Imperial Chemical Industries

Imperial Chemical Industries. It was a major British chemical company and a significant force in global industry for much of the 20th century. Formed through a merger of leading British chemical firms, it became a symbol of national industrial prowess and a pioneer in research and development. Its eventual breakup and acquisition marked the end of an era for British manufacturing.

History

The company was created in December 1926 through the merger of four major British chemical companies: Brunner Mond, Nobel Industries, the United Alkali Company, and British Dyestuffs Corporation. This consolidation, championed by figures like Sir Alfred Mond, was a strategic response to competition from large foreign entities like IG Farben of Germany and DuPont in the United States. Its early growth was rapid, establishing major facilities at sites like Billingham and Wilton. During World War II, it played a crucial role in the British war effort, producing essential materials such as explosives, synthetic fuels, and lightweight materials for aircraft like the de Havilland Mosquito. The post-war period saw significant expansion, including the development of new polymers like polyethylene and the acquisition of businesses such as the paint manufacturer British Paints. However, from the 1980s onwards, it faced increasing global competition and began a process of divestment, selling major divisions like its pharmaceutical business to Beecham in 1987. The remaining company was acquired by the Dutch conglomerate Akzo Nobel in 2008, which subsequently sold most of its assets, including the paints division to PPG Industries.

Operations and products

Its operations spanned a vast range of chemical engineering and manufacturing. A core activity was heavy inorganic chemicals, including the production of soda ash, chlorine, and ammonia from plants at Runcorn and Teesport. It was a world leader in the invention and production of plastics, most notably pioneering high-pressure polyethylene, trademarked as **Alkathene**, and developing polyester resins. The company's Paints division, operating under the famous Dulux brand with its iconic Old English Sheepdog mascot, was a market leader in decorative coatings. Other significant product lines included industrial explosives, initially derived from the Nobel Industries heritage, agricultural chemicals like fertilizers and pesticides, and specialty chemicals for diverse industries. It also had a substantial presence in pharmaceuticals for several decades, before this division was spun off.

Corporate affairs

For decades, it was a constituent of the FT 30 and later the FTSE 100 Index, representing a blue-chip industrial investment. Its headquarters, the imposing Imperial Chemical House on Millbank in London, overlooking the Thames, was a physical symbol of its corporate stature. The company was known for its paternalistic employment model, providing extensive housing, social clubs, and healthcare for workers in its company towns, such as those near its Billingham works. Its research and development was centralized at major facilities like the Wilton research centre and the Runcorn laboratory, which were hubs for scientific innovation. Following its acquisition, its remaining legal entity was maintained briefly within AkzoNobel before being dissolved.

Legacy and impact

Its legacy is profound in the history of British science and industry. It is credited with numerous groundbreaking innovations, including the discovery of **polyethylene** by chemists at its Wilton works in 1933 and the development of the **Haber-Bosch process** for ammonia synthesis in the UK. The company's breakup is often cited as a key moment in the deindustrialization of the United Kingdom and the decline of its domestic chemical sector. Many of its former research sites and manufacturing plants, particularly on Teeside and in Cheshire, remain important chemical industry clusters, now operated by successor companies like CF Industries and SABIC. The **Dulux** brand remains a globally recognized name in paints.

Notable people

Key figures in its founding and leadership included **Sir Alfred Mond**, its first chairman, and **Harry McGowan**, the architect of the merger who later became chairman. Renowned scientists who worked for the company include **Sir John Anderson**, who oversaw wartime production, and research chemists like **Michael Perrin**, who was involved in early polyethylene work. **Sir John Harvey-Jones**, a charismatic later chairman, became a well-known business troubleshooter and television personality through the series *Troubleshooter*. Other notable employees encompassed a future Prime Minister, **Harold Wilson**, who worked as an economist for the company in the 1940s.

Category:Chemical companies of the United Kingdom Category:Companies established in 1926 Category:Companies disestablished in 2008