British Industrial Solvents Ltd

Sectors:

  • Chemical production Basic chemicals production

Notes:

Traced origins to 1907 and diversification by Distillers Co Ltd into production of industrial alcohol through acquisition of Vauxhall Distillery at Liverpool. In 1924 acquired a controlling interest in Herbert Green & Co Ltd which had been formed in 1922 to build a major plant for distilling industrial alcohol at Saltend, Hull; this business was renamed Hull Distillery Co Ltd in c1929. Also in 1929 at Saltend, Distillers with Holzverkohlungs Industrie AG of Germany and Methylating Co Ltd formed British Industrial Solvents Ltd to build a very large chemical works at Saltend to make industrial solvents. 1930-35 acquired Solvent Products Ltd of Dagenham, its major competitor. 1941 opened factory at Kenfig, South Wales, on behalf of Ministry of Supply, for production of calcium carbide for use in explosives. Early 1950s absorbed by Distillers to become its British Industrial Solvents Division. 1967 British Petroleum acquired Distillers' chemical interests including those at Saltend, Barry, Carshalton and elsewhere, which included a half share in British Hydrocarbon Chemicals. These were then formed into BP Chemicals (United Kingdom) Ltd

Groups: