British Nylon Spinners

British Nylon Spinners (BNS) was a British company set up in 1940 by ICI and Courtaulds to produce nylon yarn. In 1964 it was taken over by ICI after ICI had tried and failed to take over Courtaulds.

In 1939, ICI took out a licence to manufacture nylon fibre. Realizing that they needed the experience of a specialized textile firm, ICI formed a partnership with Courtaulds, who were leading suppliers of viscose rayon. In January 1940 they registered British Nylon Spinners as a limited company with a nominal capital of £300,000 and took equal shares in the company. The product was badly needed to make parachutes, especially after Japan's entry into the war in December 1941 blocked supplies of silk.

In March 1940 Courtaulds announced that they were building a plant which would go into production in the autumn. This was at Lockhurst Lane, Coventry. Production began on 23 Jan 1941. At this stage nylon polymer and spinner units were being supplied from the U.S.A. by Dupont. The site was bombed on 14 Nov 1940 and 8 Apr 1941. The second attack stopped production for several weeks.

It was agreed with the Ministry of Supply that they should find a safer site. Banbury was considered but the final choice was Stowmarket, Suffolk, where ICI Paints Division was already established. Two thirds of production would be here and one third at Coventry. Limited production began at Stowmarket in December 1942 and full production in June 1943. Both Coventry and Stowmarket closed in 1948.

In March 1945 it was announced that they had purchased a site in South Wales. This was at Mamhilad, Pontypool. In November 1945, it was announced that F. C. Bagnall had been appointed Managing Director of the company, which was based in Coventry.

In May 1947 ICI announced that they were building a new plant in Billingham to make nylon polymer. This would have a capacity of 10,000 lb. per year. Some of this polymer would go to Plastics Division but most would go to BNS. During the war polymer had been made in Huddersfield and used to make parachutes, rope and other materials.

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