History - BASF in the UK

December 2024, BASF milestone reached in Flue2Chem project. As part of the Flue2Chem consortium, BASF developed a novel catalyst and process that have the potential to unlock a number of applications for the production of ethanol based on the sustainable utilisation of captured CO2.

November 2024, BASF celebrates 75 years of operations at the Widnes site.

October 1, 2024, BASF’s Automotive OEM and Refinish Coatings businesses in the UK separated into a newly established legal entity BASF Coatings UK Limited, its registered office at 4^th & 5^th Floors, 2 Stockport Exchange, Railway Road, Stockport, SK1 3GG, England.

In March 2024, BASF in UK was awarded Inclusive Employers Standard Bronze Accreditation.

On February 2, 2024, BASF’s ScienceXperience at Chemetall Ltd, Bletchley was officially launched by The Mayor and Mayoress of Milton Keynes, Councillor Mick Legg and Mandy Legg. ScienceXperience is an in-house learning facility designed to encourage primary school children to study STEM subjects (Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths.

On 26 September 2023, a £1.8m consumables warehouse on the Isle of Lewis was officially opened. The new warehouse provides much needed storage capacity to support growth development plans at BASF Pharma (Callanish) Ltd.

In May 2023, BASF and Imperial College London together with industry partners were awarded a Prosperity Partnership by the EPSRC, part of UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) for Innovative Continuous Manufacturing of Industrial Chemicals (IConIC).  IConIC’s 5 year plan looks to advance flow chemistry, a production technique that could potentially revolutionise chemical manufacturing. Research aims to address pressing chemical industry challenges such as achieving net zero and supply chain resilience.

In June 2022, BASF plc was awarded Silver Status by the Carbon Literacy Project, a Manchester-based non-profit organisation.

October 2021 saw the launch of ScienceXperience, an on-site interactive science resource for young students from the local community, at BASF Metals Recycling Ltd, Cinderford.

June 30, 2021, BASF closed the divestiture of its global pigments business to the fine chemical company DIC following the fulfillment of clearance conditions. The purchase price on a cash and debt-free basis is €1.15 billion.

November 9, 2020, Registered office for BASF plc, BASF Pharma (Callanish) Ltd, BASF Agricultural Specialities Ltd and BASF Colors & Effects UK Ltd changed to 4^th & 5^th Floors, 2 Stockport Exchange, Railway Road, Stockport, SK1 3GG, England.

September 30, 2020, BASF closed the divestiture of its Construction Chemicals business to an affiliate of Lone Star, a global private equity firm.

July 1, 2020,  BASF Construction Chemicals (UK) Limited took over the Construction Chemicals business of BASF plc pending completion of its sale to an affiliate of Lone Star, a global private equity firm.

February 2020, BASF is the first Carbon Literate Organisation in the UK chemical sector. Working with The Carbon Literacy Project, BASF has developed an accredited, company specific course which allows participants to be certified as ‘Carbon Literate’.

On January 28,  Christophe Cazabeau, Senior Vice President Surface Treatment of BASF,  officially opened Napier House, the new Chemetall Limited office and laboratory in Bletchley, Milton Keynes.

On January 17, we announced that we would be  moving our UK headquarters from Cheadle to Stockport town centre later in 2020, after signing to take 21,500 sq ft at 2 Stockport Exchange

2019

December 21, 2019, BASF and an affiliate of Lone Star, a global private equity firm, signed an agreement on the sale of BASF’s construction chemicals business.

On June 4, BASF and siHealth Ltd, a UK emerging company in the health care industry, announced their strategic alliance, including an equity investment. This alliance allows BASF to exclusively market scientifically-based satellite and optronic technologies to the personal care industry globally.

On February 25, we launched ScienceXperience, a new learning facility designed to encourage primary school children to study STEM subjects (Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths), at our production site in Alfreton, Derbyshire. 60 students from Forest View Academy in New Ollerton were the first to take part in the ScienceXperience.

On February 1, BASF and Solenis completed the transfer of BASF’s paper wet-end and water chemicals business to Solenis.  The combined business will operate under the Solenis name and offer increased sales, service and production capabilities across the globe. With pro forma sales of around €2.4 billion in 2017 and approximately 5,200 employees, the combined company is positioned to provide an expanded product portfolio and cost-effective solutions for paper and water treatment customers. BASF will hold a 49% share, 51% of the shares will be held by funds managed by Clayton, Dubilier & Rice and the Solenis management.

The transaction included production sites and plants of BASF’s paper wet-end and water chemicals business in Bradford and Grimsby.  

BASF retained part of the Bradford site in Dealburn Road, which Dispersions and additives produced at the Bradford site are used as dispersants, thickeners and speciality components in paints, inks and coatings that are applied in various industries such as automotive, furniture, printing and cosmetics. The site is managed by the BASF business unit Dispersions & Resins. It has an excellent safety and environmental footprint.

2018

On May 18 a new anionic polyacrylamide powder production facility at the Bradford site was opened by the MP for Bradford South, Judith Cummins. This investment strengthened the role of the Bradford site for Anionic Polyacrylamide (APAM) production at BASF. It will manufacture high performance products for the oilfield market.

On May 2 BASF and Solenis signed an agreement to join forces by combining BASF’s paper wet-end and water chemicals business with Solenis. The goal is to create a customer-focused global solutions provider for the industry. BASF will hold a 49% share of the combined entity that will operate under the Solenis name. The transfer includes production sites and plants of the paper wet-end and water chemicals business in Bradford and Grimsby. Pending approval by the relevant authorities, closing is anticipated for the end of 2018 at the earliest.

BASF Colors & Effects UK Limited began operations on February 1. BASF Colors & Effects is one of the leading manufacturers of colored and effect pigments for the coatings, plastics, printing and cosmetics industry

2017

In June a new warehouse to help service high market demand for the Omega-3 fatty acids produced at Callanish was opened by Angus MacNeil, MP for h-Eileanan an Iar. Highlands and Islands Enterprise, which owns the Callanish site, invested £2.8m in the project.

2016

In December BASF completed its acquisition of Albemarle’s global surface treatment business, Chemetall. This included a UK sales office and laboratory in Bletchley, near Milton Keynes. In the same week we completed the sale of our Industrial Coatings business to Akzo Nobel. This included the UK manufacturing site in Deeside.

In November a new Kids’ Lab at our Bradford site was officially opened by Judith Cummins, MP for Bradford South. The Kids’ Lab programme at Bradford is run by 40 BASF volunteers and over 130 schools, 4000 pupils and around 380 teachers have been to the site over the years to see for themselves how science positively impacts their everyday life.

In April a new world-scale bio-acrylamide production facility was commissioned at our site in Bradford. This major investment will help to ensure the long term future of one of the UK’s largest chemical manufacturing facilities, which employs around 600 people. Bradford is a BASF production hub for polyacrylamides, used as water-soluble flocculation aids in industrial and municipal wastewater treatment, enhanced oil recovery, mineral processing and papermaking.
 

In February BASF and AkzoNobel reached a general agreement on the sale of the industrial coatings business of BASF’s Coatings division to AkzoNobel for €475 million. The transaction would include the transfer of the dedicated production site in Deeside.

At the beginning of January Richard John Carter was appointed Vice President in charge of BASF’s UK/Ireland Unit and Managing Director of BASF companies in the UK and Ireland. Richard, who was born in Yorkshire, had previously spent all of his 31-year career in the chemical industry outside the UK. Since 2008, he had been based in Germany as Vice President, Global Key Account Management for BASF’s Home & Personal Care Business in Europe & Asia Pacific.

2015
In December, as part of an asset swap, BASF subsidiary Wintershall transfered its share in Wingas UK Limited and Wingas Storage UK Limited to Gazprom. This included the gas storage site at Saltfleetby in Lincolnshire.
 

In November the former pigment production site in Paisley was sold to a purchaser intending to apply for planning permission for residential development.
 

The opening of our expanded Littlehampton production site in October, strengthened our ability to sustainably meet the growing global demand for biological solutions for agriculture and horticulture.
 

Installation of new high-performance milling and decanning equipment at our Cinderford precious metal recycling operation more than doubled the plant’s capacity.

On January 1, BASF Coatings Limited and BASF Performance Products Limited were consolidated into BASF plc

2014

Pigment production at our site in Paisley ceased at the end of the year.

BASF Polyurethanes U.K.Limited was consolidated into BASF plc on July 1.

Approximately 50 jobs lost were lost at Cinderford as BASF Metals Recycling focused on autocatalyst recycling. 

The assets and business of BASF UK Limited were transferred to BASF plc on January 1.

2013

BTC Speciality Chemical Distribution Limited was consolidated into BASF plc.

In October we informed employees that we intended to close our pigment plant in Paisley, Scotland, by the second half of 2015.
 

Becker Underwood Ltd. became BASF Agricultural Specialities Limited on August 1.

2012

In May, BASF acquired Equateq Ltd, a manufacturer of concentrated omega-3 fatty acids. Alex Salmond, Scotland’s First Minister, opened the expanded plant on the Isle of Lewis.

Engelhard Metals Limited renamed BASF Metals Limited. Engelhard International became BASF Metal Forwards Limited.

BASF acquired Becker Underwood, global leader in seed-applied biological products for the agricultural sector. Manufacturing in Littlehampton.

2011

Engelhard Sales Ltd. became BASF Metals Recycling Limited, with a new, improved site at Cinderford.

BASF Construction Chemicals Limited became part of BASF plc.

Following BASF’s acquisition of Cognis, we established BASF UK Ltd. to handle sales of Care Chemical products. The former Cognis site in Hythe was sold to Geo Speciality Chemicals.

2010

Cognis UK Limited acquired by the BASF Group.
 

BASF Performance Products plc established to run former Ciba plants in the UK. Maclesfield office closed.
 

Elastogran UK Limited became BASF Polyurethanes U.K. Limited.

2009

Ciba UK plc became part of the BASF Group. We acquired sites in Macclesfield, Bradford, Grimsby and Paisley.

BASF acquired Sorex Limited, a manufacturer of pest control solutions. The Widnes site became part of BASF plc.

2008

The BASF House opened at the Creative Energy Homes Project at the University of Nottingham.
 

BASF plc’s Seal Sands site sold to INEOS Nitriles.
 

BASF co-sponsored The Science of Survival exhibition at The Science Museum in London.

2007

BASF sold animal nutrition businesss in eight countries to Nutreco, an animal feed group headquartered in the Netherlands. Sale included Frank Wright Limited animal nutrition premix business in Ashbourne.

2006

Coatings Refinish moved from Didcot to Deeside.

Degussa’s global construction chemicals business acquired, with production sites at Swinton and Redditch. BASF Construction Chemicals (UK) Ltd. established.

Engelhard Corporation acquired along with UK subsidiaries Engelhard Sales Ltd. and Engelhard Metals Ltd.

2005

Wingas Storage UK Ltd. established to develop gas storage at Saltfleetby.

BASF Venture Capital GmbH invested in Plastic Logic Ltd., Cambridge, one of the leading companies in the field of printable electronics.

BASF and Shell Chemicals completed the sale of their 50-50 joint venture Basell to Nell Acquisitions.

2004

BASF Printing Systems, including Slinfold and Huyton sites, sold to CVC Capital Partners.

Management buy out of Cramlington pharma active ingredients site.

Wingas established UK subsidiary, Wingas UK Limited.

WINGAS GmbH (WINGAS) bought ”Saltfleetby“, the largest onshore natural gas field in the UK, for £44

million.

2001

BASF pharma operations sold to Abbott Laboratories, Including the new global headquarters in Pall Mall,

London and pharmaceutical sales in Nottingham. The Knoll R&D building in Nottingham was donated to Nottingham Trent University for use as biomedical innovation centre BioCity Nottingham.

May 16 an explosion and fire caused by equipment failure destroyed large parts of the superabsorbents

plant in Birkenhead. Production suspended and in June we decided not to reopen the site.

R-M Automotive Refinish Limited ceased to be a separate company and became part of BASF Coatings Refinish Limited.

In a major internal reorganisation of BASF in Europe, the UK & Ireland became one of eight Business

Centres promoting regional synergies spanning business units and supporting market development.

BASF tapes logo finally disappeared from retail shelves in the UK.

2000

New £7 million ink varnish manufacturing plant opened in Slinfold.

Wintershall sold Wintershall (U.K.) Limited and Wintershall Exploration (U.K.) Limited to Highland Energy Limited.

BASF acquired the agricultural business of American Home Products Corporation. BASF and Cyanamid UK’s agricultural businesses merged.

Acquisition of US-based Chemdal included a superabsorbents plant in Birkenhead.

Coil coatings business on Deeside, formerly Hyrdro Coatings, became BASF Coatings Limited. Automotive OEM and Refinish businesses, formerly known as BASF Coatings Limited, became BASF Coatings Refinish Limited.

Dr Wolman, a German timber preservative manufacturer owned by BASF since 1980, set up a new UK division, based in Slinfold.

1999

New state of the art petfood premix plant opened at Ashbourne.

Coil coatings production site on Deeside part of acquisition of Norsk Hydro coil coatings business.
Indigo manufacturing plant at Ellesmere Port closed because of downturn in world market.
 

Elenac, Targor and Montell merged into a polyolefins joint venture named Basell. Included site at Carrington.

Marketing of carpet fibres transferred to Richards of Aberdeen.

Textile dye operations merged into DyStar, a 50-50 joint venture between Bayer AG and Hoechst AG.

BASF plc’s printing plate business integrated with BASF Printing Systems Limited’s Liquid Inks business at Huyton.

Knoll Pharmaceuticals ceased trading at the end of the year. Manufacturing sold to BASF plc and R&D to Knoll Limited.

1998

New 75mw CHP (Combined Heat & Power) Plant, built by National Power, opened at BASF plc’s Seal Sands site.

Knoll MicroCheck, part of the business acquired from Boots in 1995, merged with Knoll’s biocides business to form BASF MicroCheck Limited. The new company was responsible for global marketing of BASF’s biocide products.

Automotive OEM business of BASF Coatings moved from Wolverhampton to Didcot.

BASF Computer Services (UK) Limited was formed to provide computer services to BASF companies in the UK.

BASF and Shell formed Elenac, a joint polyethylene venture. Elenac U.K. Limited established a sales office in Cheadle and Elenac U.K. Manufacturing Limited operated the former Shell plant at Carrington.

1997

On Jan 1st BASF sold its worldwide magnetic tapes business to the KOHAP Group of South Korea. BASF plc represented new owners, Emtec, in the UK until the end of 1997.

BASF Coatings + Inks Limited restructured into BASF Coatings Limited (Automotive OEM, Automotive Refinish, Container Coatings, Electrical Insulation and Industrial Coatings) and BASF Printing Systems Limited (Oil Inks and Liquid Inks).

BASF established Targor, a joint venture with Hoechst, for polypropylene operations, including the production site at Wilton.

130 employees moved from the former Zeneca site at Blackley to a new textiles research and development centre in Cheadle.

Coatings manufacturing in Wolverhampton closed. Industrial Coatings moved to Didcot.

Palatal polyester resin joint venture with DSM began trading from Deeside.

BASF Coatings + Inks sold Container Coatings business to PPG Industries.

BASF acquired the surfactants business of PPG, which was subsequently handled by Cheadle Colour & Chemicals Limited.

Dr Beck wire enamel business sold to Schenectady International.

Knoll MicroCheck, specialist biocidal chemical business acquired from Boots in 1995, moved to new £2 million headquarters at Ruddington.

Wintershall Exploration (U.K.) Limited formed to explore for oil and gas in the UK Continental Shelf area.

1996

BASF acquired Ashbourne-based Frank Wright Limited, a leading manufacturer of animal feed premixes and vitamins.

BASF acquired the Textile Colours business of Zeneca plc, including indigo manufacturing at Ellesmere Port.

Knoll Pharmaceuticals moved to a new headquarters building at St. Nicholas Court, Nottingham.

1995

BASF acquired Boots Pharmaceuticals with sites at Nottingham and Cramlington.

Major fire at Wilton destroyed a warehouse containing polypropylene.

Elastogran opened ozone-friendly pentane blending facility at Alfreton.

BASF plc head office transferred, from Wembley to Cheadle. Wintershall (U.K.) Limited moved from Wembley to Wimbledon.

1994

BASF plc opened new Sales & Technology Centre in Cheadle. Agricultural Division moved from Hadleigh to Cheadle.

Acquired ICI’s polypropylene business, including production and compounding at Wilton on Teesside.

Automotive Refinish Division moved from Wolverhampton to Didcot.

Wintershall acquired substantial assets in the southern North Sea. Reactivated UK business, based in Wembley.

1993

COMPAREX Information Systems Limited ceased trading following Hitachi’s decision to restructure its European sales operation

1992

BASF Coatings + Inks reorganised, concentrating on three main sites – Slinfold, Wolverhampton and Huyton. Container Coating ink production moved from Bilston to Wolverhampton.

Wintershall’s oil trading business transferred to Switzerland.

£7 million upgrading of Slinfold resin plant. Dr Beck wire enamel manufacturing transferred from Hamburg to Slinfold.

1991

BASF plc sponsored charity concert at the Barbican, attended by the Princess Royal, raised £52,000 for Save The Children.

Purpose built plant for processing isocyanates opened at Alfreton. Polyol component blending facilities and catalyst plant expanded.

Automotive Refinish Division of BASF Coatings + Inks moved from West Drayton to Wolverhampton. New distribution centre in the Midlands and training centre at Didcot.

BASF Carpet Fibres and Conductive Fibres, based in Leicester, merged to form BASF plc’s Fibres Division.

BASF Coatings + Inks closed powder coatings plant at Newport and printing inks branches at Hinckley, Cumbernauld and Bristol.

New £6 million Research & Development building opened at Seal Sands.

1990

Givaudan of Geneva acquired Fritzsche Dodge & Olcott of New York, including the flavours and fragrances business in Wellingborough.

Automotive OEM and Container Coatings applications laboratory opened in Wolverhampton.

Elastogran acquired polyurethane business of Harcros Chemicals UK.

Acquisition of the Agfa magnetic tape business.
BASF Coatings + Inks Limited withdrew its Valentine automotive refinish brand.

BASF Coatings + Inks Limited opened a new £20.5 million printing ink plant at Slinfold, West Sussex and the first phase of a new £7 million liquid ink manufacturing plant at Huyton. The former Fishburn Ink plant at Watford closed and production transferred to Slinfold.

1989

BASF companies committed to CIA Responsible Care programme.

BASF United Kingdom Limited and BASF Chemicals Limited merged to form BASF plc.

Knoll Limited relocated from Burgess Hill to Maidenhead.

BASF took over the UK resin business of Polysar.

Elastogran took over the thermal break business of Products Research & Chemicals (UK) Limited.

1988

BASF Coatings + Inks Limited closed its Automotive Refinish factory in West Drayton. Additional premises at Bilston to manufacture inks for metal printing.

BASF’s North American carpet fibre products marketed in Europe from an office in Leicester.

1987

Glasurit Beck, Valentine, Inmont and Fishburn Printing Ink Company combined to form BASF Coatings + Inks Limited. Five divisions – Printing Inks, Container Coatings, Industrial Coatings, Automotive OEM and Automotive Refinish. Sites at Slinfold, Watford, West Drayton, Wolverhampton, Bristol, Cumbernauld, Hinckley, Huyton, Leeds and Newport.

COMPAREX Information Systems, a joint venture of BASF and Siemens, formed in Wembley to market computer hardware.

1986

BASF United Kingdom Limited moved from Fitzroy Square to Wembley. Head office transferred from Cheadle. Audio Video, Computers and part of the Graphic Arts Division also based in Wembley.

Hartman Printing Inks at Weybridge was sold. Harefield and Edinburgh plants closed.

Cheadle Colour & Chemicals Limited moved to the site in Cheadle.

Elastogran U.K. Limited expanded at Alfreton.

1985

BASF bought 234-acre fibre intermediates manufacturing site at Seal Sands on Teesside from Monsanto. BASF Chemicals Limited formed to operate it.

Inmont Corporation acquired from United Technologies included Inmont Limited, the Fishburn Printing Ink Company Limited, Hartman Printing Inks Limited (Weybridge) and H T Wells Limited at Romford. During the acquisition, Inmont acquired the inks division of Croda Chemicals.

1984

Knoll AG started marketing pharmaceutical products in the UK.

Glasurit Beck took over the Valentine Varnish and Lacquer Company Limited.

Ink manufacturer K + E set up a UK sales organisation.

1983

Key & Pell limited and BASF’s interests in Farmwork Services (Eastern) Limited were disposed of to the existing management.  

1982

BASF acquired Cheadle Colour & Chemicals Limited, which had been established in Cheadle, Cheshire in 1976

1981

Consumer Division of Glasurit Beck Limited moved to new premises in Abingdon.

Elastogran U.K. Limited closed site at Ilfracombe.

Key & Pell became fully integrated division of BASF United Kingdom Limited.

1980

BASF acquired Wellingborough based flavour and fragrance manufacturer Fritzsche Dodge & Olcott (UK) Limited.

Computer and Audio Video Divisions and corporate moved to 4 Fitzroy Square, London.

Elastogran U.K. Limited moved to Alfreton in Derbyshire.

1978

Elastomer Products Ltd. renamed Elastogran UK Ltd.

Glasurit (GB) amalgamated with Dr. Beck & Co. (GB) Ltd. to form Glasurit Beck Ltd.

BASF United Kingdom Limited’s EDP Division moved to Haddon House.

1977

BASF United Kingdom Limited D&P Division took over sales of BASF leather products from Bush Beach & Segner Bayley Limited and sales of Siegle products from M W Hardy Limited. New Plastics and Fibre Raw Materials business formed.

BASF sponsored its first Halle concert in Manchester.

Dr Beck & Co (England) Ltd wholly owned by BASF. Merged with Glasurit (GB) Limited to form Glasurit Beck Limited. Manufacturing at Slinfold and sales in Slough.

1976

BASF United Kingdom Limited’s Agricultural Division launched ‘Landmark’, a professional organisation for specialist agrochemical distributors.

BASF United Kingdom Limited formed a separate business area for Chemicals, bringing together all the interests of the various chemical divisions of BASF AG.

BASF United Kingdom Limited’s Audio Video Division and EDP sales office moved to Haddon House, 2-4 Fitzroy Street, London.  

1975

BASF United Kingdom Limited took 100% interest in Key & Pell, which moved to Hadleigh. They also acquired a majority holding in Farmwork Services (Eastern) Limited, Holbeach.

1974
BASF United Kingdom Limited formed a Graphic Arts Division responsible for UK sales of Nyloprint printing plates, which had been sold in the UK by Heidelberg Printing Machinery Company Limited since 1970.

The Coatings Division of Elastomer Products shut down. Admin and granulate sales moved to the Leicester foam factory.

1973
London based divisions of BASF United Kingdom Limited, except Audio Video and EDP sales, moved from Knightsbridge to Cheadle.

BASF United Kingdom Limited obtained a minority holding in agrochemical distributor Key & Pell Limited from Midland Fuel Limited.

Elastollan Limited became part of Elastomer Products Limited, which became a wholly owned subsidiary of BASF. Sales and admin moved to Leicester, where Elastomer opened a polyurethane foam factory.

1972
Elastomer Products formed a polyurethane coatings division with a factory in Leicester.
 

1971
Acquisition of Elastomer Products with London sales office and Elastollan Ltd. with production in Ilfracombe (50%).

Wintershall (UK) Limited established in London, to explore for oil and gas in the North Sea.

1969
Corporate service functions, London commercial services, Industrial Chemicals and Plastics sales divisions based in Knightsbridge, London. Audio Video and EDP Storage Media Departments moved to Knightsbridge after a fire at Gillespie Road.

Bradford Chemical Ltd. liquidated. Production activities integrated into BASF United Kingdom Limited.

Agricultural Department of BASF United Kingdom Limited formed in Suffolk.

1967
BASF United Kingdom Limited’s Dispersions & Pigments and Textile Divisions and the manufacturing department moved to Cheadle from Bradford and Farnworth.

Dr Beck & Co. (England) Ltd., which had manufactured at Slinfold, Sussex since 1957, became a 50% BASF owned company. It had been jointly owned by Dr Beck, Hamburg, and R H Cole.

1966
BASF Chemicals Limited became BASF United Kingdom Limited. Corporate accounts and shipping moved to Albert Embankment, London. London-based representatives of Dispersions & Pigments Division moved to Victoria Street.

BASF bought out the Allied Colloids agency, which had expanded to include textile, auxiliaries, pigments, paper, and other surface coating raw materials and auxiliaries. Part of the acquisition, the Bradford Chemical Company, became the manufacturing department of BASF United Kingdom Limited.

1965
Glasurit became a wholly owned subsidiary of BASF and Glasurit (GB) Limited began trading from offices in Slough. It later became the general and industrial paints division of Ault & Wibourg.

1963
BASF Chemicals Limited moved to York House, 199 Westminster Bridge Road, London.

1962
BASF United Kingdom Ltd. operations transferred to BASF Chemicals Ltd. Activities included the sale of magnetic tape and Oppanol plastic.

BASF Chemicals Limited formed a magnetic tapes department, based in a converted church in Highbury, London.

1960
BASF Chemicals Ltd., London, established as the first BASF-owned distributorship to do business in the UK for BASF after 1945.

1956

BASF United Kingdom Ltd. established as an associated company, with offices in Abbey House, Victoria Street, London. Allied Colloids and Bush, Beach & Gent sole distributors of BASF products.

Bradford Chemical Co. Ltd.set up as an Allied Colloids (Bradford) – BASF joint venture for the manufacture of Helizarin dyes.

1945-53
I.G. Farbenindustrie disbanded. Successor companies established.

1950
Allied Colloids (Bradford) Ltd. distributed ‘BASF’ dyes. Mssrs. Bush Beach & Gent Ltd. distributed synthetic tannins and waxes.

1948
Sales agent for ‘BASF’ products in UK was Allied Colloids (Bradford) Ltd.

1925
The six largest German chemical companies, including BASF, merged to form I.G. Farbenindustrie AG. Represented by I.G. Dyestuffs Limited, London for dyes and J. M. Steel & Co. Ltd., London for nitrogen and chemicals.

1916
Badische Company Limited, London disbanded. The managers established the Stott and Hotopf company as BASF’s new foreign distributorship in UK.

1907
First UK production site in GB established (by BASF, Agfa, and Bayer): Mersey Chemical Works, Bromborough, for dye and pharmaceuticals manufacture.

1901
Badische Company Ltd., London, established as a BASF agent for distribution.

1883
First record of sales generated in Britain. 26.8% of total annual BASF sales versus only 20.7% in Germany.

1880
First BASF sales offices established in London (H. Beck) and Manchester (Schott Segner & Co.).