Editing Imperial Chemical Industries (section)

=== Postwar innovation (1945–1990) ===

[[File:ICI UK Works Map May 1955.png|thumb|Map showing Imperial Chemical Industries sales regions, offices and factories in the United Kingdom in May 1955]]
In the 1940s and 1950s, the company established its [[pharmaceutical]] business and developed a number of key products, including [[Proguanil|Paludrine]] (1940s, an anti-[[malaria]]l drug),<ref name=history/> [[halothane]] (1951, an [[Inhalational anesthetic|inhalational anaesthetic]] agent), [[propofol]] (1977, an [[General anesthetic|intravenous anaesthetic]] agent),<ref>{{Cite journal |last1=Baker |first1=Max T. |last2=Naguib |first2=Mohamed |date=1 October 2005 |title=Propofol: The Challenges of Formulation |url=https://anesthesiology.pubs.asahq.org/article.aspx?articleid=1926210 |journal=Anesthesiology: The Journal of the American Society of Anesthesiologists |language=en |volume=103|issue=4 |pages=860–876|doi=10.1097/00000542-200510000-00026|pmid=16192780|s2cid=20332274 |issn=0003-3022 |doi-access=free |access-date=25 July 2020 |archive-date=25 July 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200725191038/https://anesthesiology.pubs.asahq.org/article.aspx?articleid=1926210 |url-status=live}}</ref> [[Inderal]] (1965, a [[beta-blocker]]),<ref name=history/> [[tamoxifen]] (1978, a frequently used drug for breast cancer),<ref name="isbn0-471-89979-8">Sneader 2005, {{page needed|date=February 2025}}.</ref> and [[PEEK]] (1979, a high performance [[thermoplastic]]).<ref name=history/>

During the 1950s, ICI developed a material as [[Crimplene]], a thick [[polyester]] yarn that was used to make a fabric of the same name.<ref>Shishoo 2005, p. 49.</ref> The resulting cloth is heavy and wrinkle-resistant, and retains its shape well. The California-based fashion designer [[Edith Flagg]] was the first to import this fabric from Britain to the United States.<ref name=latimes65>{{cite news |first=Julie |last=Byrne |date=14 October 1965 |title=Clotheshorse in the Jet Age |newspaper=Los Angeles Times |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-los-angeles-times-clotheshorse-in-th/128225670/ |pages=73, [https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-los-angeles-times-clotheshorse-in-th/128225795/ 89] |access-date=14 July 2023 |via=Newspapers.com}}</ref>

During 1960, [[Paul Chambers (industrialist)|Paul Chambers]] became the first chairman appointed from outside the company.<ref name="ODNB Chambers">{{Cite ODNB |first1=J. P. |last1=Strudwick |last2=Mark Pottle |editor1-first=Mark |editor1-last=Pottle |title=Chambers, Sir (Stanley) Paul (1904–1981) |year=2004 |doi=10.1093/ref:odnb/30916 |url=http://www.oxforddnb.com/view/article/30916 |access-date=23 August 2014}}</ref>
Chambers employed the consultancy firm [[McKinsey & Company|McKinsey]] to help with reorganising the company.<ref name="ODNB Chambers"/> Export sales doubled during his eight-year tenure export, however, Chambers' reputation was severely damaged by a failed takeover bid for [[Courtaulds]] in 1961–1962.<ref name="ODNB Chambers"/><ref>{{cite news |periodical=Globe and Mail |location=Toronto, Canada |date=17 March 1962 |page=29 |title=God Thanked by Courtaulds For ICI Flop}}</ref>

On 1 August 1962, ICI's operations in [[Burma]] were [[nationalisation|nationalised]] following a [[Burmese Way to Socialism|military coup in the country]].<ref>{{Cite book |title=The State of Myanmar |url=https://archive.org/details/stateinmyanmar0000tayl |url-access=registration |first=Robert |last=Taylor |year=2009 |page=[https://archive.org/details/stateinmyanmar0000tayl/page/297 297] |publisher=University of Hawaii Press |isbn=9780824833626 }}</ref>

In 1964, ICI acquired British Nylon Spinners (BNS), the company it had jointly set up in 1940 with Courtaulds. ICI surrendered its 37.5 per cent holding in Courtaulds and paid Courtaulds £2&nbsp;million a year for five years, "to take account of the future development expenditure of Courtaulds in the nylon field." In return, Courtaulds transferred to ICI their 50 per cent holding in BNS.<ref>{{Cite book |title=Keesing's Record of World Events (formerly Keesing's Contemporary Archives) |volume=10 |date=July 1964 |location=United Kingdom |page=20162}}</ref>

Early pesticide development under ICI Plant Protection Division, with its plant at [[Yalding]], Kent, research station at [[Jealott's Hill]] and HQ at [[Fernhurst Research Station]] included [[paraquat]] (1962, a [[herbicide]]),<ref name=history/> the insecticides [[pirimiphos-methyl]] in 1967 and [[pirimicarb]] in 1970, [[brodifacoum]] (a [[rodenticide]]) was developed in 1974; in the late 1970s, ICI was involved in the early development of synthetic [[pyrethroid]] insecticides such as [[lambda-cyhalothrin]].<ref>{{cite patent |country=GB |number=2085000 |status=withdrawn |title=An improved process for the preparation of certain cyclopropane pyrethroid intermediates having a high cis-content |pubdate=1982-04-21 |fdate= |pridate=1980-10-08 |inventor= |invent1=Crosby, John |assign1=ICI plc}}</ref>

Peter Allen was appointed chairman between 1968 and 1971.<ref name="ODNB Allen">{{Cite ODNB |first=Martin |last=Adeney |title=Allen, Sir Peter Christopher (1905–1993)' |year=2004 |doi=10.1093/ref:odnb/51414 |url=http://www.oxforddnb.com/view/article/51414  |access-date=24 August 2014}}</ref> He presided over the purchase of [[Viyella]].<ref name="ODNB Allen"/> Profits shrank under his tenure.<ref name="ODNB Allen"/> During his tenure, ICI created the wholly owned subsidiary [[Cleveland Potash Ltd]], for the construction of [[Boulby Mine]] in Redcar and Cleveland, North Yorkshire. The first shaft was dug in 1968, with full production from 1976. ICI jointly owned the mine with Anglo American, and then with De Beers, before complete ownership was transferred to [[Israel Chemicals|Israel Chemicals Ltd]] in 2002.<ref name="DPMG">[http://www.mining-technology.com/projects/boulby/ "Boulby, United Kingdom"], Mining-technology.com, Progressive Digital Media Group PLC. Retrieved 11 November 2014</ref>
[[File:Williams FW10 front-left 2017 Williams Conference Centre.jpg|thumb|ICI sponsored [[Williams Racing]] from 1983 to 1990.]]
Between 1971 and 1975, Jack Callard held the position of chairman at the firm.<ref name="ODNB Callard">{{Cite ODNB |first=Martin |last=Adeney |title=Callard, Sir (Eric) John (1913–1998) |year=2004 |doi=10.1093/ref:odnb/70879 |url=http://www.oxforddnb.com/view/article/70879 |access-date=24 August 2014}}</ref> Amid Callard's tenure, company profits almost doubled between 1972 and 1974 while ICI became Britain's largest exporter.<ref name="ODNB Callard"/> In 1971, the company acquired Atlas Chemical Industries Inc., a major American competitor.<ref name=history/><ref>Guston 2010, p. 173.</ref> In 1977, [[Imperial Metal Industries]] was divested as an independent quoted company.<ref name="Owen347">Owen 2000, p. 347.</ref><ref>{{cite web |url = https://www.imiplc.com/who-we-are/engineering-heritage?page=2 |title = Our Engineering Heritage |website = imiplc.com |access-date = 14 November 2024}}</ref>

Between 1982 and 1987, the company was headed by the charismatic [[John Harvey-Jones]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://icwales.icnetwork.co.uk/business-in-wales/business-news/2008/01/12/from-bullying-to-the-top-of-industry-91466-20342758/ |title=From bullying to the top of industry |work=icWales |date=12 January 2008 |access-date=15 January 2008 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080118035703/http://icwales.icnetwork.co.uk/business-in-wales/business-news/2008/01/12/from-bullying-to-the-top-of-industry-91466-20342758/ |archive-date=18 January 2008 }}</ref> In 1985, ICI acquired the Beatrice Chemical Division; during the following year, it also bought Glidden Coatings & Resins, a leading [[paint]]s business.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9B0DE3DC113FF93AA35750C0A961948260 |title=New Chairman of ICI praises planned agenda |work=The New York Times |date=9 March 1987 |access-date=27 September 2010 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090218161756/http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9B0DE3DC113FF93AA35750C0A961948260 |archive-date=18 February 2009 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url = https://www.joc.com/article/ici-agrees-to-acquire-glidden-from-hanson-5626159 |title = ICI AGREES TO ACQUIRE GLIDDEN FROM HANSON |publisher = Journal of Commerce |date = 17 August 1986}}</ref>