This month Venator’s Birtley facility celebrated its 100th anniversary.
The facility, which opened in 1918, produces a range of metal carboxylate and zinc additives for the paints, coatings, inks and cosmetics industries.
David Chisholm, Manager of Venator’s Birtley facility said: “We have a long and proud history of manufacturing at Birtley, so it was a fantastic opportunity to be able to celebrate our milestone with everyone who works here.
“It really is a tremendous achievement and testament to our success that we are marking 100 years here at Birtley.”
Phil Wrigley, Vice President, EHS and Manufacturing Excellence, said: “Reaching a 100th anniversary is a huge milestone. With our manufacturing facility at Birtley, our white pigments facility at Greatham and our global headquarters located at Wynyard, this achievement serves to highlight our longevity, success and commitment to the North East of England.”
About Venator’s Birtley facility
The 28 acre facility at Mary Avenue, Birtley, employs 31 associates and produces a range of metal carboxylate and zinc additives for the paints, coatings, inks and cosmetics industries.
History
1918 Ouseburn Trading Company formed to deal in raw materials for the paint industry
1920 Zinc Oxide manufacturing started
1929 Ouseburn Trading Company changed its name to Newcastle Zinc Oxide Co
1930 Transfer of premises to Birtley
1947 Name changed to Durham Chemicals Ltd.
1948 Joint 50/50 sales company Durham Raw Materials established with Harrisons & Crosfield
1952 Nuodex Ltd established as a 50/50 company with Nuodex Inc.
1967 Durham Chemicals Group became part of Harrisons & Crosfield.
1970 New laboratories opened in Birtley
1971 Purchases of Haagen Chemie BV by Durham Chemicals Group
1975 M.D. Curwen purchased by Durham Chemicals Ltd, which bought the 50% of Nuodex Ltd owned by Tennecco Inc. the successors to Nuodex Inc.
1980 Durham Raw Materials and Nuodex Ltd absorbed into Durham Chemicals Ltd.
1982 Manufacturing of Anhydrous Aluminium Chloride production started at Birtley
1984 Harrison & Crosfield acquired the remaining share capital of Durham Chemicals Group
1985 Durham Chemicals Group Ltd. acquired the assets of Durham Chemicals Ltd. and changed its name
1985 Luzenac Talc Sales Ltd. dissolved.
1987 Sales of Durham Chemical Distributors Ltd. to Hays Group
1989 Harcros Chemical Group formed
1991 Chemlok business sold to Henkel
1993 Driers and stearates business sold to Akcros – the 50/50 joint venture between Harrison & Crosfield and Akzo Nobel
1994 Driers business reverted back to Durham Chemicals Ltd.
1996 Stearates manufacturing stopped
2014 Huntsman Corporation acquired the Rockwood and Sachtleben business.
2017 Venator (formerly part of Huntsman) separately listed on the New York Stock Exchange.
2018 Birtley’s 100th anniversary
