AECI - History 1980s

History


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1980s

1989

Agrochemical interests of AECI and ICI merge to form ICI-Kynoch Agrochemicals
Gas project implemented by AECI Chlor-Alkali and Plastics to pipe methane from a Johannesburg refuse site to the Klipspruit cyanide factory

AECI Converters reorganises with five operating companies: AECI Plastic Systems, Autoplastic, Fashiontex Coatings, Polycon and Vynide
AECI takes over the CSIR's anaerobic microbiology division, plus its equipment, to bond with the Biotechnology facility at Research and Development Department
AECI acquires the Cape operations of Sentrachem's Fedmis
Also purchased: 50 per cent of Sentrachem's phosphoric acid production facility at Phalaborwa (joint venture between AECI and Sasol)
AECI Chlor-Alkali and Plastics and CG Smith Sugar enter into 50:50 venture for a hydrogen peroxide plant at Umbogintwini
R920 million Soda Ash Botswana project announced - business partners: AECI Limited, Anglo American, De Beers and the Botswana Government
AECI exceeds R4 billion sales turnover

Triomf Fertilizer's Potchefstroom assets acquired
Coalplex plant at Midland Factory uprated to increase annual production of chlorine, caustic soda and PVC
AECI Explosives and Chemicals' Klerksdorp Factory begins operations
AECI Paints opens a manufacturing facility at Umbogintwini
AECI Converters acquires Polycon
AECI's Duropenta and Everite's Pipekor merge to form DPI Plastics with 50:50 shareholding

New explosives factory and distribution centre opens at Bethal to produce Energex explosives and to distribute explosives and accessories
New company, AECI Converters, formed. It incorporates the activities of Duropenta, Sterkolite and Vynide
Modderfontein and Umbogintwini health committees upgraded to full Town status
Kynoch Chemicals formed to handle all aspects of the Group's agricultural chemicals business
Chemical Resources formed to develop, manufacture, market and service a range of specialty chemicals

AECI aquires Sentrachem's 40 per cent share in Coalplex, for R60 million
AECI Explosives and Chemicals announces decentralised factories at Bethal, Welkom and Klerksdorp
Sales top R2 billion
AECI and Triomf Fertilizer part company and Kynoch Fertilizer is reborn

New safety fuse plant at Manwke Factory comes on stream
Poly 1 plant at Midland makes its one millionth ton of Alkathene low density polyethylene and AECI's total ammonia production exceeds 7 million tons
No. 3 Ammonia plant at Umbogintwini closes
Manufacture of Energan bulk heavy Anfo and Powergel emulsion explosives begins
Industrial Urethanes created as a wholly-owned subsidiary

The AECI Pension Fund's combined assets top R237 million and membership exceeds 23 000
Mankwe explosives factory opens in Boputhatswana. Production: 100 million capped fuses a year and 80 000 tons of Anfex
A Linear Low Density Polyethylene plant to make Aecithene commissioned at Midland. Capacity: 15 000 t/a
Restructuring of AECI. Following a policy of divisionalisation begun in 1978, the Company's five divisions' manufacturing and marketing operations are restructured into three wholly-owned subsidiaries: AECI Explosives and Chemicals, AECI Chlor-Alkali and Plastics, and Polymer Convertor Holdings. AECI Group now comprises six operating companies - the three named above, and SANS Fibres, Dulux and Chemical Services Limited

Polyfos, a 50:50 joint venture between AECI and Samancor, commissions a plant to make sodium tripolyphosphate. Capacity is 4 000 t/a, for use in detergents
A R3.4 million plant, Welvic 2, officially opened at Midland
Prolux Paints renamed AECI Paints (and subsequently Dulux)
AECI announces a research programme for using methanol as a fuel in diesel and petrol engines
Zimbabwe's first explosives factory opens to make Sinex Z cartridges
AECI acquires 56 per cent of the issued capital of Chemical Services Limited from Debincor in exchange for the issue of 1 725 000 new AECI ordinary shares