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History of Intertek Oil Chemical & Agri (Caleb Brett) |
A Short History of Intertek Oil Chemical & Agri (Caleb Brett) |
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Mr. Caleb Brett founded the company in 1885 as an independent testing and inspection company, providing impartial professional services to global clients. |
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The Intertek Oil Chemical & Agri (Caleb Brett) company was founded in 1885 by Mr. Caleb Brett, a Kent farmer in England who owned a business exporting grain to Russia and importing Russian furs and other goods to Great Britain.
Unprecedented levels of global economic growth and international trade marked this period of time, thanks to new technologies, transportation development and governmental support for market oriented trading policies. Routine shipping of bulk high value commodity cargoes such as grains and petroleum experienced a global surge in increased tonnage, enabled by larger tankers and cargo vessels powered by steam engines.
New opportunities to sell bulk commodities were not without risk to trading partners. Mr. Caleb Brett experienced periodic financial loss on grain cargoes due to rejection of his grain shipments at the discharge port, even though the grain was in acceptable condition at the loading port. Mr. Brett realized that an independent, impartial inspection service was needed to regulate cargo quality and reduce business risks associated with the global trade in high value commodities. A neutral and honest inspection service was the solution.
At this point, Caleb Brett started a new business to certify the quality and quantity of the grain prior to shipment. The fledgling business was a success, but continuing political turmoil in Russia put the grain export market at risk.
Coincidently, the global petroleum industry was beginning to emerge as a promising new market, driven by the invention of internal combustion technologies. Recognizing the emergence of a dynamic petroleum industry as a similar opportunity, Caleb Brett focused his company on the inspection and testing of crude oil, refined fuels and petrochemical products.
The new petroleum inspection business started in Great Britain and expanded as clients requested similar services in Nigeria, Netherlands, USA and other locations. The company operated under the name Caleb Brett and Sons Ltd. for much of the 20th century. The company now provides inspection and testing services to 118 nations.
Over the past one hundred and twenty years, the Intertek OCA (Caleb Brett) division has evolved significantly from the early days. The company has established operations and laboratories wherever there is a petroleum refinery, petrochemical plant, major seaport, and provides significant Exploration and Production activities.
The OCA division of Intertek has built a leading global network of laboratories and offices to service the worldwide business in petroleum, chemicals and agricultural products. The company broadened its focus and is one of the leaders in analytical testing services. Services include submitted sample contract testing, project analysis, and laboratory outsourcing.
Intertek OCA is now assuming ownership and complete management of client laboratories in the petroleum, chemical, pharmaceutical and consumer industries.
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The World in 1885 to 1890:
- 1.5 billion people on the planet.
- Karl Benz begins production of a three-wheeler automobile.
- The world’s first tanker ship built in 1886 to carry oil in bulk to Europe.
- The Rothschilds develop petroleum in Russia.
- Dictating machines are used in offices.
- Royal Dutch develops petroleum in Sumatra.
- 250,000 telephones exist in the world.
- A pharmacist creates Coca-Cola as a "headache tonic".
- Gottlieb Daimler produces four-wheel, gasoline-powered automobiles.
- The Royal Niger Company granted a charter to govern the British Oil Rivers Protectorate, southern Nigeria.
- The first Sherlock Holmes story published.
- Berliner gets music from a flat disc stamped out by machine, the first "record".
- Standard Oil exports USA oil to the Middle East, the Far East, and Europe, 70% of Standard's business is overseas.
- The Kodak "Box Camera" invented.
- Heinrich Hertz discovers radio waves.
- Coin-operated public telephone invented.
- Count Ferdinand de Lesseps launches the Compagnie Universelle du Canal Interoceanique in the first effort to build a transoceanic Panama Canal.
- Edison's phonograph for sale to the public.
- Herman Hollerith patents first data processing computer, invents punch cards.
- Alexander G. Eiffel designs the Eiffel Tower.
- WE Gladstone and the Marquess of Salisbury are Prime Ministers of Great Britain in 1885.
- Queen Victoria's Golden Jubilee celebrated June 1887.
- Winston Churchill is 10 years old, attending Brighton.
- Gold is discovered in Transvaal.
- Jack the Ripper terrorizes London.
- Alexander III is Czar of the Russian Empire.
- Otto von Bismarck is Chancellor of the German Empire.
- Grover Cleveland is President of the USA.
- Hilaire de Chardonnet invents rayon.
- North Dakota, South Dakota, Montana, Washington, Idaho and Wyoming are admitted into the Union as the 39th to 44th States in the USA.
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