Clayton Aniline Company
Encyclopedia
The Clayton Aniline Company Ltd. was a British manufacturer of dyestuffs, founded in 1876 by Charles Dreyfus
in Clayton, Manchester.
was a French emigrant chemist and entrepreneur, who founded the Clayton Aniline Company on 29 May 1876. The company obtained a lease on a parcel of land in Clayton, Manchester, sandwiched between the Manchester and Ashton Canal
and Chatham Street (later known as Clipstone Street). With an initial share capital of £40,000 the company began production of aniline
and aniline salt.
In 1894, a brilliant young organic chemist Arthur George Green joined the company. Green had discovered the dye primuline
in 1887 and under his guidance the company rapidly expanded its range of dyes. Green left in 1901 to join a rival dye company called Levinstein.
In 1897, the company was placed into voluntary liquidation and then reformed under the same name with an issued share capital of £140,000. Max Baerlein was appointed as company chairman with Charles Dreyfus as managing director.
Chaim Weizmann
joined the company in 1905 as a part time research consultant, leaving in 1908 to pursue an academic career. Weizmann would later achieve fame through his work on bacterial fermentation and go on to become the first president of Israel.
On 1 May 1911, the Society of Chemical Industry in Basle (later known as CIBA), took control of the company and in 1913 Charles Dreyfus resigned.
and Ashton-under-Lyne
. Sylvain Dreyfus, a relative of Charles Dreyfus, perished in the Ashton-under-Lyne disaster when the Hooley Hill Rubber and Chemical Works exploded. These and other accidents prompted the Government to concentrate explosives manufacture at factories sited well away from built up areas.
The construction of a new railway line was begun in 1916, that linked the works via a bridge across Ashton New Road to the existing Stuart Street Power Station
branch line.
In September 1918, the Basle Community of Interests was formed from an alliance between Society of Chemical Industry in Basle, the Sandoz Chemical Company Ltd and J.R. Geigy SA. The agreement between the three companies allowed the sharing of research and technical resources whilst each company retained its own autonomy. Later that same year, Sandoz and Geigy each acquired a financial interest in the Clayton Aniline Company.
had given British dye producers much needed protection from cheap imports and provided an impetus to increasing the range of dyes and intermediates produced at Clayton. In 1930, an additional azo dyes plant (building 187) was completed followed in 1938 by the construction of a new vat dye
s complex (buildings 188, 189 and 190). The completion of the vat dyes project was held up by the outbreak of war in 1939.
factory (building 300) was constructed adjacent to the site for the manufacture of explosives additive Centralite I
. The company also gained an important contract to manufacture monomethylaniline used as an antiknock agent
in high octane aviation fuel. In 1941, a new aniline
plant was built with an output of around 100 tons per week. On 5 October 1942, a near catastrophe befell (building 300) when an ethylation autoclave
caught fire, which threatened the adjacent phosgenation unit. Department manager E. Shaw risked his life to disconnect and remove to safety gas cylinders filled with phosgene
, that were in danger of exploding. Shaw was awarded an MBE
in 1943 for his actions. Also commended for their bravery were J.T. Read, J. Wood and R. Dean.
dyes plant (building 75), a new laboratories block (building 80), a milling and blending plant (building 81), an intermediates plant (building 74) and a new azo dyes plant (building 48). An additional azo dyes plant (building 46) was added to the scheme in 1965 to replace (building 187). Extra warehousing was also added to the site including a new intermediates warehouse (building 71) and a new raw materials warehouse (building 50).
1964 marked the end of an era for the company with the decision to cease aniline production at Clayton. The aniline plant was demolished the following year.
At its peak in the 1970s, the site occupied over 57 acres and employed over 2,000 people. However due to the gradual demise of the British textile industry, most textile production shifted to countries such as China and India with the textile dye industry following.
CIBA merged with Sandoz in 1997 to form Ciba Speciality Chemicals, leaving Clayton as a manufacturing site for metal complex dyes for wool and nylon, and pigments used for carbonless copying and thermal printer papers.
In 2002, the company made 70 members of staff redundant and in 2004 the announcement was made that the site would be closing with the loss of over 300 jobs. A small number of staff were retained to assist in the decommissioning of the plant. The last workers left the site in 2007 and the remainder of the buildings were demolished shortly afterwards.
Charles Dreyfus
Charles Dreyfus was President of the Manchester Zionist Society, a member of Manchester City Council and a leading figure in the East Manchester Conservative Association during the time that Arthur Balfour was Member of Parliament for the constituency and Prime Minister...
in Clayton, Manchester.
Early history
Charles DreyfusCharles Dreyfus
Charles Dreyfus was President of the Manchester Zionist Society, a member of Manchester City Council and a leading figure in the East Manchester Conservative Association during the time that Arthur Balfour was Member of Parliament for the constituency and Prime Minister...
was a French emigrant chemist and entrepreneur, who founded the Clayton Aniline Company on 29 May 1876. The company obtained a lease on a parcel of land in Clayton, Manchester, sandwiched between the Manchester and Ashton Canal
Ashton Canal
The Ashton Canal is a canal built in Greater Manchester in North West England.-Route:The Ashton leaves the Rochdale Canal at Ducie St. Junction in central Manchester, and climbs for through 18 locks, passing through Ancoats, Holt Town, Bradford-with-Beswick, Clayton, Openshaw, Droylsden,...
and Chatham Street (later known as Clipstone Street). With an initial share capital of £40,000 the company began production of aniline
Aniline
Aniline, phenylamine or aminobenzene is an organic compound with the formula C6H5NH2. Consisting of a phenyl group attached to an amino group, aniline is the prototypical aromatic amine. Being a precursor to many industrial chemicals, its main use is in the manufacture of precursors to polyurethane...
and aniline salt.
In 1894, a brilliant young organic chemist Arthur George Green joined the company. Green had discovered the dye primuline
Primuline
Primuline is a dye containing the benzothiazole ring system. Primuline itself is also known as Direct yellow 7, Carnotine, or C.I...
in 1887 and under his guidance the company rapidly expanded its range of dyes. Green left in 1901 to join a rival dye company called Levinstein.
In 1897, the company was placed into voluntary liquidation and then reformed under the same name with an issued share capital of £140,000. Max Baerlein was appointed as company chairman with Charles Dreyfus as managing director.
Chaim Weizmann
Chaim Weizmann
Chaim Azriel Weizmann, , was a Zionist leader, President of the Zionist Organization, and the first President of the State of Israel. He was elected on 1 February 1949, and served until his death in 1952....
joined the company in 1905 as a part time research consultant, leaving in 1908 to pursue an academic career. Weizmann would later achieve fame through his work on bacterial fermentation and go on to become the first president of Israel.
On 1 May 1911, the Society of Chemical Industry in Basle (later known as CIBA), took control of the company and in 1913 Charles Dreyfus resigned.
World War I
The outbreak of war with Germany in 1914 led to lucrative contracts for the company including the production of 1,500 tons of TNT. The sites facilities were expanded considerably during the war including the construction a new azo dyes plant (building 183) in 1918. TNT manufacture at the plant ceased following a series of accidents at other explosives factories such as those at SilvertownSilvertown 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...
and Ashton-under-Lyne
Ashton-under-Lyne
Ashton-under-Lyne is a market town in the Metropolitan Borough of Tameside, Greater Manchester, England. Historically a part of Lancashire, it lies on the north bank of the River Tame, on undulating land at the foothills of the Pennines...
. Sylvain Dreyfus, a relative of Charles Dreyfus, perished in the Ashton-under-Lyne disaster when the Hooley Hill Rubber and Chemical Works exploded. These and other accidents prompted the Government to concentrate explosives manufacture at factories sited well away from built up areas.
The construction of a new railway line was begun in 1916, that linked the works via a bridge across Ashton New Road to the existing Stuart Street Power Station
Stuart Street Power Station
Stuart Street Power Station was a coal-fired power station situated at Bradford, Greater Manchester in North West England.-History:The station was built in 1900, and was fitted with generating equipment from companies including Babcock and Wilcox, Yates and Thom, and the Electrical Co. Ltd...
branch line.
In September 1918, the Basle Community of Interests was formed from an alliance between Society of Chemical Industry in Basle, the Sandoz Chemical Company Ltd and J.R. Geigy SA. The agreement between the three companies allowed the sharing of research and technical resources whilst each company retained its own autonomy. Later that same year, Sandoz and Geigy each acquired a financial interest in the Clayton Aniline Company.
1919 to 1939
During the inter war period the company continued to invest in new plant and products. The Dyestuffs (Import Regulation) Act 1920Dyestuffs (Import Regulation) Act 1920
The Dyestuffs Act 1920 was an Act passed by the British Parliament. It came into effect on 15 January 1921 and it prohibited all imports of dyes except for special cases for ten years, although it was subsequently extended....
had given British dye producers much needed protection from cheap imports and provided an impetus to increasing the range of dyes and intermediates produced at Clayton. In 1930, an additional azo dyes plant (building 187) was completed followed in 1938 by the construction of a new vat dye
Vat dye
Vat dyes are an ancient class of dyes, based on the natural dye, indigo, which is now produced synthetically.-Overview:The process "vat dyeing" refers to dyeing in a bucket or vat. It can be performed whenever a liquid, even shade over the entire garment is desired. Almost any dye can be used,...
s complex (buildings 188, 189 and 190). The completion of the vat dyes project was held up by the outbreak of war in 1939.
World War II
In 1940, a new Ministry of SupplyMinistry of Supply
The Ministry of Supply was a department of the UK Government formed in 1939 to co-ordinate the supply of equipment to all three British armed forces, headed by the Minister of Supply. There was, however, a separate ministry responsible for aircraft production and the Admiralty retained...
factory (building 300) was constructed adjacent to the site for the manufacture of explosives additive Centralite I
Centralite
Centralite is a gunshot residue also known as ethyl centralite. Its IUPAC name is 1,3-diethyl-1,3-diphenylurea. Ethyl centralite is insoluble in water, but is soluble in acetone, ethanol and benzene...
. The company also gained an important contract to manufacture monomethylaniline used as an antiknock agent
Antiknock agent
An antiknock agent is a gasoline additive used to reduce engine knocking and increase the fuel's octane rating.The mixture known as gasoline, when used in high compression internal combustion engines, has a tendency to ignite early causing a damaging "engine knocking" noise...
in high octane aviation fuel. In 1941, a new aniline
Aniline
Aniline, phenylamine or aminobenzene is an organic compound with the formula C6H5NH2. Consisting of a phenyl group attached to an amino group, aniline is the prototypical aromatic amine. Being a precursor to many industrial chemicals, its main use is in the manufacture of precursors to polyurethane...
plant was built with an output of around 100 tons per week. On 5 October 1942, a near catastrophe befell (building 300) when an ethylation autoclave
Autoclave
An autoclave is an instrument used to sterilize equipment and supplies by subjecting them to high pressure saturated steam at 121 °C for around 15–20 minutes depending on the size of the load and the contents. It was invented by Charles Chamberland in 1879, although a precursor known as the...
caught fire, which threatened the adjacent phosgenation unit. Department manager E. Shaw risked his life to disconnect and remove to safety gas cylinders filled with phosgene
Phosgene
Phosgene is the chemical compound with the formula COCl2. This colorless gas gained infamy as a chemical weapon during World War I. It is also a valued industrial reagent and building block in synthesis of pharmaceuticals and other organic compounds. In low concentrations, its odor resembles...
, that were in danger of exploding. Shaw was awarded an MBE
MBE
MBE can stand for:* Mail Boxes Etc.* Management by exception* Master of Bioethics* Master of Bioscience Enterprise* Master of Business Engineering* Master of Business Economics* Mean Biased Error...
in 1943 for his actions. Also commended for their bravery were J.T. Read, J. Wood and R. Dean.
Postwar
The Second World War ended in 1945 and the company began its post war reconstruction. The Centralite plant (building 300) was acquired from the Government and re-equipped as an intermediates plant and plans were drawn up for a new intermediates plant (building 151) which was completed in 1951. Other projects undertaken in the early 1950s included a new PAK-ice plant, a new power plant and a new waste gas tunnel and chimney. The company also began the removal of a chemical spoil heap nicknamed the “mucky mountain”, which was left behind by a soda ash manufacturer that previously occupied the site.1957 to 1965
In 1957, a plan was drawn up to re-build virtually the whole of the site. The project involved the construction of a new triphenylmethaneTriphenylmethane
Triphenylmethane, or triphenyl methane, is the hydrocarbon with the formula 3CH. This colorless solid is soluble in nonpolar organic solvents and not in water. Triphenylmethane has the basic skeleton of many synthetic dyes called triarylmethane dyes, many of them are pH indicators, and some display...
dyes plant (building 75), a new laboratories block (building 80), a milling and blending plant (building 81), an intermediates plant (building 74) and a new azo dyes plant (building 48). An additional azo dyes plant (building 46) was added to the scheme in 1965 to replace (building 187). Extra warehousing was also added to the site including a new intermediates warehouse (building 71) and a new raw materials warehouse (building 50).
1964 marked the end of an era for the company with the decision to cease aniline production at Clayton. The aniline plant was demolished the following year.
Later history
In 1971, CIBA and Geigy merged to form CIBA-GEIGY. The combined group retained a majority share holding in the Clayton Aniline Company with Sandoz holding the remaining 25% of the equity. CAC was allowed to continue as a separate subsidiary under the chairmanship of Sir Arthur Vere Harvey.At its peak in the 1970s, the site occupied over 57 acres and employed over 2,000 people. However due to the gradual demise of the British textile industry, most textile production shifted to countries such as China and India with the textile dye industry following.
CIBA merged with Sandoz in 1997 to form Ciba Speciality Chemicals, leaving Clayton as a manufacturing site for metal complex dyes for wool and nylon, and pigments used for carbonless copying and thermal printer papers.
In 2002, the company made 70 members of staff redundant and in 2004 the announcement was made that the site would be closing with the loss of over 300 jobs. A small number of staff were retained to assist in the decommissioning of the plant. The last workers left the site in 2007 and the remainder of the buildings were demolished shortly afterwards.