Clariant was formed in 1995 as a spin off from the chemical company Sandoz, which was itself established in Basel in 1886.
The 32-acre site in Horsforth opened as a liquorice works in 1900 and was taken over by Clariant in 2001. It made special chemicals for leather treatment products.
Clariant expanded through the incorporation of the speciality chemicals business of Hoechst (Germany) in 1997, and the acquisitions of BTP plc (UK) in 2000 and Ciba’s Masterbatches division in 2006. In 2008, they also acquired the leading U.S. colorant suppliers Rite Systems and Ricon Colors.
The site at Horsforth was the main driver for the research, development, production and marketing of Optical Brightening Agents (OBAs, FWAs) world-wide. In a first move, Clariant closed its world-class OBA research and marketing team in the UK in September 2007. In July 2008 Clariant announced it would close the entire site by the end of that year, with the loss of around 240 jobs.
The site in Leeds/Horsforth was designated a Textile, Leather and Paper site, although products from other businesses were manufactured there.
Harrow Estates accquired the site in September 2009, along with the neighbouring Colourflex Dyeworks, Riverside Mills. Following the demolition of existing buildings there is provision for up to 400 dwellings on the Clariant site.
