American Viscose Corporation was an American division of the British firm Courtaulds, which manufactured rayon and other synthetic fibres. Established in 1909, it became the largest supplier of rayon and the first company to make artificial silk in the United States.
The company changed names and ownership several times. It was founded as a division of Courtaulds and began production as "The Viscose Company" in 1910. In 1937 it changed to "American Viscose Corporation". In 1941 the company was sold off by order of the British government in order to raise money for purchase of munitions and other supplies from the Americans. The company passed into the control of the Monsanto Corporation after the war. (Courtaulds resumed manufacture of rayon in the United States in 1952). In 1963 it was purchased by FMC Corporation, which sold off the division in 1976 to its employees. It was then renamed Avtex Fibers.
Subject ID: 7851
MoreAmerican Viscose Corporation was an American division of the British firm Courtaulds, which manufactured rayon and other synthetic fibres. Established in 1909, it became the largest supplier of rayon and the first company to make artificial silk in the United States.
The company changed names and ownership several times. It was founded as a division of Courtaulds and began production as "The Viscose Company" in 1910. In 1937 it changed to "American Viscose Corporation". In 1941 the company was sold off by order of the British government in order to raise money for purchase of munitions and other supplies from the Americans. The company passed into the control of the Monsanto Corporation after the war. (Courtaulds resumed manufacture of rayon in the United States in 1952). In 1963 it was purchased by FMC Corporation, which sold off the division in 1976 to its employees. It was then renamed Avtex Fibers.
Certain of its closed plants have become Superfund pollution cleanup sites. The former plant site at Front Royal, Virginia was used for manufacturing from 1940 until 1989, when the discovery of emissions of polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) into the nearby Shenandoah River led to the plant's closure. The site is currently being restored by FMC in conjunction with the United States Environmental Protection Agency.
The company made rayon fiber for fabric and also rayon cord for reinforcement of pneumatic automobile tires. Declining sales and high internal costs caused Avtex to close its rayon operations in 1988, briefly restarting to produce fiber for the aerospace industry, and then permanently closing in 1990 for economic and environmental reasons.
Subject ID: 7851
Subject ID: 7851