Brunner Mond
Encyclopedia
Tata Chemicals Europe is a UK-based chemical
s company that is a subsidiary of Tata Chemicals Limited
, itself a part of the India-based Tata Group
. Its principal products are soda ash, sodium bicarbonate
, calcium chloride
and associated alkaline chemicals.
. They built Winnington
Works in Northwich
, Cheshire
and produced their first soda ash in 1874.
In 1911 it acquired soap and fat manufacturer Joseph Crosfield and Sons
and Gossage
, another soap company that owned palm
plantations. A few years later it sold the soap and chemical businesses to Unilever
.
In 1917, the company's TNT factory in Silvertown, London exploded
having caught fire.
In 1924 Brunner Mond acquired the Magadi Soda Company of Kenya
and in 1926 Brunner Mond was one of the four main companies – along with British Dyestuffs Corporation
, Nobel's Explosives Limited, and the United Alkali Company
– which took part in the merger which created the massive industrial combine Imperial Chemical Industries
(ICI). Alfred Mond – son of Ludwig and Chairman of Brunner Mond's – was a key figure along with Harry McGowan of Nobel's in bringing this merger about. The Brunner Mond business was absorbed into the Alkali Group of ICI, becoming one of the largest and most successful companies in the world (ICI acquired Crosfield and Gossage's chemicals business from Unilever in the 1997.) The Alkali Group's name changed over time, becoming the Alkali Division in 1951, then merging with the Runcorn
-based General Chemicals Division in 1964 to form Mond Division, and finally becoming the Soda Ash Products group of ICI Chemicals and Polymers from 1986 until divestment.
During the early 20th century the company built managers' and workers' houses in nearby Hartford
.
In 1991 Brunner Mond Holdings Limited was formed by the break-off of the UK and Kenyan soda ash businesses from ICI. This saw the return of the Brunner Mond name to the stock market but was unrelated to the original enterprise in all but name. In 1998 the company acquired the soda ash production capabilities of Akzo Nobel
in The Netherlands to form Brunner Mond B.V., now a wholly owned subsidiary company of the group.
Brunner Mond acquired British Salt
, a Cheshire-based brine company, in 2010 for an undisclosed amount, in a vertical acquisition aimed at securing the supply chain and creating synergies through reduced transportation costs.
Brunner Mond was purchased by Tata Chemicals in 2006. In April 2011 Brunner Mond was re-branded as Tata Chemicals Europe.
Chemistry
Chemistry is the science of matter, especially its chemical reactions, but also its composition, structure and properties. Chemistry is concerned with atoms and their interactions with other atoms, and particularly with the properties of chemical bonds....
s company that is a subsidiary of Tata Chemicals Limited
Tata Chemicals
Tata Chemicals Ltd is a Tata Group Company based in Mumbai. The company is one of the largest chemical companies in India with significant operations in India and Africa.-Plant locations:*Mithapur *Babrala *Nanded...
, itself a part of the India-based Tata Group
Tata Group
Tata Group is an Indian multinational conglomerate company headquartered in Mumbai, Maharashtra, India. Tata Group is one of the largest companies in India by market capitalization and revenue. It has interests in communications and information technology, engineering, materials, services, energy,...
. Its principal products are soda ash, sodium bicarbonate
Sodium bicarbonate
Sodium bicarbonate or sodium hydrogen carbonate is the chemical compound with the formula Na HCO3. Sodium bicarbonate is a white solid that is crystalline but often appears as a fine powder. It has a slightly salty, alkaline taste resembling that of washing soda . The natural mineral form is...
, calcium chloride
Calcium chloride
Calcium chloride, CaCl2, is a salt of calcium and chlorine. It behaves as a typical ionic halide, and is solid at room temperature. Common applications include brine for refrigeration plants, ice and dust control on roads, and desiccation...
and associated alkaline chemicals.
History
The original company was formed as a partnership in 1873 (becoming a limited company in 1881) by John Brunner and Ludwig MondLudwig Mond
Dr Ludwig Mond , was a German-born chemist and industrialist who took British nationality.-Education and career:...
. They built Winnington
Winnington
Winnington is a small, mainly residential area of the town of Northwich in Cheshire, England.-Industry:Winnington is the home to Brunner Mond UK chemical works, where soda ash is created. Polythene, the material used in many plastic items , was first made at the chemical works by R.O. Gibson and...
Works in Northwich
Northwich
Northwich is a town and civil parish in the unitary authority of Cheshire West and Chester and the ceremonial county of Cheshire, England. It lies in the heart of the Cheshire Plain, at the confluence of the rivers Weaver and Dane...
, Cheshire
Cheshire
Cheshire is a ceremonial county in North West England. Cheshire's county town is the city of Chester, although its largest town is Warrington. Other major towns include Widnes, Congleton, Crewe, Ellesmere Port, Runcorn, Macclesfield, Winsford, Northwich, and Wilmslow...
and produced their first soda ash in 1874.
In 1911 it acquired soap and fat manufacturer Joseph Crosfield and Sons
Joseph Crosfield
Joseph Crosfield was a businessman who established a soap and chemical manufacturing business in Warrington, which was in the historic county of Lancashire and is now in the ceremonial county of Cheshire...
and Gossage
Gossage
Gossage is a family name of soapmakers and alkali manufacturers. Their company eventually became part of the Unilever group. During World War II, all soap brands were abolished by British government decree in 1942, in favour of a generic soap...
, another soap company that owned palm
Palm oil
Palm oil, coconut oil and palm kernel oil are edible plant oils derived from the fruits of palm trees. Palm oil is extracted from the pulp of the fruit of the oil palm Elaeis guineensis; palm kernel oil is derived from the kernel of the oil palm and coconut oil is derived from the kernel of the...
plantations. A few years later it sold the soap and chemical businesses to Unilever
Unilever
Unilever is a British-Dutch multinational corporation that owns many of the world's consumer product brands in foods, beverages, cleaning agents and personal care products....
.
In 1917, the company's TNT factory in Silvertown, London exploded
Silvertown explosion
The Silvertown explosion occurred in Silvertown in West Ham, Essex on Friday, 19 January 1917 at 6.52 pm. The blast occurred at a munitions factory that was manufacturing explosives for Britain's World War I military effort...
having caught fire.
In 1924 Brunner Mond acquired the Magadi Soda Company of Kenya
Kenya
Kenya , officially known as the Republic of Kenya, is a country in East Africa that lies on the equator, with the Indian Ocean to its south-east...
and in 1926 Brunner Mond was one of the four main companies – along with British Dyestuffs Corporation
British Dyestuffs Corporation
British Dyestuffs Corporation Ltd was a British company formed in 1919 from the merger of British Dyes Ltd with Levinstein Ltd. The British Government was the company's largest shareholder, and had two directors on the board....
, Nobel's Explosives Limited, and the United Alkali Company
United Alkali Company
United Alkali Company Limited was a British chemical company formed in 1890. Producer of soda ash by the Leblanc process and used in the glass, textile, soap, and paper industries. It became one of the top four British chemical companies merged in 1926 with Brunner Mond, Nobel Explosives and...
– which took part in the merger which created the massive industrial combine Imperial Chemical Industries
Imperial Chemical Industries
Imperial Chemical Industries was a British chemical company, taken over by AkzoNobel, a Dutch conglomerate, one of the largest chemical producers in the world. In its heyday, ICI was the largest manufacturing company in the British Empire, and commonly regarded as a "bellwether of the British...
(ICI). Alfred Mond – son of Ludwig and Chairman of Brunner Mond's – was a key figure along with Harry McGowan of Nobel's in bringing this merger about. The Brunner Mond business was absorbed into the Alkali Group of ICI, becoming one of the largest and most successful companies in the world (ICI acquired Crosfield and Gossage's chemicals business from Unilever in the 1997.) The Alkali Group's name changed over time, becoming the Alkali Division in 1951, then merging with the Runcorn
Runcorn
Runcorn is an industrial town and cargo port within the borough of Halton in the ceremonial county of Cheshire, England. In 2009, its population was estimated to be 61,500. The town is on the southern bank of the River Mersey where the estuary narrows to form Runcorn Gap. Directly to the north...
-based General Chemicals Division in 1964 to form Mond Division, and finally becoming the Soda Ash Products group of ICI Chemicals and Polymers from 1986 until divestment.
During the early 20th century the company built managers' and workers' houses in nearby Hartford
Hartford, Cheshire
Hartford is a village and civil parish in the unitary authority of Cheshire West and Chester and the ceremonial county of Cheshire, England. It lies at the intersection of the A559 road and the West Coast Mainline and is less than south west of the town of Northwich...
.
In 1991 Brunner Mond Holdings Limited was formed by the break-off of the UK and Kenyan soda ash businesses from ICI. This saw the return of the Brunner Mond name to the stock market but was unrelated to the original enterprise in all but name. In 1998 the company acquired the soda ash production capabilities of Akzo Nobel
Akzo Nobel
Akzo Nobel N.V., trading as AkzoNobel, is a Dutch multinational, active in the fields of decorative paints, performance coatings and specialty chemicals. Headquartered in Amsterdam, the company has activities in more than 80 countries, and employs approximately 55,000 people. Sales in 2010 were EUR...
in The Netherlands to form Brunner Mond B.V., now a wholly owned subsidiary company of the group.
Brunner Mond acquired British Salt
British Salt
British Salt Limited is a United Kingdom-based chemical company that produces pure white salt. The company is owned by the management and private equity company LDC...
, a Cheshire-based brine company, in 2010 for an undisclosed amount, in a vertical acquisition aimed at securing the supply chain and creating synergies through reduced transportation costs.
Brunner Mond was purchased by Tata Chemicals in 2006. In April 2011 Brunner Mond was re-branded as Tata Chemicals Europe.