W. R. Grace
W. R. Grace and Company, a US company; its British subsidiary was Grace Brothers Ltd
1854 Company founded in Peru by William Russell Grace; the company was in the food business/a shipping business.
1914 Established the Grace National Bank. Sent the first commercial vessel through the newly constructed Panama Canal.
1937 The board of Grace Brothers and Co decided not to continue the banking business in Britain. W. R. Grace and Co of USA planned to establish an organisation in Britain to handle their business here and also their steamship representation[1].
1954 Acquired Davison Chemical Company and Dewey & Almy Chemical Company, and its subsidiary Dalex Ltd, establishing the basis for catalysts, packaging, silicas, and construction product lines. Davison Chemical had been the first to produce silica gel commercially; had introduced a range of nickel catalysts for organic synthesis and chemical production in 1926, and had produced the world’s first synthetic fluid cracking catalysts for petroleum refining.
1962 Half of group profits come from chemicals. The group also had extensive food manufacturing interests, including chocolate in South Africa. Announced plans for a programme of acquisitions
1963 Acquired the Van Houten Chocolate Company of the Netherlands and the associated but independent British company of similar name, Van Houten.
1966 Sold the polybutenes plant at Baglan Bay to British Hydrocarbon Chemicals[2].
1982 Automotive Division, Cromwell Road, St Neots, Huntingdon.
The early 2000s was a challenging period for the company, including a Chapter 11 reorganization related to legacy asbestos claims.
See Also
Sources of Information
- The Times February 23, 1963
- [1] Company website