Polymer corporation
Encyclopedia
Polymer Corporation was a Canadian federal crown corporation established in 1942 to produce artificial rubber
to substitute for overseas supply cut off by World War II
. A factory was established in Sarnia, Ontario
where, using German patents from an American licensee, Polymer produced 5000 tons of artificial rubber from oil every month. The product was used in everything from tires to airplane parts and much of it was sold to the US as part of the common war effort.
The company was considered a roaring success, more efficient than its American counterparts and a national asset. Clarence Decatur Howe, under whose Department of Munitions and Supply
the company fell, decided to keep Polymer going as a Crown corporation after the war. It was a highly profitable enterprise, and he was not convinced that any buyer would pay a proper price or keep it going. Polymer therefore survived the war, reporting through Howe and his successors to Parliament until 1971 when it was sold to the Canada Development Corporation
which was a government controlled enterprise. The company was also involved in the petrochemicals industry, primarily in the production of polyurethane
. It was renamed Polysar in 1976 and the rubber component became a subsidiary, Polysar Rubber Corp.
The company was privatized
in 1988 with its sale to NOVA Corp which, in turn, sold Polysar Rubber in 1990 to Bayer AG of Germany. The original Sarnia production facilities were shut down through a series of closures from 1995 through 2002, but the site remains active, operating facilities built through expansion beginning in the 1980s. In 2005 Bayer AG spun off chemical divisions, including most of the Sarnia site, creating LANXESS
AG, also of Germany.
Polymer's contribution was recognized by the 1971 Canadian $10 bill which had a picture of its operations on its back.
It has been cited as an example of how crown corporations can be profitable over a sustained period of time and contribute to the economy.
Rubber
Natural rubber, also called India rubber or caoutchouc, is an elastomer that was originally derived from latex, a milky colloid produced by some plants. The plants would be ‘tapped’, that is, an incision made into the bark of the tree and the sticky, milk colored latex sap collected and refined...
to substitute for overseas supply cut off by World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
. A factory was established in Sarnia, Ontario
Sarnia, Ontario
Sarnia is a city in Southern Ontario, Canada . It is the largest city on Lake Huron and is located where the upper Great Lakes empty into the St. Clair River....
where, using German patents from an American licensee, Polymer produced 5000 tons of artificial rubber from oil every month. The product was used in everything from tires to airplane parts and much of it was sold to the US as part of the common war effort.
The company was considered a roaring success, more efficient than its American counterparts and a national asset. Clarence Decatur Howe, under whose Department of Munitions and Supply
Department of Munitions and Supply (Canada)
The Department of Munitions and Supply was the federal government ministry responsible for co-ordinating domestic Canadian industry during World War II. It was created by the Munitions and Supply Act in September 1939 and began operations on April 9, 1940 with C.D...
the company fell, decided to keep Polymer going as a Crown corporation after the war. It was a highly profitable enterprise, and he was not convinced that any buyer would pay a proper price or keep it going. Polymer therefore survived the war, reporting through Howe and his successors to Parliament until 1971 when it was sold to the Canada Development Corporation
Canada Development Corporation
The Canada Development Corporation was a Canadian corporation created and partly owned by the federal government and charged with developing and maintaining Canadian-controlled companies in the private sector through a mixture of public and private investment...
which was a government controlled enterprise. The company was also involved in the petrochemicals industry, primarily in the production of polyurethane
Polyurethane
A polyurethane is any polymer composed of a chain of organic units joined by carbamate links. Polyurethane polymers are formed through step-growth polymerization, by reacting a monomer with another monomer in the presence of a catalyst.Polyurethanes are...
. It was renamed Polysar in 1976 and the rubber component became a subsidiary, Polysar Rubber Corp.
The company was privatized
Privatization
Privatization is the incidence or process of transferring ownership of a business, enterprise, agency or public service from the public sector to the private sector or to private non-profit organizations...
in 1988 with its sale to NOVA Corp which, in turn, sold Polysar Rubber in 1990 to Bayer AG of Germany. The original Sarnia production facilities were shut down through a series of closures from 1995 through 2002, but the site remains active, operating facilities built through expansion beginning in the 1980s. In 2005 Bayer AG spun off chemical divisions, including most of the Sarnia site, creating LANXESS
Lanxess
Lanxess AG is a specialty chemicals group based in Germany, with headquarters and major operations in Leverkusen. It was founded in 2004 when Bayer AG spun off its chemicals operations and parts of its polymer activities. As measured by sales, Lanxess is the fourth largest chemicals group in Germany...
AG, also of Germany.
Polymer's contribution was recognized by the 1971 Canadian $10 bill which had a picture of its operations on its back.
It has been cited as an example of how crown corporations can be profitable over a sustained period of time and contribute to the economy.
External links
- Profiting the Crown: Canada's Polymer Corporation, 1942-1990 by Matthew Bellamy (book excerpts)