Founded in 1973 and part of the AkzoNobel family, the world-renowned Awlgrip® brand is celebrating its 50th anniversary with activities throughout the year.

AkzoNobel is marking the 50th anniversary of its world-renowned Awlgrip® brand with activities throughout the year to celebrate how it has become synonymous for unrivalled quality and performance with an amazing high-gloss finish among professionals and boat owners worldwide.

Awlgrip originated out of an Aerospace coating, Alumigrip, in 1973. The evolution of Awlgrip has been defined by a restless spirit of innovation to meet the changing boat-building technologies, repair and application processes, being ahead of regulatory changes, and to deliver an extensive colour palette that meet consumer demand and expectations.

Jemma Lampkin, Global Commercial Director at AkzoNobel Yacht Coatings, concludes: “Trusted for over five decades, Awlgrip can rightfully lay claim to being the world’s leading professional yacht paint. To reach this milestone is a real testament to the dedication, professionalism and passion of all applicators and boatyards who have devotedly applied Awlgrip products on boats of all sizes and helped shape the brand over the last 50 years.

“As a result, we wanted to take a moment to highlight these achievements and pay tribute to all those who have made and continue to make Awlgrip what it is today and tomorrow. We are excited to showcase all the passion that Awlgrip applicators, boatyards, and owners share when they look at the boat with that amazing finish that Awlgrip continues to deliver.”

Awlgrip HDT

A dedicated webpage on Awlgrip.com (click here) charts the history of the brand and unearths the fascinating hidden stories behind its evolution. One story reveals that the product was initially conceived to be spelled ‘Allgrip’, but a transcribing accident saw it referred to as Awlgrip, with the name sticking.

Over the five decades since its inception, the Awlgrip range has expanded to encompass finishes, primers, fillers and varnishes, becoming a world-class brand that can be found in almost every port and country around the globe. Its market presence is reinforced by industry-leading sales and technical teams that educate and support applicators, builders and boaters the world over. 

Its superlative finish, against which all other yacht coatings are measured, has seen it earn the truly unique accolade of becoming a verb with proud customers referring to having their boats “Awlgripped”.

Activity around the celebrations will include amplification of technical and customer support across our social media and digital channels, with promotional activity at key fall boat shows such as Sanctuary Cove International Boat Show in Australia, Monaco Yacht Show, METSTRADE in the Netherlands and Fort Lauderdale International Boat Show in the US.

It will also highlight the years of innovation that have delivered game-changing products, including the industry-leading finish Awlgrip Topcoat, Awlwood, Awlfair Spray Filler, Awlgrip HDT and the new Awlcraft 3000 topcoat, alongside testimonials from leading industry figures.

Awlgrip’s historic Fighting Lady Yellow

These include Tim Oenbrink, General Manager of Merritt Supply, who tells the story of selling the first can of Awlgrip topcoat with a custom yellow colour for the sport fish boat Fighting Lady, and how Merritt Supply and Awlgrip work together to provide premium products and support to applicators.  

“AkzoNobel’s YPAC training centre has been and continues to be of real benefit to us as a business,” Oenbrink says. “As well as countless customers, we send every single one of our sales employees there to learn.”

Joe Mains, another key industry figure and founder of Gold Coast Marine, says: “We’ve had a great experience with Awlgrip. When you first start out as a business owner, you want to surround yourself with manufacturers and products that you rely on. Awlgrip has been there for us for 38 years and helped us become what we are today.”

www.awlgrip.com/fifty-years