Associated Ethyl Co
Associated Ethyl Co, makers of fuel additives, of 20 Berkeley Square, London.
Also known as Associated Octel Co.
A joint venture owned by BP, Shell and other oil majors
1928 The British Government set up an inter-departmental committee to enquire into the health effects of the use of lead tetra-ethyl as a petrol additive; all supplies of lead tetra-ethyl were imported from USA where it was made[1]
c.1928 Cdr F. R. Banks joined Anglo-American Oil Co's Ethyl Petrol section to develop fuels for the British entrants for the Schneider Trophy[2].
1930 The Ethyl Gasoline Co of the USA set up Ethyl Export in the UK to sell leaded gasoline overseas[3].
1938 Name changed to Associated Ethyl Co. ICI began manufacture of tetraethyl lead; a French affiliate was established.
ICI built the British Ethyl Works near the Hayle Power Station, taking electricity and waste hot water from the station.
1939 See Aircraft Industry Suppliers
1940 Factory completed at Northwich, to produce anti-knock compounds for aircraft fuel, just in time for the Battle of Britain, alleviating the need to import from USA[4].
Postwar: The anti-knock additives activity for aviation fuel was transferred from ICI to the Associated Ethyl Company, a joint venture of a number of oil companies[5], Shell, BP, Texaco, Mobil and Chevron.
1948 Dr R. O. Gibson, co-inventor of polyethylene, after working on anti-knock compounds for aircraft fuel, left ICI and joined Associated Ethyl to set up the research department[6].
1954 New Ellesmere Port works were built for the company
1957 Advert: maker of anti-knock compounds containing tetra-ethyl lead, as well as other chemicals including bromine and compounds, sulphuric acid, ethyl chloride, etc. Manufacturing at Ellesmere Port and Northwich (Cheshire), Amlwch (Anglesey), Hayle (Cornwall). Research and testing facilities at Ellesmere Port and Bletchley[7].
1961 Name changed to Associated Octel.
1972 Associated Octel was developing a lead trap for cars, under licence from USA[8].
1974 Government tests showed that lead traps reduce lead emissions by about 70%, based on prototypes developed by Associated Octel in conjunction with TI and Texaco[9].
1982 2800 employees in UK. Advert publicised the lead filter which could reduce emissions of lead by 90%[10].
Successor company: Innospec[11].
See Also
Sources of Information
- ↑ The Times Mar. 1, 1928
- ↑ The Times, 14 May 1985
- ↑ The shadows of consumption: consequences for the global environment, by Peter Dauvergne
- ↑ The Times, 29 September 1982
- ↑ Biography of Dr R. O. Gibson, ODNB [1]
- ↑ The Times, 28 July 1983
- ↑ The Times, 4 July 1957
- ↑ The Times, 27 January 1972
- ↑ The Times, 21 October 1974
- ↑ The Times, 29 September 1982
- ↑ Innospec [2]
- Octel at Amlwch [3]