鈥檚 rare to get a problem now.鈥
- With recipe recall, Lee says it鈥檚 鈥渁 user-friendly interface. I don鈥檛 really have to touch any of it now,鈥 which saves a great amount of time getting each different fill set-up and running.
Meticulous Craftsmanship
Michael is now the only manufacturer in the world who creates the Stack Lead White colour using a technique dating back to 4,000BC! This involves 鈥渟uspending lead strips over vinegar, and burying beneath horse manure for a period no less than 3 months.鈥 Clients value the premium, proven quality of Michael鈥檚 colours, which enable their artistic aspirations to be realised more fully than a lesser quality product.
Adelphi Manufacturing subscribes to much the same philosophy, manufacturing and supplying only the highest quality machinery and equipment, made from premium quality materials such as 316L pharmaceutical grade stainless steel. Both companies are differentiated in their respective industries by the standards which they uphold in their craftsmanship.
Michael鈥檚 newest machines are now running 8 hours per day, 5 days per week, producing highly accurate and consistent fills, which are verified by his in-house check-weighing process. For both Michael and Dean, reliability, consistency and quality are key.
A Traditional Approach, for Enduring Appeal
Both Michael Harding Art Formulas and Adelphi Manufacturing are celebrating milestone anniversaries in 2022; 40 and 75 years respectively. Revelries are being planned by both businesses, with Michael releasing 40 new watercolours to celebrate his 40 years in business, and Adelphi Manufacturing hosting a programme of celebratory events in support of their Charity of the Year 鈥 Martlets Hospice.
Michael and Dean have a shared interest in the preservation of company history, and each fondly archives the most significant artefacts from their respective businesses. With Adelphi Manufacturing鈥檚 on-site historical displays growing weekly, and Michael鈥檚 plans to establish a museum with his pieces, it鈥檚 fair to say that an appreciation for tradition is highly valued.
This extends to the traditional values with which each company conducts their business. Michael describes the trust he has in Dean and Adelphi Manufacturing鈥檚 team, as a result of their complete after-sale care and servicing back-up. 鈥淲e haven鈥檛 received this with all companies!鈥 he says, before adding 鈥渟ometimes it takes a month or two of using a machine before you realise a feature that could make things more convenient. I know I can always speak to Dean and he will find a solution.鈥
Dean and Jon discuss a potential convenience improvement for the TGM E250Matic (right).
#MoreThanManufacturing
The Verdict
鈥淲e鈥檇 obviously recommend the machines. If someone walked in the door today,
we鈥檇 show them our tube fillers!鈥 says Michael.
Watch Michael Harding’s TGM tube filling machines in-action, filling and
