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Our History

Established in 1869, Robinson Brothers is one of the UK’s leading chemical manufacturers. We manufacture speciality/fine chemicals, high impact aroma chemicals and rubber accelerators.

Originally founded by three brothers: William Leckie Robinson, James Henry Robinson and Charles R. Robinson, Robinson Brothers has remained a family-owned company while growing and reacting to the ever-evolving chemical industry. The company manufactures speciality/fine chemicals and rubber accelerators from its manufacturing site based in the West Midlands, UK.

We currently offer more than 100 chemical intermediates. This has resulted in Robinson Brothers becoming a dependable supplier to customers across several industry sectors including agrochemical, pharmaceutical, veterinary and automotive markets. Click here to find out more. Our expertise in challenging chemistry has enabled us to offer contract manufacturing services to organisations that may not have the required facilities/capacity to meet their product manufacturing needs.

Robinson Brothers performs a variety chemistries, including Amidation, Carbon disulfide, Dehydrogenation, Heterocyclic, Hydrogenation, Oxidation and Thiolation chemistries. Click here to learn more.

    History History History History History History
    History History History History History History

Robinson Brothers Timeline

  • 1869
  • 1909
  • 1939
  • 1946
  • 1950
  • 1967
  • 1968
  • 1978
  • 1984
  • 1992
  • 1993
  • 1994
  • 1996
  • 1999
  • 2000
  • 2001
  • 2002
  • 2008
  • 2010
  • 2012
  • 2013
  • 2014
  • 2015
  • 2016
  • 2017
  • 2018
  • 2019
  • 2020
  • 2021
  • 2023
1869

Robinson Brothers was established by William Leckie Robinson, James Henry Robinson and Charles R Robinson for the distillation of coal tar.

1909

Robinson Brothers was licenced to manufacture a new road coating composition (Tarvia) for the automotive industry.

1939

Robinson Brothers established a rubber technical service laboratory to develop polymer chemicals and rubber additives to meet the increasing use of vulcanisation accelerators in the market. This is now known as the Polymer Additive Laboratory; part of the Robac Technology division.

1946

Robinson Brothers set-up their UK manufacturing site to handle Carbon disulfide technology.

1950

Robinson Brothers introduced high-pressure hydrogenation to manufacture Piperidine for Penicillin G. Piperidine (CAS No: 110-89-4) is still a leading product for Robinson Brothers, which is used as a chemical intermediate for a wide range of applications, including: agrochemicals, coatings and pharmaceuticals.

1967

Robinson Brothers began on-site generation of Hydrogen sulphide.

1968

Robinson Brothers began manufacturing Cysteamine – a key ingredient in the synthesis of the revolutionary anti-ulcer drug Tagamet.

1978

Robinson Brothers designed their first multi-product Plant that contained glass-lined reactions and enclosed filter drier units.

1984

Robinson Brothers began Friedel Crafts reactions using Aluminium chloride.

1992

Robinson Brothers installed a Phosgenation Plant for the custom manufacture of a veterinary active.

1993

Robinson Brothers produced a chemical intermediate by chiral synthesis, for the first time.

1994

Robinson Brothers began bulk handling of elemental Bromine.

1996

Robinson Brothers created novel Thiolation chemistry, which has since become part of our core competences.

1999

Robinson Brothers began commercial scale Chlorosulfonation reactions using a dedicated reactor.

2000

Robinson Brothers invested in a new £2M state-of-the-art Incineration Plant, waste-to-energy plant.

2001

Robinson Brothers created a Kilo-Laboratory, allowing small-scale manufacturing to support new product synthesis.

2002

Robinson Brothers installed a wiped film evaporator in Pilot Plant.

2008

Robinson Brothers Group purchased Endeavour Speciality Chemicals Ltd, based in Daventry UK, with core expertise in sulfur and heterocyclic chemistries.

2010

Robinson Brothers began working on the SafeRubber project to identify a safer alternative to Ethylene thiourea. This project was led by our Robac Technology, rubber additives division, who engaged in this European consortium.

2012

Robinson Brothers win the prestigious Chemical Industry Association GSK Innovation Award for their role in the SafeRubber project.

2013

Robinson Brothers win the Chemical Industries Association Responsible Care Special Award for Process Safety Leadership.

2014

Robinson Brothers won the Chemical Industries Association Company of Year Award, and Chemical Industries Association Innovation Award for the launch of Robac SRM102

EU-funded SafeRubber project came to an end, from which, Robac SRM102 was launched as a safe alternative to Ethylene thiourea.

2015

Robinson Brothers invest in a bespoke artic lorry to meet the gas odorant market demand, with the rise in biogas sites across the UK.

2016

Robinson Brothers invested in a bulk tank farm to support the growth in demand and supply of Piperidine (CAS No: 110-89-4) - a long standing chemical in our product portfolio.

2017

Robinson Brothers successfully achieved ISO 9001:2015 accreditation. The company made a smooth transition from ISO 9001:2008 a year ahead of the deadline set as September 2018. Robinson Brothers will remain committed to providing a service of the highest quality to customers.

2018

Implemented SAGE enterprise management software for processes across finance, purchasing, stock inventory, manufacturing and customer relationship management.

2019

Celebrating 150 years of business

2020

Winners of the Black Country Chamber of Commerce Family Business of the Year Award

2021

Robinson Brothers participate in ITN Productions and Chemical Industries Association news-style programme The Chemical Industry: Our Route to Net Zero exploring how the chemical industry is vital in helping the UK achieve net zero targets by 2050.

2023

Robinson Brothers became an active participant of projects exploring the odorisation of Hydrogen. 

Our Products

Capabilities

Robinson Brothers takes on all stages of a product life cycle, from conception right through to maturity.

Contract Manufacture

Robinson Brothers offers contract and toll manufacturing services both with and without provision of customers own know-how and Intellectual Property (IP).

Robinson Brothers Limited

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Phoenix Street, West Bromwich

West Midlands B70 0AH UK


T +44 (0)121 553 2451

F +44 (0)121 500 5183

  • © Copyright Robinson Brothers 2017
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  • Registered in England 201053
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  • Privacy Policy
  • |
  • Terms & Conditions
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  • Site by Verto
  • © Copyright Robinson Brothers 2017
  • |
  • Registered in England 201053
  • |
  • Site by Verto

Contact Us

Phoenix Street, West Bromwich

West Midlands B70 0AH UK


T +44 (0)121 553 2451

F +44 (0)121 500 5183

  • Home
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    • Hydrogenation
    • Amination
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