This year marks an incredible milestone for International Paints in Gateshead as they celebrate 120 years of operation from their historic site on the banks of the River Tyne. Over the past century, this chemical plant has evolved dramatically, yet it remains a site to behold. In its early days, wooden paint barrels were rolled down the hill to waiting barges and boats on the river—a testament to the site’s rich industrial heritage.

Today, the process looks quite different. Instead of rolling barrels down to the river, GBA Logistics, through our Seaham depot, now handles the transportation of these products to destinations across Europe and beyond. Our vehicles carry shipments to countries like Spain, the Netherlands, Germany, Sweden, Italy, and even as far as Turkey. For global destinations, our Global division steps in, using Ocean Freight to ensure International Paints’ products reach customers all around the world.

To commemorate this special anniversary, International Paints organized a family fun day at their Gateshead site. The event was nothing short of spectacular, featuring a variety of food outlets, waltzers, a carousel, dodgems, and plenty of entertainment for attendees. The site was closed to production on Saturday to allow employees and their families to fully enjoy the celebration.
We were honoured when International Paints reached out to GBA Logistics, inviting us to position one of our vehicles onsite as part of the event. Our truck was displayed alongside their onsite fire engine, allowing kids and families to explore the vehicles as part of a ‘site tour’. Of course, we eagerly accepted the invitation!

This collaboration not only underscored how valued we are by our customer, but also highlighted the importance of teamwork and family values within our organisation. It was a wonderful opportunity to demonstrate the strong bond between GBA Logistics and International Paints, and to contribute to the success of their 120-year celebration.

We are proud to share some feedback from our valued customer, Heather Plunkett, Logistics Manager at International Paints:

“A huge thank you to Kev, Andrew, Nichola, and David from GBA for making our 120-year site celebration so special. We have received lovely feedback from guests and employees, praising how professional they all were. THANK YOU from everyone at International Paint!” 

At GBA Logistics, we are committed to fostering strong relationships with our clients and delivering exceptional service. We look forward to continuing our partnership with International Paints for many more years to come.