October 26th – A New Light Metal Group

Colonel W. C. Devereux, F .R.Ae.S., incorporates Almin, Ltd. (Associated. Light Metal Industrtes), in order to implement his plans for the scientific development and extended application of light metals and their alloys. As the life centre of the group will be a research institute devoted to the metallurgy of the light alloys and kindred studies for the service, not only of the Almin group, but of anyone who wishes to avail himself of its resources. Mr E A G Liddiard MA agrees to help set up the new research institute.                                                                                                                    .            The institute is to be located in Holly House but to start with new recruits work at what will became known as ‘The Hut’.  A temporary home located at 2  Buckingham Avenue in Slough, the site of Structural and Mechanical Development Engineers, a member of the Almin Group.

February 7th – Fulmer Research Institute Incorporated

The Fulmer Research Institute Limited is incorporated with Mr E A G Liddiard as its first Director of Research.

July 2nd – Official Opening

Sir Stafford Cripps, President of the Board of Trade, opened the £50,000 Fulmer Research institute at Holly Hill, Fulmer, formerly an Edwardian country mansion.

The Institute, first of its kind in the country, will act as a Brains Trust to industries anxious to translate scientific discoveries into practical industrial processes. More

September 30th – Open Day – Plaque Unveiled

Sir Archibald Rowlands, G.C.B., Permanent Secretary, M.o.S., unveiled a memorial plaque to the founder of the Institute, the late Col. W. C. Devereux, C.B.E.

The occasion was an “open day” on which visitors were conducted round the laboratories. More

Almin Acquired by Imperial Aluminium Company

In 1961 Almin Ltd, was acquired by Imperial Aluminium Company, a joint operation of Alcoa in the USA and Imperial Metal Industries (then part of ICI). As a result the Fulmer Research Institute became a constituent part of a much larger company.

30th September – Open Day

On September 30th the Institute celebrated its 20th anniversary with the opening by Sir Paul Chambers, the Chairman of ICI Ltd, of a new laboratory adding 6,000 sqft to the 40,000 sqft that were available previously. More

May 31st – Mr Liddiard retires

At the end of May 1969, Mr E.A.G. Liddiard, FInstP, retired from the post of Director of Research of the Fulmer Research Institute, which he had held for 23 years. More

April – Fulmer Technical Services Set-up

The Fulmer Research Institute has formed a Technical Services Unit to provide a testing and consultancy service to industry. Services that are available include all forms of mechanical testing, scanning and transmission electron microscopy, wet and spectrographic analysis, and the manufacture of special alloys and equipment. Management services such as literature surveys, project planning and evaluation, cost-benefit analyses and aids to company diversification are also provided.

May – Merger with Yarsley Research Laboratories

October – Fulmer Materials Optimizer Launched

Published by the Fulmer Research Institute in 1974 ‘The Fulmer Materials Optimizer’ was a tool for design engineers to guide the selection of materials and manufacturing methods that would fulfil the design functions of an engineering component and permit economic manufacture. More

May – AICRO – Association of Independent Contract Research Organisations

Together with six other independent contract research companies – laboratories that earn their keep by selling R & D services to outside customers – have banded together to form a trade association. “so that our case does not go by default when competing for government and industrial research contracts along with big government laboratories or Research Associations.”

The new group, known as the Association of Independent Contract Research Organisations (AICRO), had a combined turnover last year in excess of £13 million in contract fees and exported no less than £4 million worth of their services abroad.

The basic rules for AICRO membership seem to be, first, that the contract research company concerned must be British; next that it be independent (not even quasi-government or university owned institutions appear to be eligible); that it should have a minimum staff of around 150 persons and a turnover in excess of £500 000.

The founding AICRO members are the Fulmer Research Institute, Huntingdon Research Centre, Inveresk Research International, Ricardo Consulting Engineers, Robertson Research International, International Research and Development and the Electrical Research Association.

July – Plastics processing moved to Redhill

The plastics processing section moved from Stoke Poges to the new site at Redhill.

November – Redhill Open Day

Open Days were held at Redhill, and included the formal opening of the new and expanded fire testing laboratories, after being transferred from Ashtead. The opening ceremony was carried out by Dr Ivor Dunstan, Chief Executive of the Building Research Establishment. Of necessity the transfer of the Ashtead staff and facilities had taken place over a period of several years. In 1979 the Redhill site embraced a very wide range of activities, namely polymer engineering, consultancy, physical, mechanical, electrical, thermal and analytical testing, as well as fire testing and building investigations, all under a new company name, Yarsley Technical Centre, (YTEC).

January 19th – Fulmer Singapore Registered

Fulmer Research and Development (Singapore) Pte Limited was registered, No.198200254C, a joint venture between Fulmer with Singapore-based  Chemical Laboratories Pte Ltd.

A senior polymer technologist was seconded from Fulmer’s Yarsley subsidiary to manage the operation in Singapore. After 1 year he was replaced by a senior metallurgist from Fulmer Research Laboratories.

August – South Africa operation causes concern

Physics Bulletin, 38                                                                                                                 .

Fulmer and Africa
It is likely that a great many members will be strongly opposed to Fulmer operating in South Africa. More