Nylex

The Nylex brand has its origins with the Australian Moulding Corporation in 1927. This was a plastics manufacturing firm, founded by John Derham in Mentone, Melbourne in 1927.{{Cite web|last=Centre|first=Australian Science and Technology Heritage|title=Technology in Australia 1788-1988, Chapter 9, page 662|url=https://www.austehc.unimelb.edu.au/tia/662.html|access-date=2 January 2022|website=ISBN 0908029497}} A rival company, Moulded Products, started in 1931, and Derham sold his company to it, while himself getting a share of Moulded Products. He then later gained control of all of Moulded Products with some colleagues, thus ending up with both companies.{{Cite web|title=Nylex and Mentone {{!}} Kingston Local History|url=https://localhistory.kingston.vic.gov.au/articles/384|access-date=2 January 2022|website=localhistory.kingston.vic.gov.au}}

The company expanded to make a range of products, and in World War Two produced plastic radio receivers and Army crash helmets (such as the M42 Duperite helmet). The demand for products during WW2 saw a lot of innovation as the company expanded into producing different types of plastics, including PVC and polymers.{{Cite web|last=Centre|first=Australian Science and Technology Heritage|title=Technology in Australia 1788-1988, Chapter 9, page 662|url=https://www.austehc.unimelb.edu.au/tia/662.html|access-date=2 January 2022|website=ISBN 0908029497}} Specific innovations for the military at the time included PVC copolymer solution for moisture-proofing rifles, PVC wire coating, moisture proof striking surfaces for matches.{{Cite web|last=Centre|first=Australian Science and Technology Heritage|title=Technology in Australia 1788-1988, Chapter 9, page 662|url=https://www.austehc.unimelb.edu.au/tia/662.html|access-date=2 January 2022|website=ISBN 0908029497}}

The company started producing garden products in the 1950s.{{Cite web|title=Nylex|url=https://au.ames.com/nylex/|access-date=2 January 2022|website=AMES Australasia}} Australian Moulding Corporation became Nylex. Derham died in 1957, and the company was eventually managed by his son, Peter Derham in 1967.{{Cite web |title=Sir Peter John Derham AC, K.St.J. {{!}} Melbourne Grammar School |url=https://mgs.vic.edu.au/about/our-people/meet-our-alumni/sir-peter-john-derham-ac-kstj |access-date=2023-02-13 |website=mgs.vic.edu.au}} Peter Derham worked with the company for most of his life{{Cite web|last=Stewart|first=Sally|date=25 September 2008|title=High achiever who never said never|url=https://www.theage.com.au/national/high-achiever-who-never-said-never-20080925-4o4t.html|access-date=2 January 2022|website=The Age}} and other family members managing various parts of the business. Nylex was eventually purchased by Australian Consolidated Industries (ACI).

Nylex was purchased by British company BTR Hopkins in 1984 from ACI. In 1988, however, Jackson took over the Australian Consolidated Industries Limited (ACI) itself for a takeover of roughly $1.6 billion, following the share market crash.{{cite news |id={{ProQuest|2085797915}} |title=IN BRIEF |newspaper=The Australian |date=10 August 2018 |page=26 }} BTR, then a large global concern headed by Alan Jackson, re-branded the company as BTR Nylex. Under BTR, the company again expanded, with BTR Nylex being the Asian headquarters and central focus point for multiple BTR acquisitions within Asia, including in Malaysia. During this period, BTR Nylex purchased a number of important Asian business operating in related fields, including purchases of plastics companies e.g. China General Plastics in Taiwan {{Cite web|date=7 August 1995|title=Jackson aims for BTR Nylex on the cheap|url=https://www.afr.com/companies/jackson-aims-for-btr-nylex-on-the-cheap-19950807-kaw3p|access-date=2 January 2022|website=Australian Financial Review}} and Japan, and a 51% stake in Nylex Malaysia.{{Cite web|date=24 July 1995|title=Nylex takeover looking like worldwide clean-up|url=https://www.afr.com/politics/nylex-takeover-looking-like-worldwide-clean-up-19950724-k6gxv|access-date=2 January 2022|website=Australian Financial Review}} Jackson improved BTR Nylex's operations in Asia, greatly expanding the business into expanding areas, including recycling PET bottle and glass operations, and the purchase of Formica in the United States.{{Cite web|date=5 January 2013|title=AUSTRALIA'S BTR NYLEX TO ACQUIRE FORMICA|url=https://www.plasticsnews.com/article/19950102/NEWS/301029998/australia-s-btr-nylex-to-acquire-formica|access-date=2 January 2022|website=Plastics News}} His results in the Asian sector saw him appointed to London to manage the global BTR business, applying his same strategies of success in 1991. While CEO of BTR and Nylex in 1995, Jackson completed the full takeover of Nylex. The remaining 37% of the company that BTR did not own was to be purchased. Jackson bought it for $4.48 billion. In that same year, Nylex was estimated to be worth $11.8 billion.

Jackson later moved to another company, Austrim, after leaving BTR as its CEO. Austrim, having expanded under Jackson's strategic direction, acquired Nylex in October 1998 for A$63 million,{{Cite web |title=The Mayne Report - The day Alan Jackson lost his cool |url=https://www.maynereport.com/articles/2008/01/07-1244-7088.html |access-date=2023-02-13 |website=www.maynereport.com}} when BTR completely collapsed. The same man who had previously purchased the company representing BTR, was now representing Austrim in the purchase. However, the purchase was not as costly as before because BTR had sold off part of the company following Jackson's retirement from BTR in 1996. The company became at that point Austrim Nylex, which was then simplified to Nylex once again, with Jackson commenting that the Nylex brand in Australia was better known compared to Austrim, and this could help the business further grow.{{Cite news|last=Mayne|first=Stephen|date=22 October 1998|title=The day Alan Jackson lost his cool|work=The Daily Telegraph|url=https://www.maynereport.com/articles/2008/01/07-1244-7088.html|access-date=2 January 2022}}{{Cite news|last=Ian|first=Porter|date=2 September 2003|title=Symbolism Rules As Nylex Rises From The Corporate Graveyard|page=1|work=The Age}} Austrim Nylex eventually owned 30 major brands in Australia, including control of many textile companies, but profit margins had become thin and large amounts of borrowing, to expand the company in a short period of time, led the company to begin be unable to pay back its loans. Jackson stayed with the company, eventually leaving in 2001. Following this, the company began decreasing in profit margins and got furthered indebted as a result. The subsequent chief executives could not turn the tides of Nylex's trajectory.{{cite news |id={{ProQuest|363827822}} |last1=Porter |first1=Ian |title=Nylex to be reincarnated as Austrim sheds its past along with $72m loss |newspaper=Sydney Morning Herald |date=2 September 2003 |page=23 }} The company remained roughly in that same form until the 2008 financial crisis.{{Cite web |date=2009-02-21 |title=Nylex: from household name to oblivion |url=https://www.afr.com/politics/nylex-from-household-name-to-oblivion-20090221-jmlr2 |access-date=2023-02-13 |website=Australian Financial Review |language=en}}

Kitchenware, light fittings and other household products were produced under the Duperite brand throughout the 1940s and 1950s. Nylex also produced products under the Melmac brand.

Nylex's brightly colored Bessemer line of informal tablewares was common in Australian homes in the 1960s.{{Cite web|url=https://www.ngv.vic.gov.au/media_release/a-modern-life-tablewares-1930s-1980s/|title=A Modern Life: Tablewares 1930s – 1980s {{!}} NGV|website=www.ngv.vic.gov.au|access-date=1 February 2020}} Nylex started making plastic Esky products (originally produced by Malleys) in 1984.{{Cite web|date=18 September 1950|title=Esky auto box invented by Malleys - Australian food history timeline|url=https://australianfoodtimeline.com.au/1952-the-esky-invented/|access-date=2 January 2022|website=Australian Food Timeline}} By the time of collapse the company was producing a range of products including garden hose, Esky Coolers, floor tiles, car trim and parts, fuel tanks, water tanks and wheelie bins.

Esky coolers were particular well known in Australia, and were an iconic Australian brand, the name used in Australia as a general term for a hamper cooler.

{{Main|Nylex Clock}}

Nylex moved to Cremorne Street, Richmond, in the 1950s, and John Derham's office overlooked the Silos. Derham realised it would be a prominent spot for promotion of his company, which at that time was expanding and the publicity would be beneficial. He decided to move ahead with putting a Neon sign on the silos, ultimately concluded by his son Peter Derham. At the time the staff referred to it as "Derham's folly" and it was seen as a waste of money, but ultimately it became a famous landmark promoting the Nylex brand. The Nylex Clock, erected in 1961, remains a prominent feature of the Melbourne skyline, visible from various parts of Melbourne, including the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG).

The company went into liquidation in 2009,{{Cite web|last=Rawlinson|first=Clare|date=29 January 2015|title=Iconic Melbourne clock makes mysterious return to life|url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/2015-01-29/nylex-melbourne-clock-makes-mysterious-return-to-life/6054726|access-date=2 February 2020|website=ABC News}} after it failed to pay finance on A$60 million worth of debt. The receivership was handled by Ferrier Hodgson, and the company continued to trade throughout the process.{{Cite news|date=12 February 2009|title=Esky-maker Nylex goes into receivership|work=ABC News|url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/2009-02-12/esky-maker-nylex-goes-into-receivership/292944|access-date=2 January 2022}} At the time it had 8 subsidiaries, some producing garden hose, Esky Coolers, film and plastic car parts and water tanks.

There were a number of reasons for the company's collapse. The company was competing with cheap Asian plastic imports. In the BTR and Austrim eras, the company had expanded exponentially, but this had cut down profit margins. The company also, under Alan Jackson, had moved into purchasing businesses in loss making sectors, including textiles, which were suffering huge downturns at the time. The company owned major iconic Australian brands but was unable to use them to generate cash to sustain the company.

The company had benefited from water tank arm of its business, which had received subsidies because of a drought, but when the drought broke Government subsidies stopped, and then tanks started being imported from Asia. In additions, the hard times in the car industry affected Nylex's car part business. The company had seen write downs for many of its businesses and had been supported by people like Kerry Stokes who had helped the business while others had pulled out. In addition to this, the 2008 financial crisis took its toll on the company.

At the time of collapse, it owed A$100 million to creditors. Some of the businesses were sold on at the time of collapse.{{Cite news|last=Smith|first=Michael|date=4 August 2009|title=Miners look to buy Nylex's listed shell|page=46|work=The Australian Financial Review}} Esky coolers, a popular brand of lunch cooler, was sold to US company Colemans {{cite news|last=Newton|first=John|date=12 October 2002|title=Playing it cool|work=Sydney Morning Herald|url=http://newsstore.fairfax.com.au/apps/viewDocument.ac?page=1&sy=nstore&docID=SMH021012JAGQ33ACA8E}}{{Cite web|date=2 July 2009|title=Esky no longer dinky-di|url=https://www.smh.com.au/business/esky-no-longer-dinkydi-20090702-d637.html|access-date=2 January 2022|website=The Sydney Morning Herald}} Most of its industrial/commercial real estate was sold off, much of it being turned into residential apartments. The large Mentone site, which had previously housed 1000 workers, was sold off for part commercial, part residential, though a heritage protected Nylex sign remains

The Nylex brand continues to exist, selling plastic garden hose and garden products throughout Australia, through large hardware outlets.{{Cite web|title=Nylex|url=https://au.ames.com/nylex/|access-date=1 January 2022|website=AMES Australasia}} The company supports cricket in Australia, sponsoring the Melbourne Renegades.{{Cite web|title=Nylex makes a splash with the Renegades|url=https://www.melbournerenegades.com.au/news/nylex-makes-a-splash-with-renegades/2016-10-26|access-date=1 January 2022|website=Melbourne Renegades}} The company is currently owned by AMES Australasia since a 2014 acquisition that cost A$36 million. This included other companies as well as Nylex during this purchase.

A company previously owned by BTR Nylex as a subsidiary, Nylex (Malaysia) Berhad, operates as a major plastics manufacturing concern in Malaysia.

{{Reflist}}

Category:Plastics companies of Australia

Category:Manufacturing companies based in Melbourne

Category:Companies disestablished in 2009

Category:Australian subsidiaries of foreign companies

Category:Conglomerate companies of Australia

Category:Home appliance manufacturers of Australia

Category:Lawn mower manufacturers

Category:Tool manufacturing companies of Australia

Category:Heating, ventilation, and air conditioning companies

Category:Garden tool manufacturers

Category:Horticultural companies of Australia