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Protal™ Liquid Epoxy Coatings Celebrate 40th Anniversary: 1986 – 2026

Winn & Coales International Ltd (WCI), leading manufacturer and supplier of corrosion prevention, waterproofing and sealing products, proudly commemorates the 40th anniversary of its Protal™ range of liquid epoxy coatings. The trusted solution for pipeline protection, Protal™ liquid coatings are high-build, fast-curing, 100% solids epoxies suitable for an array of above and below ground corrosion prevention applications.

At the time of the product line’s acquisition in 1986, Protal was already a highly regarded and well-established range of liquid coatings. To further strengthen WCI’s portfolio, the group of companies acquired ‘Protal Coatings’ to complement their renowned range of corrosion prevention tapes.

In line with the company’s mission to implement a continuous program of improvement and innovation, WCI’s North American subsidiary responded to market demand in the 1990’s with the development of Protal 7200™—an advanced two-part liquid epoxy coating designed to complement factory-applied Fusion Bond Epoxy (FBE) coatings. To this day, Protal 7200 remains the signature product of the Protal series  and is a popular choice for owner groups and contractors worldwide conducting pipeline protection, maintenance and rehabilitation work.

In response to EU and UK REACH regulations, the eminent choice of Protal coating for domestic customers is the specially formulated Protal 7300™ (UK). Offering excellent gouge, abrasion and impact resistance, this moisture tolerant pipeline coating was reformulated to comply with both EU and UK laws regarding the manufacture and supply of chemical substances, in addition to offering improved brushing characteristics for the user during application. The product is approved for use by the UK’s multinational utilities company and features in their National Grid Coatings Register in multiple product groups (9, 9c and 10).

As of 2026, Protal’s popularity continues to endure, establishing itself as the go-to solution for pipeline and critical infrastructure protection due to its ease of use, durability, and excellent substrate adhesion and coverage.

WCI Group Chair, Chris Winn, said, “As we commemorate forty years of Protal™ liquid coatings, we celebrate a journey defined by innovation and resilience. This milestone underscores our unwavering commitment to advancing corrosion prevention technologies and providing solutions bearing a name that our customers know and trust. Looking ahead, our continued investment in research and development ensures we can respond to consumer demand and remain at the forefront of manufacturing sustainable solutions for an evolving commercial landscape.”

For further information on our range of liquid epoxy coatings, click here.

The F.B. Coales No.4 (Family) Trust: Recent Charity Donations

Winn & Coales International Ltd. (WCI) and the F.B. Coales No.4 (Family) Trust are diligently continuing their mission to enrich and empower the lives of individuals and groups in need in our local communities. Over the last year, the Trust donated over £238,000 towards 41 good causes. Read on to discover the stories behind a few of these donations…

Firstly, who are the Trust, and what do they do?

The F.B. Coales No.4 (Family) Trust was set up many years ago by the late Frank Coales, who was then Chair of the company. The Trust now has three trustees – Chris Winn, John Burton and Sarah Hashmi – and is a registered charity (no. 1179856).

The Trust meet regularly to consider all applications made to them for contributions to charitable endeavours and fundraising efforts. The Trust help many charities and good causes in Southeast London and Kent, as a way of giving back to the communities in the vicinity of the company’s head office.

 
The Big Cat Sanctuary

Premier Coatings Ltd. (PCL) and the F.B. Coales Trust donated £50,000 to the Big Cat Sanctuary’s ‘Big Cats in Crisis’ fundraising appeal.

The registered animal charity looked to raise £500,000 to rescue five African lions from Ukraine and rehome them in a new purpose-built facility in the UK. As long-time neighbours and sponsors of the sanctuary’s conservation efforts, PCL and the Trust were delighted to lend their support.

All five lions were safely evacuated and are now settling into their new home in the Kent countryside. You can read more about this incredible story by clicking here.

Strongbones

Strongbones Children’s Charitable Trust (www.strongbones.org.uk) provide multiple levels of support to children, young people and their parents and carers to help enrich their lives through inclusion, stimulation, inspiration and education.

In July 2024, PCL and the Trust were delighted to receive confirmation that a local young man called Fenton was already reaping the benefits of the portable gantry hoist that had recently been delivered to him. Portable hoists are a vital piece of equipment that provide the correct level of postural support to safely lift and move people who may no longer be safely manually lifted. The hoist has provided Fenton and his family with an essential aid to help with his daily living and movement requirements.

Liquid Listening

Formed in 2010, Liquid Listening (www.liquidlistening.org) enhances the health and well-being of disabled children and young people through the practice of music hydrotherapy and is the only charity of its kind in the UK.

Music hydrotherapy combines the benefits of traditional hydrotherapy relief with unique technology that enables participants to listen to soundwaves in the water. Each session promotes both full-body and mind relaxation that encourages positive mental wellbeing through engagement with music in a soothing, all-encompassing way.

WCI and the Trust contributed towards the delivery of music hydrotherapy training for eight members of staff at a local specialist school in Crayford, Southeast London. The school’s swimming teachers, physiotherapists and teaching assistants can now safely deliver musical hydrotherapy as part of the school’s curriculum, directly benefiting current pupils and future enrolees.

Lifelites @ Demelza

Sarah Hashmi visited Demelza SEL (www.demelza.org.uk) – a children’s charity and hospice in Eltham, Southeast London – in January 2025 to view the sensory equipment supplied by Lifelites (www.lifelites.org).

Providing cutting-edge assistive and sensory technology, specialist training, and full maintenance support to children’s palliative care services throughout Britain and Ireland, Lifelites are long-time supporters of Demelza. With the help of a generous donation from the F.B. Coales Trust, Lifelites were able to provide the hospice with the following equipment:

Eyegaze – revolutionary eye tracking technology: Empowering children to take control and make life-changing connections just through the movement of their eyes. Eyegaze is fully portable, enabling children to communicate, play and learn at the hospice or within the comfort and security of their own home.

PODS – sensory tents with adaptive environments: Our portable, inflatable sensory tents come with changeable themes, remote controlled internal lighting, complementing sound effects, and a matching audiobook. Perfect for the children we support to enjoy moments of adventure or calming environments.

Sarah was able to witness firsthand the difference these innovative technologies make to not only the children and young people who use them, but to their families and the palliative care teams as well.

Deen City Farm

A country oasis in the heart of the London Borough of Merton, Deen City Farm (www.deencityfarm.co.uk) is one of the oldest urban farms in the capital. The charity focuses upon educating adults and children about the rural environment and animal husbandry, providing work experience, volunteering opportunities and educational activities for their local community. The farm also features a riding school that offers accessible riding lessons for people of all abilities, at subsidised prices.

WCI and the F.B. Coales Trust were impressed with the wide range of opportunities provided by the farm to educate individuals about a world usually found beyond the busy metropolitan environment. The Trust have therefore committed to sponsoring the farm’s ‘Schools Programme’ and ‘Annual Youth Volunteering Programme’ for the next 3 years, ensuring local children and young people – from all walks of life – can benefit from the unique learning experiences on offer.

Asthma Relief

After an initial donation in 2023 which afforded the Asthma Relief team the chance to supply 11 nebulisers to medical establishments across South London, WCI and the Trust made a second donation in 2024, worth £2,000, to fund the purchase of 11 more nebulisers.

Nebulisers deliver high doses of medicine quickly and easily by converting it from liquid form into a fine mist. The mist is then breathed in through a facemask or mouthpiece to provide relief from respiratory diseases or disorders.

In 2024, Asthma Relief (www.asthmarelief.org.uk) were able to place the new nebulisers between 3 medical establishments across South London, including Guys Hospital in Southwark and Lewisham University Hospital.

Lewisham Donation Hub

The Lewisham Donation Hub (www.lewishamdonationhub.org) is a ‘multi-bank’ – they provide food, toiletries, clothing, household items and digital devices to those in need in the London Borough of Lewisham and neighbouring postcodes. Ran by an enthusiastic team of volunteers – many of whom started as users of the service themselves – the multi-bank provides invaluable support to families on low incomes, the elderly, people with disabilities, and individuals facing (or fleeing) challenging circumstances at home or abroad.

The Trust have donated £5,000 to this vital service to help towards ongoing operational costs including the purchase of spare parts for fixable household items donated to the charity and the procurement of basic food and toiletries for distribution to visitors of the service.

If you would like to find out more about the F.B. Coales Trust and some of the previous donations it has made, read more by clicking here.

FB Coales Trust Blog Post PCL
John Burton, Sarah Hashmi and Steve Crawley (l-r) standing in front of a large wooden sign featuring the words 'Lion Rescue Centre' in white and orange writing.

The grand opening of the lion rescue centre

Strongbones

fenton using his new portable gantry hoist

Lifelites Demelza

sarah hashmi learning about pods sensory tents

Lifelites Demelza 2

sarah testing out eyegaze technology at demelza sel

Deen City Farm

deen city farm in the london borough of merton

Asthma Relief

nebulisers delivered to university hospital lewisham

Ribbon cutting ceremony marks the grand opening of the ‘Premier Coatings Small Cat Rescue Centre’

Earlier this year, colleagues from Premier Coatings Ltd. (PCL) were proud to attend the grand opening of The Big Cat Sanctuary’s newest purpose-built habitat: the Premier Coatings Small Cat Rescue Centre.

The Big Cat Sanctuary’s ‘Cats in Crisis’ appeal was launched at the beginning of 2026 with the aim of raising £100,000 to help fund the rescue of Ursa, a Eurasian lynx, from war-torn Ukraine and build a brand-new home for her and other small cats at The Big Cat Sanctuary in Kent. Ursa, who was malnourished and underdeveloped when she was found, had been kept illegally as a pet before she was removed to a rescue centre in Kyiv. Whilst now being cared for by professionals, she urgently required a more permanent rescue and given the chance to thrive in a new home that offered a peaceful and enriching environment for her.

PCL and the F.B. Coales No.4 (Family) Trust share a long history of supporting their neighbours at The Big Cat Sanctuary. After hearing of Ursa’s plight, PCL and the Trust were thrilled to once again lend their support with a donation of £50,000—half of the campaign’s target. Once combined with donations from other sponsors and the public, the ‘Cats in Crisis’ campaign far surpassed its original fundraising goal, reaching a total of £135,000 in under one month. In recognition of their generous donation, The Big Cat Sanctuary officially named the new habitat in honour of Premier Coatings Ltd.

The Premier Coatings Small Cat Rescue Centre was formally opened on Thursday 23rd July, with Steve Crawley, PCL Managing Director, and Mrs Jane Ashton DL, Deputy Lieutenant of Kent and the former High Sheriff of Kent, cutting the ribbon. The centre provides Ursa, now rescued from Ukraine, and three other small cats at the Sanctuary (Rhys, another Eurasian lynx; Blob, a bobcat; and Boson, a fishing cat) with their own uniquely designed habitats, allowing each cat to thrive in a place they can permanently call home. PCL colleagues, friends and family were thrilled to view the new facility first-hand and witness this momentous occasion for the Sanctuary.

On opening the new centre, Steve Crawley said, “Our feline friends have provided companionship, entertainment, and a unique talking point. It therefore seems only right that they should have a safe, comfortable, and purpose-built space of their own.”

Sarah Hashmi – a trustee of the F.B. Coales No.4 (Family) Trust – commented, “I was impressed and delighted to see Premier’s name in such a prominent place, not just on a small commemorative plaque. The new enclosures are stunning and I look forward to a future visit to see how they have all settled into their new homes. Another lovely, well organised event on a beautiful summer’s day.”

On behalf of everyone at PCL and the F.B. Coales Trust, we’d like to offer our sincerest congratulations to the whole team at The Big Cat Sanctuary and wish the small cats the very best for the future in their new home.

For further information on this campaign and other fundraising efforts, please visit The Big Cat Sanctuary’s website, here: https://thebigcatsanctuary.org/

PCL Attend the Grand Opening of the ‘Lion Rescue Centre’

Premier Coatings Ltd. (PCL) were delighted to attend the grand opening of the Lion Rescue Centre at the Big Cat Sanctuary (BCS) in Smarden. The opening of the new purpose-built facility on March 25th marked the successful culmination of the charity’s ambitious efforts to rescue five African lions from Ukraine and rehome them here in the UK.

The BCS’s ‘Big Cats in Crisis’ appeal was launched in 2024 with the aim of raising £500,000 to help fund the rescue of the four female lionesses and one male lion. The big cats had suffered greatly from debilitating physical and neurological ailments and had been housed in highly unsuitable living conditions during, and prior to, the outbreak of war in the country. The small but dedicated team at Wild Animals Rescue Centre in Kyiv helped with the initial rescue of each of the lions and provided temporary shelter whilst a more permanent solution was found.

As long-time sponsors of the sanctuary’s conservation efforts, PCL and the F.B. Coales No.4 (Family) Trust offered their support with a total donation of £50,000 – which combined with donations from other sponsors and the public, helped the ‘Big Cats in Crisis’ campaign to reach its fundraising goal.

The Lion Rescue Centre was formally opened by BCS staff and esteemed guests including their newly appointed Managing Director, Cam Whitnall; the Ukrainian ambassador to the UK, General Valerii Zaluzhnyi; and BCS Ambassador Paul Hollywood. The centre now provides each lion with their own individually tailored space, allowing them to recuperate in a safe, calming environment that meets their unique needs. PCL and the F.B. Coales Trust were thrilled to be invited to the grand opening to view the facility and the rescued lions up close, along with viewing some of the other impressive felines also housed at the sanctuary.

Attending the opening day, Steve Crawley – Managing Director, PCL – said, “We are delighted to support such a worthy cause and support our neighbours. The team at PCL are motivated in the knowledge that their endeavours contribute not only to the business purposes of the company but also the charitable purposes of the trust.”

Also in attendance, Sarah Hashmi – a trustee of the F.B. Coales No.4 (Family) Trust – commented, “The dedication and love for these amazing animals was clear to see from talking to members of staff involved with their rescue and rehabilitation. The enclosures and centre are stunning, and the lions looked incredibly chilled despite the numerous photographers and visitors. It was a pleasure to help such a worthy cause, and I look forward to future visits.”

Fellow trustee John Burton noted, “After consulting with my fellow trustees, we all enthusiastically agreed to donate to the Big Cats in Crisis campaign. It was fantastic to see the Big Cat Sanctuary reach their fundraising goal and a pleasure to attend the opening of the impressive new habitat that they have constructed.”

On behalf of everyone at PCL and the F.B. Coales Trust, we’d like to offer our sincerest congratulations to the whole team at the Big Cat Sanctuary and wish the lions the very best for the future in their new home.

For further information on the campaign and to discover the story behind each lion’s rescue, please visit The Big Cat Sanctuary’s website here: https://thebigcatsanctuary.org/big-cats-in-crisis/

PCL and F.B. Coales Trust Make £25,000 Donation to ‘Big Cats in Crisis’

Premier Coatings Ltd. and the F.B. Coales No.4 (Family) Trust have donated £25,000 to The Big Cat Sanctuary’s ‘Big Cats in Crisis’ appeal to help rescue five African lions from Ukraine.

Since the invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, the ongoing conflict has turned the entire country into a war zone. The damage and distress caused by continued fighting in the region has taken its toll on so many – including the four female lionesses and one male lion that The Big Cat Sanctuary, working alongside the International Fund for Animal Welfare, are on a mission to rescue.

Kept in captivity prior to the outbreak of war, the lions were found to be suffering from a range of devastating symptoms including disease, shell shock and malnourishment, and residing in wholly unsuitable living conditions for predators of their size. Rescued by the small but dedicated team at Wild Animals Rescue Centre in Kyiv, The Big Cat Sanctuary is now looking to remove all five lions from Ukraine and provide safe passage and temporary shelter elsewhere in Europe, before permanently housing them in a new purpose-built facility at the charity’s premises in Smarden, Kent.

The Big Cat Sanctuary is a registered animal charity (Reg. Charity No. 1104420) focused upon the conservation of endangered cats worldwide. Premier Coatings Ltd. is a proud sponsor and neighbour of the sanctuary and, with the help of the F.B. Coales No.4 (Family) Trust, were delighted to lend their support to this important and time-critical campaign to provide help to these big cats in crisis.

The Big Cat Sanctuary has currently raised £300,000 but needs further help to reach its target of £500,000 and to achieve its goal of rescuing the five African lions. If you would like to donate to the appeal, or find out more information about the campaign, please visit The Big Cat Sanctuary’s website here: https://thebigcatsanctuary.org/big-cats-in-crisis/

WCI@140 Photo Competition – And the winner is…

Back in October 2023, our parent company launched the Winn & Coales 140th Anniversary Photo Competition as a way of drawing their 140th year to a triumphant close and inviting you to become a small part of that celebration.

Firstly, on behalf of WCI, we would like to thank everyone who entered. We were thrilled at the response from our customers and online followers and want to thank you all for joining in our celebrations.

So, with the competition now closed, who are the lucky winners?! In descending order…

Third place – Vipan K. from Botswana!

Vipan shared a brilliant photo of CPT Tape™ which had been applied on a water pipeline project in Botswana. The unique perspective displayed in the photograph showcases the extremely professional and tidy tape application as the pipe waits to be lowered into the trench.

Second place – Richard R. from South Africa!

Richard was one of our first entries into the competition and set a high standard for the many that followed with this Archco 403D™ application during a petrochemical plant’s shutdown in September in South Africa. This unique shot was taken inside the water storage tank that Richard and his team had blast-cleaned and coated in only 11 days!

And finally, our winner, in first place, is – TAMS Group from Australia!

The TAMS Group submitted this incredible photo of a SeaShield 2000FD™ System application during pile remediation works in Western Australia. Our judges were extremely impressed with this truly unique shot, which spotlights an often-unseen perspective of pile repair and maintenance taking place below the water line.

We’re sure you will agree that all three of our winners submitted excellent photos that are extremely worthy of their placements.

Once again, we would like to thank everyone for their participation and helping Winn & Coales International Ltd. to celebrate its 140th anniversary!