Norman Hay - A story of "Entrepreneurial Innovation"

Norman Leslie Stephen Hay was born in London in 1910 and educated at the London School of Economics. The Group that bears his name had very humble beginnings in a converted house and workshop in Putney, London.

Early pioneering

During the war years Norman Hay worked as the Managing Director of Monochrome - a company which specialised in "hard chromium plating" a process which Norman had personally pioneered.

During the war Norman worked closely with many famous names in the industry to bring engineering solutions to the war effort. His applications of hard chrome to the rockers on Rolls Royce Merlin engines used in Spitfires massively increased engine service lives.

Together with George Dowty, Norman also worked to develop hard chrome plating techniques for the split forks on the landing gear of Lysander aircraft and hard chrome blades for the revolutionary jet engine so famously designed by Sir Frank Whittle. 

Developing a pedigree of expertise

Post-war, Norman Hay built a specialist electro-plating and hard anodising business near London's Heathrow airport and named the company Norman Hay Ltd. This business became very successful over the years and purchased Coventry based Montgomery Plating - a long established business grown out of people drawn together at the Rootes Group Aircraft factory during World War II.   

60 years later...

By the start of the 21st century the Norman Hay Group was headquartered in Coventry UK. Acquisitions and organic growth have since made the Group world leaders in specialist chemicals, sealants and coatings with a focussed strategy on global growth backed by exceptional customer service built on a focus for delivering solutions to customers' operational needs.  

Today's legacy...

The Group's success has been built on continually pioneering innovation in new techniques, technologies and solutions, to ever emerging new customer requirements. It now offers a growing portfolio of world class branded products. 

The Group has developed and supported its staff - a feature which has generated exceptional expertise and loyalty. We believe our customers have benefited from this, through our excellence in quality, care and service performance - hallmarks that we believe today differentiates our business in a global market.