Key Dates
1933 British New Wrap Ltd begins cellulose film production
1936 Company changes its name to British RAYOPHANE Ltd
1963 Acquisition by British Sidac Ltd
1969 First polypropylene plant built in partnership with ICI PLC
1971 Polypropylene production begins - Sidex Ltd
1973 British Sidac Ltd becomes a wholly-owned subsidiary of UCB
1987 OPP Production partnership with ICI ends. UCB assumes full ownership of
Sidex Ltd
1987/1996 On-going investment programme to raise OPP capacity from 10,000
to 35,000 tonnes p.a.
1988 Commissioning of additional bubble
1990 Commissioning of new coater
1996 Sidex II - second OPP bubble plant at Wigton commissioned
1996 Acquisition of British Cellophane™ Ltd (BCL) Bridgwater UK. This
makes business largest producer of cellulose film in Europe
1997 Joint Venture with Reserve Bank of Australia to produce polymeric
material for bank notes
1997 Purchase of Tecumseh, Kansas, plant from US cellulose film producer,
Flexel Inc. Now largest Cellophane producer in the world
1997/1998 Second £10m coater installed - Wigton
1998 Acquisition of ICI Propafilm business. Now world's largest producer of
speciality BOPP films
1999 £25m OPP plant in Melbourne, Australia officially opened
2000 Mexican cellophane producer, Cydsa, bought and the plant in Burgos closed
2001 Commissioning of third coater plus new bubble line, Wigton. Additional
coated film capacity of 15,000 tonnes
2002 Opening of new Research and Development Centre, Wigton
2003 Company announces the creation of Surface Specialties through the
integration of its Film and Chemical Sectors with Solutia's Resins,
Additives and Adhesives activity
2004 Innovia Films formed following acquisition of the business
2005 Bridgwater cellulose film plant closed