Abril’s research chemists discovered amide waxes in April 1945 and the company was set up to exploit the new found technology. One of the driving forces of this commitment was the prospect of significantly reducing the UK’s import bill for natural waxes.

    The company occupied a site at Bridgend in South Wales and found a ready market around the world for its products. Still today, a large proportion of the company’s sales are to the export market.

    The product range grew to include formulated wax products such as emulsions and polishes of all kinds. These were in addition to the basic waxes which were then starting to be appreciated by the fledging plastics industry which even today remains the main stream consumer of the company’s output

    Some of the earlier products are still keeping pace with current polymer technology. Whilst the basic reactions, by which the company’s products are manufactured, still remain unchanged, the processes and control methods have been updated and Abril now occupies a modern plant in a new location in South Wales, not far from its original site.

    Wax is a ubiquitous material appearing in many guises and found in an amazing number of different products and industries.