BASF’s productivity paint brand R-M is celebrating its century-long success story through a range of activities planned in 2019.

The North American International Auto Show (NAIAS) in Detroit marked the beginning of the centenary year celebrations for R-M. The company presented a special video that traced the crucial milestones through which the brand was able to contribute to and develop the automotive refinish industry.

Fred Rinshed and Herbert Mason, two friends, established the R-M firm in 1919 in Detroit. The brand has become global and has been influencing the automotive refinish industry through major innovations ever since.

R-M, now a BASF brand, chooses to focus its efforts on making the economic success of its customers. The company strives to continuously improve its products, services and processes, besides making them more user-friendly, to help vehicle painters enhance their long-term productivity and success. It invites its customers to look back at the milestones of the company’s history. The motto for the celebration is “Being successful means being innovative.”

In a release by the company, R-M says that thanks to a pioneering spirit and major innovations, the brand has always made a significant contribution to the development of the automotive sector.

Post the event at Detroit, R-M will continue its celebrations with several other activities. It is to put up an exhibition at the location of its first European plant established 50 years ago, the international R-M Refinish Competence Center in Clermont-de-l’Oise (France). The exhibition will show how its products and colour expertise have developed. The event will also have exhibits that showcase the brand’s history.

R-M Best Painter Contest, scheduled to be held this year, will focus on digital development in paint training in addition to promotion of young talent. The brand wishes to share its experiences with its customers globally.

Throughout the year, the brand will celebrate the centenary year on its website basfrefinish.com, as well as on social media with the hashtag #rmpaint100yo.