A Century in the coatings Business

History of Passonno Paints

In 1920, Fred Passonno began working in a small paint store in Troy, NY before joining the Benjamin Moore Company of New York as manager of Eastern Regional Sales.  After a transfer to Cleveland, he became General Manager of Benjamin Moore’s Midwest Division where he obtained the experience required to operate a paint factory.  In 1926, Fred formed the Passonno Hutcheon Company, with manufacturing facilities in Cleveland OH, Troy NY, and Boston MA, and sold paint under the OLO (Old Linseed Oil) label.  Shortly thereafter, Fred and his three sons purchased the James Roy Woolen Mill, located on the banks of the Hudson River in Watervliet NY, where they began manufacturing paint under the Passonno Paints label. 

As the saying goes, to make good butter cookies, you need to use enough quality butter.  Since its beginning, Passonno Paints has followed this philosophy in making high-quality surface coatings, at first in small batches and then in high-capacity tanks and mixers.  As the company grew, it began to produce oil and latex paints in 1,000-gallon batches.  As technology changed, the company devoted its research and development to formulas incorporating 100% acrylic latex into its products and began creating long-lasting paints that were vastly superior to the old linseed oil paints.  

In the 1970’s, DuPont approached Passonno Paints to distribute the technical, multi-component epoxy and urethane coatings that were part of Dupont’s Performance Coatings business, which would later be sold and re-branded as Axalta.  Since then, we have been training employees in the highly technical aspects of industrial coatings and partnering with our clients to supply them with lasting, asset protecting solutions for their business.  From its initial partnership with DuPont, Passonno Paints has grown to become one of the largest suppliers of industrial coatings to manufacturers, contractors and commercial customers in the Capital Region.

Throughout its nearly 100 years in business, Passonno Paints has operated out of its factory location in Watervliet NY, proudly serving the community that has supported the family business for four generations.  The company continues to offer a full spectrum of architectural and industrial coatings, including its namesake line which includes 100% acrylic latex house paints and premium alkyds for marine and metal applications.  Passonno Paints is also the Capital Region’s largest Premiere Authorized Dealer of PPG products and distributor of Axalta high-performance industrial coatings.

Please visit our factory store where one of our experts can help you find the best solution for your next job.

Richard B. Cunningham

President and CEO

Passonno Paints