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

Fulmer Components Limited

April 5th, Fulmer Components Limited (00844692) registered as a subsidiary company for future manufacturing activities.

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

May 6th Fire at Ashtead

A major fire at the Ashtead site destroyed much equipment and records.

March – Fulmer purchased the company Independent Plastics Engineering Centre Ltd.

The acquisition of this company, which was based in Newhaven, Sussex, strengthened Yarsley’s plastics processing capability, particularly in injection moulding. The Newhaven activities were combined with Yarsley’s own plastics processing operation to form a new company: Yarsley Polymer Engineering Centre (YPEC).

Redhill Site Acquired

Another large site at Redhill in Surrey acquired, which would enable the Yarsley staff who had transferred to Stoke Poges to return to an area close to their original roots. The Newhaven staff agreed to commute to Redhill, so that the polymer research and development activities were now all together on one site. Also, the Redhill site was large enough to allow Yarsley Testing Laboratories staff and facilities from Ashtead to be accommodated, so that ultimately the Ashtead site could be closed down.

YPEC personnel moved to Redhill

YPEC personnel from Newhaven moved into the Redhill site with all their injection moulding equipment, as well as their other work which involved the supply of ancillary equipment, and the manufacture of temperature control equipment for moulding work.

Ashtead Facilities Enhanced

The facilities for the manufacture of fluorochemical compounds were further enhanced at Ashtead by the installation of a 200-litre reaction vessel, which alongside the existing 100-litre vessel paved the way for production of larger quantities of these specialised chemical products.

May 1st – Yarsley 50th Anniversary

The 50th anniversary of the foundation of the Yarsley organisation by Dr Yarsley was celebrated with a dinner at a local hotel. The event included a production of “This is Your Life” for Dr Yarsley.

YTEC Awarded NATLAS Accreditation

YTEC awarded accreditation from the National Testing Laboratory Accreditation Scheme (NATLAS). The company also diversified into Quality Assurance consultancy and launched a product certification scheme Testguard. This was soon withdrawn so as to concentrate on QA consultancy and developing a QA certification scheme.

August – YQAF Established

YTEC established Yarsley Quality Assured Firms (YQAF) as an independent certification body, supported by the UK Department of Trade and Industry. YQAF assessed conformity to BS 5750 and certified conforming companies.

New Trafford Building opened at Redhill

New 3,000 sq ft building was opened at Redhill and named the Trafford Building. This required highly chemical-resistant drainage to accommodate the forecast expansion of the facilities for the production of fluorochemical compounds. The building also provided much needed office space for the rapidly developing YQAF business.

June 4th – Fulmer Yarsley Registered

The new name for the Yarsley operation at Redhill registered as Fulmer Yarsley.

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

Shell acquires Yarsley Fluorochemicals Ltd

Shell acquire all the shares in Yarsley Fluorochemicals Ltd on payment of a substantial sum.  The company is moved from Redhill.

November 30th – The Fulmer Research Institute comes to an End

After the sale of Yarsley to SGS and the manufacturing unit in Slough to Sintek, the Fulmer activities in Stoke Poges were merged with British Non-Ferrous Metals Research Association at Wantage Oxfordshire.  The Fulmer Research Institute created 45 years earlier had come to an end.

BITS Established

SGS decided that they no longer wish to continue to provide testing and consultancy services to the building industry. A management buyout of this activity at Redhill was agreed and an independent company Building Investigation and Testing Services (BITS) established. After an interim period operating elsewhere in Redhill it returned to its original site.