Railway through the fence

The Lanxess Solutions UK Ltd, Trafford Park facility opened Dec. 24, 1939, to manufacture phosphate-based plasticizers for Geigy Colour Co. Ltd., a subsidiary of Geigy SA. In 1953, the site became known as Ashburton Chemicals until another reorganization occurred and it became an operating site of Geigy (UK) Ltd. In 1970, Geigy SA merged with Ciba AG and the Trafford Park site became part of Ciba Geigy UK. In 1992, the site was sold to FMC Corporation, and in August 1999, it was sold to Great Lakes Chemical Corporation. In 2005, Great Lakes Chemical joined with Crompton to become Chemtura. The site is currently operated as Lanxess Solutions UK Ltd.

Through the years, the research facility at Trafford Park developed a wide range of new products in fine chemicals and pharmaceutical intermediates, plastic additives and flame retardants, which formed the basis of its operations for several years. For the past 20 years, operations have been consolidated into flame retardants, lubrication/hydraulic fluid additives, and water-treatment chemicals.

Products include hydraulic/turbo fluids used in power generation and lubrication applications where flame retardancy is required and water-treatment additives to prevent scale in industrial water and desalination systems.

The rails are a relic of the once extensive railway system that served industries right across the Trafford Pakrk industrial estate.