BRITISH COTTON AND WOOL DYERS ASSOCIA TION, LTD. This is the largest combination of yarn dyers in the world. Its chief business is to dye yarn or other raw material previous to its actual manufacture into cloth by the weaver or into web by the knitter. Thus, for the cotton spinner the company dyes raw cotton, while for the cotton manufacturer cotton yarn is dyed, printed, bleached or sized. For the worsted spinner wool is dyed, while for the woollen or worsted manufacturer yarns are dyed, printed or bleached. The rise of the artificial silk industry increased the range of the combine's operations. For another important industry, hosiery, it dyes or prints or bleaches the appropriate yarns, delivering them ready for use in hank or on bobbin. Some of the branches do special work in dyeing yarns for the peculiar requirements of various oversea markets. The mercerizing of yarns is another department of importance.
The company's special interest in yarn as one of their chief raw materials leads them to act as yarn merchants; carrying large stocks they can expedite the delivery of finished dyed products. So the association becomes a great self-contained business, which in addition to dyeing operates large warping, beaming and winding plants to enable it to serve all classes and all markets at home and abroad. That is its main business, but in addition it operates a large cotton cloth dyehouse and finishing works, a department for the dry-cleaning and dyeing of garments, and a chemical works and dyewood grinding factory.
The company was floated early in 1900, to acquire and amal gamate 46 English and Scottish companies and firms. Additional works were afterwards acquired. The authorized capital in 1927 was 4,000,000 shares of 5/— each, of which 3,096,66o fully paid had been issued, amounting to £774,165. There was also an authorized 4% First Mortgage Debenture Stock of £750,000, of which £620,000 had been issued. At March 31 1927, the capital value of the operating works stood at £1,554,024. The central office is at Manchester.
The economies of an association of this character are manifold, whether in the centralized purchase of supplies, in finance, or in the organization of selling. Not the least valuable feature has been the gradual equipment of specific branches for certain types of trade or work. The company has central laboratories for investigation and research into the chemical and engineering problems of the textile industries, and is able to maintain a very high standard of personnel and equipment.
The company maintains a welfare department and provides canteens and rest rooms, and has established an employees' insurance scheme, which, without contribution from the em ployees, provides liberal sums varying from f 1 oo upwards for the dependents of any worker who dies whilst in the company's employ. (L. C. M.)