Atlas Chemical Co
Atlas Chemical Company, chemical manufacturers of Widnes
About 1872 James Hargreaves and Thomas Robinson, an iron-founder, invented a process and plant for making salt-cake from salt without using sulphuric acid.
1873 They set up the Atlas Chemical Company, Widnes, to make salt-cake and hydrochloric acid by Hargreaves's method. Hot gases from pyrites burners, mixed with steam, were passed over small blocks of moulded salt, a process which worked successfully for many years
1888 Mr T Robinson, who was a director of the company as well as of the Liver Alkali Works was to be a director of the British Patent Portland Cement Co Ltd[1] formed to purchase the rights to a new type of Portland cement made from caustic lime mud to the patent of Mr John S. Rigby and build works at Widnes and St. Helens[2].
1890 the works were absorbed by the United Alkali Co
1896 Atlas Works closed[3]
1918 the last Hargreaves–Robinson salt-cake plant closed.
See Also
Sources of Information
- Biography of James Hargreaves, ODNB, [2]