OLIN POLYETHYLENE HAS
ITS INCEPTION HERE
THIS MONTH
POLYETHYLENE IS ONE OF THE YOUNGEST
AND MOST PHENOMENAL FILMS
WITH the beginning of polyethylene film pro
duction earlier this month, the Film Divi
sion’s Pisgah Forest plant now enjoys the unique
position of manufacturing in one plant two of the
most important transparent films in the packag
ing industry. Full scale production of this won
der film is expected early in 1955, according to
M. L. Herzog, General Manager of the Film Di
vision. Olin cellophane has been produced here
since 1951.
Like so many other products on the American
market today, polyethylene started out as a the
"Unwanted Child.” In 1933, chemists of Im
perial Chemical Industries in England were at
tempting to create a new plastic material by com
bining liquid ethylene with an aldhyde com
pound.
They were unable to join the two, but found
in the process that the ethylene changed from a
liquid into white, waxy flakes. They had found
a new plastic but could foresee no use for it.
Polythylene did not come into its own until
World War II when engineers were desperately
searching for an insulating material that would
work in radar equipment. They found that the
almost forgotten polyethylene had exceptional in
sulating qualities. Construction of a polyethylene
plant in England began immediately, and, with
Left: Polyethylene resin.
Below: Harrison Queen moves
rolls of polyethylene film to the
Wrap and Pack area where they
will be packaged for shipment
to our customers.