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You are here: Home > Company Information > Business Profiles > Degussa Seal Sands > Beginnings |
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When did the company start?The company was originally called Fine Organics Ltd and was founded in 1977 based at Peterlee. In 1980 there was a management buyout. Plans were made to acquire its current site at Seal Sands in 1984. At this stage, the company had 60 people working for it. Later in 1984, the company was acquired by Laporte, who gained a 75% holding in Fine Organics. In 1986 the company moved to its present site at Seal Sands. The takeover was completed in 1989. 
Images: Courtesy of Degussa AG. Copyright held by Degussa AG. The two main production buildings were commissioned and built in 1985 and 1986. By 1992, the company was employing 280 people and in 1995-96 the third production building was completed. During the late 1980s and 1990s the company was very profitable building up a reputation for fast turnaround of products and in safely handling chemicals and chemistry with potentially hazardous properties. By hazardous, it is meant that the chemicals may be toxic or flammable, and the chemical reactions may be capable of releasing high levels of energy. By 1999, the company employed 450 people. Its revenues increased from approximately. £20 million in 1990 to over £83 million in 2000. In 2001, Degussa, a German firm, bought Laporte; Degussa, in turn, have since been acquired by Rag AG, another German company. The early part of the first decade of the Millennium has proved a challenging time for the chemical industry and DFO has had to respond to the challenges. It had to go through a series of cost cutting measures. It currently employs 225 people on the site. |
