History

Founded by Tom Wilcox in 1962, Kerax Ltd has been producing wax blends and lubricants for over sixty years. In that time, it has been associated with a number of renowned businesses in lubricants, waxes and fuels, including Duckhams, Burmah Castrol and BP.

Prior to starting up the Kerax company, Tom Willcox worked as a northern sales representative for the Campbell Company, selling wax from their Southport office. When problems arose with the wax blends he was selling, Tom would experiment in the small laboratory at his office to try and find solutions of his own. However, when the Dussek Bros. bought the Campbell Co. in 1960, they put a stop to this independent experimentation and Tom found himself selling new types waxes that he was not familiar with. Dissatisfied with the new working environment, Tom made the brave decision to set out on his own. Having recruited a Dussek foreman who was unwilling to move south, Tom sold almost everything he owned in order to set up business in a disused air raid shelter, located within ten miles of the current site at Chorley. On 1st May 1962, Kerax Ltd. began trading.

The company’s name is derived from the Latin word for wax-‘cera’, pronounced with a hard ‘c’. Despite being so fittingly named, however, Kerax initially struggled. The new company had been promised business from the wax coated paper industry, upon which Tom had been relying to get started, but it was abruptly withdrawn and Kerax found itself a company without customers. It was a shrewd observation of Tom’s that saved the day; at the time, local Lancashire cheeses were all coated in imported Danish wax. Recognizing an opportunity, Kerax developed their own blend of cheese wax, Tom loaded it into the company’s small van, and began selling it from dairy to dairy.

1850

The Dussek Bros. company is founded.

1870

The Campbell Company is founded

1886

The Burmah Oil Company is founded.

1899

Duckhams is founded by Alexander Duckham

1909

BP is founded.

1922

Duckhams unveils the revolutionary New Process Oils, which promises control over carbon deposits.

1951

The company launches Europe's first multigrade oil 'Q'.

1956

Duckhams releases their famous Q20-50.

1960

The Dussek Bros. acquire the Campbell Company.

1962

Kerax, founded by Tom Willcox, starts trading from a disused air raid shelter within 10 miles of current site.
The Dussek Bros. company is bought by the Burmah Oil Company.
The Burmah Oil Company buys Dussek Bros.

1966

The Burmah Oil Company acquires Castrol and becomes Burmah Castrol.

1969

Duckhams is acquired by BP, although BP announces they they do not intend to constrain the Duckhams brand, leaving them relatively autonomous.

1971

Duckhams begins to get involved in Formula One.

1974

The business moves to the Chorley site where an office block and Phase 1 are built over demolished terraced houses.

1975

There is a fire at the Chorley site while the firemen are on strike. Some of their competitors help them recover.

1979

Duckhams acquires a 49% stake in Kerax.
Following a decision to expand into wax blending, Duckhams buys a 49% share in Kerax.
Dussek Bros. and the Campbell Company are amalgamated into Dussek Campbell.

1982

Duckhams launch 'Hypergrade'.

1983

BP takes over responsibility for Duckhams' production lines and the association with Kerax ends.

1984

Expanding sales lead to an increased need for production, so Phases 3 and 4 are built at the Chorley site. New warehouses are built along with a lab.

1987

Kerax sponsors a race at Haydock to commemorate its 25th anniversary.

1990

Phase 6-a new warehouse-is built.

1993

Kerax is bought by Dussek Campbell, owned by Burmah Castrol.
Dussek Campbell buys Kerax.

1994

Dussek Campbell's blending site at Bury is closed and the majority of the business is transferred to Chorley, judged to be the better site. Twenty per cent of Bury employees bring their knowledge to the Chorley site.

1996

Dussek Campbell invests heavily in the site and the offices are done up.

2000

Burmah Castrol is bought by BP.
Burmah Castrol is bought by BP.
BP buys Burmah Castrol. The Chorley site operates as part of BP Global Special Products.

2001

Dussek Campbell (Chorley site) is amalgamated into BP Global Special Products (GSP), marketers of base oils, process oils and waxes.

2003

Following a strategy review, BP decide to divest the GSP business to Hansen & Rosenthal (Wasag). A group sale to H&R takes place and the Chorley business then operates under the name H&R ESP Ltd.
BP undertakes a strategy review and decides to divest BP GSP to Hansen & Rosenthal (Wasag).
H&R acquires the BP GSP business.

2005

H&R ESP companies are put under review. A number are put up for divestment/closure, the Chorley site included. The Chorley business was the subject to a management buy-out by Ian Appleton.
H&R undertakes a strategy review and decides that a number of sites are surplus to requirements, the Chorley site among them. Negotiations begin to sell it.

2009

Ian buys the Euro-Oils business, which operates separately from Kerax under that name.

2015

Euro-Oils is merged into Kerax.

2016

Kerax lubricants division launch their premium HyperDrive and AgriDrive lubricant brands at Automechanika Birmingham 2016.