British Aluminium Co Ltd

Sectors:

  • Basic metals production Aluminium production

Notes:

Established 1894 as British Aluminium Co Ltd. 1895-6 opened works using hydro electricity power at Falls of Foyers (closed 1967). 1909 second plant opened at Kinlochleven and a third at Lochaber, Fort William, in 1929. Bauxite extraction works opened at Larne, Northern Ireland, and later outside the UK, and rolling mills acquired, inter alia, at Milton, Staffordshire. Developed rapidly to become leading UK producer in particular opening extensive plant in Scotland and processing plant in Midlands. 1940s and 1950s acquired substantial overseas operations. 1949 acquired Aluminium Corp Ltd. 1958 acquired by Tube Investments Ltd (TI) and Reynolds Metal Co of USA in what was known in City of London as Aluminium Wars. 1971 opened a very large smelter at Invergordon with substantial government assistance but was unsuccessful and closed in 1981. 1982 merged with Alcan Aluminium (UK) Ltd to become wholly owned by Alcan of Canada as British Alcan Aluminium Plc. 1996 sold to syndicate of institutional investors as British Aluminium Ltd

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