Rozalex

Rozalex was a brand of Rozalex Limited, a subsidiary of the Chloride Electrical Storage Company[1] credited with being the first company in the United Kingdom to commercialise topical barrier cream for use in an industrial setting.[2]

The cream was originally developed for use in their Exide works at Clifton Junction near Manchester. Battery manufacture was labour-intensive and used hazardous materials, so skin irritation and contact dermatitis were rife among workers. Chloride began researching and developing a barrier cream that could help protect workers and increase productivity.

Company history

The company was founded in 1929[3] as a spin-off of The Chloride Electrical Storage Co. Ltd.

In 1969, Newton, Chambers & Company[4] acquired Rozalex Limited and the brand sat along other household names such as IZAL and Zalpon.

In 1972, Newton, Chambers & Co was acquired by the Central & Sheerwood Trust, an Investment banking and financial services group.

In 1973, Central & Sheerwood Trust sold the IZAL operation, which included Rozalex, to Sterling Winthrop's, Sterling Industrial.

In 1981, Sterling Industrial acquired the Kerodex range of industrial barrier creams and merged them into the Rozalex Range.

In 1987, Unilever acquired Sterling Industrial strategically to push into the business-to-business hygiene, janitorial, and floor care sectors.

In 2002, Unilever sold the main equity share of its business-to-business division (Lever Industrial-DiverseyLever) to SC Johnson to form JohnsonDiversey.