Steetley Magnesite Co
Magnesite (magnesium carbonate) had been identified as an important refractory raw material and, in the absence of any native source of natural magnesite,
Steetley Co spent a number of years developing a stabilised dolomite brick as a substitute for magnesite refractories. Commercial production of such dolomite bricks began in 1937 and concurrently Steetley made a major effort in research and development to produce magnesia from sea- water and dolomite.
1937 Steetley set up a subsidiary company to operate a seawater magnesia plant at Hartlepool
1940 Another plant was built for the Government at Harrington in Cumberland.
Steetley emerged from the Second World War as a leading producer of dolomite and magnesia and of refrac- tories using these two materials. It continued to expand in this field in close collaboration with the steel industry during the 1950s and 1960s, acquiring similar dolomite interests in Canada in 1952. 4.5. Changing processes in steel-making created a demand for high purity magnesia which could not then be produced from dolomite and in 1963-64 Steetley became a partner in a scheme to produce such magnesia from sea- water and high purity limestone which was available near the sea in Sardinia. 4.6. Disposal of dolomite unsuitable for refractory use as road stone and fill gave Steetley an interest in construction materials, which it extended in 1964 by the acquisition of Alan S Denniff Ltd, whose principal business was ready-mixed concrete, and Jas Turner and Son Ltd who produced aggregates, mainly sand and gravel. In 1969 Steetley took over Dowlow Lime and Stone Company Ltd and moved into the market for limestone for purposes unrelated to the containment of heat. Concurrently it diversi- fied into the distribution of industrial and electrical supplies in Canada
1952 Company incorporated
1978 Renamed Steetley Construction Materials Ltd