Shawinigan Chemicals Limited: History of a Canadian Scientific Innovator

Type of resource
Author/collaborator
Title
Shawinigan Chemicals Limited: History of a Canadian Scientific Innovator
Abstract
The Shawinigan Carbide Company, forerunner of Shawinigan Chemicals Limited, was established in 1901 by Thomas Leopold "Carbide" Willson, who invented the carbide manufacturing process in 1892. The plant was sited at Shawinigan Falls, Quebec, in order to take advantage of surplus electric power produced by Shawinigan Water and Power Company, itself established in 1898. In 1909 SWPC gained a controlling interest in Shawinigan Carbide Company and in other Willson companies, and in 1911 reorganized them as the Canada Carbide Company. In 1915 SWPC established the Canadian Electro Products Company to manufacture acetone and other products for the British war effort. With the loss of its markets in 1918, the new company directed its research facilities to the development of chemicals for civilian consumption; thenceforth the company and its successors based their production heavily on original research. In 1927 Canadian Electro Products and Canada Carbide Company were amalgamated as Shawinigan Chemicals Limited.
Type
PhD dissertation
University
Université de Montréal
Place
Montréal
Date
1987
Language
en
Citation
Langford, Martha W. “Shawinigan Chemicals Limited: History of a Canadian Scientific Innovator.” PhD dissertation, Université de Montréal, 1987.
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