2000 (and onwards)

The new millennium heralded the beginning of another great period of change and
fresh challenges for the company. Brian Dunsterville, head of Technical
Development was appointed a Director of Winn & Coales International and a
greater worldwide focus was implemented on all specialised markets to improve
existing systems and introduce new products.

International Denso Conferences were held annually to bring together key staff
from around the world to exchange experiences in the field and study market
research information. Denso Conferences were also held in Japan, Korea, Taiwan
and Indonesia to include key staff and agents for the Far East and Asia.

For the first time in the history of the company a full range of products were
exported from the London based Denso factory to China. Demand for the UK's new
robust SeaShield 2000FD system led to numerous contracts being awarded around
England, Wales and North Africa. Denso Steelcoat Systems were regularly specified
to protect large numbers of offshore oil rigs, steel structures and pipework in
process plants.
 

Jetty piles protected with SeaShield 2000FD System

All Denso subsidiaries improved market share, with North America companies
achieving record results. Larger manufacturing facilities were built in Houston, USA
and new premises were acquired in Toronto, Canada. In Durban, South Africa, a
modern Denso factory was commissioned and in England, Dartford Composites
moved to a bigger manufacturing site.
 

1990 - 2000

The onset of the nineties brought more changes to the company. In April 1991,
Frank Coales who had served the company for 75 years died at the age of 102. He
was replaced as Chairman, a month later by David Winn. At the time the company
had traded for 112 years with only two Chairman at the helm.

Utilising updated technologies, Denso Australia improved the concept of protecting
marine jetty piles with tape wrap coatings. This new system was launched as
Denso SeaShield which is now specified all over the world.

Back in the UK, the Denso anti-corrosion product rage was augmented with a
range of plumbing oriented central heating additives and potable water tank
refurbishment systems. The company's investment in road maintenance products
also started to return profits as their new Densoband asphalt jointing systems
began to be specified by local authorities.
 

Heating Densoband with a torch or application machine ensures an excellent bond
with the vertical joint face.

During the early nineties, Denso Void-Filler was developed for protecting
prestressed cables. Over a million litres were subsequently used on the massive
Second Severn Bridge Crossing Project.

In 1993 the company celebrated its 110th year of trading with special dinner for
employees at the Pump Room, Royal Baths, Bath. In 1995 David Winn was proud
recipient of an OBE from His Royal Highness the Prince of Wales, at Buckingham
Palace. John Burton also took over responsibility for all UK operations and was
appointed Managing Director of London based Winn & Coales (Denso) Ltd.

In 1997 Premier Coatings Ltd. and Dartford Composities were acquired.
The acquisition of the Premier brand increased overseas market penetration with
both |anti-corrosion and waterproofing products. Dartford Composites created
new opportunities in glass reinforce plastic fabrication, manufacturing specialist
parts for companies such as Caterhim Cars and South Eastern Railway.
 

1980 - 1990

The beginning of this period was market in Britain by Royal Wedding of Charles
and Diana and a resulting high level of patriotism was stirred up throughout the
country. Against this background the company continued to flourish and prospects
looked good. Steady growth led to the confidence to invest in areas such as the
building industry, culminating in the formation of a new merchant division in 1981.
In 1983 the company celebrated its centenary with a visit from Her Royal Highness
Princess Alexandra to Denso House and held a special banquet dinner for 450
guests and staff at the Guildhall in London.

Dr. Keith Erskine, grandson of Frank Coales, was appointed a non-executive
Director and John Burton was appointed Financial Director and Company Secretary
in 1986.

To augment its existing corrosion prevention products, the company purchased
Protal Coatings later the same year. Prodal were already a highly regarded and
well established range of liquid coatings and they complemented the Denso range
of tapes. The end of this decade saw the formation in 1988 of the Brokersell
Division, bringing together several popular DIY brands including Sylglas, under one
roof and in 1989 Frank Coales celebrated his 100th birthday. Still active and
fulfilling his role as Chairman at this time his received an entry in the Guiness Book
of Records.

Having experienced success with the Protal liquid coatings business, the company
turned its attention to resistant linings for industrial tanks, a natural extension of
the existing Denso product range. This resulted in the purchase Archco-Sparyglass
Ltd. and Rigidon Resistant Materials Ltd. in 1989, both well known suppliers and
applicators of these linings.

The two companies were later merged to Archo-Rigidon Ltd.

In South Africa, Denso Anti-corrosion Ltd. changed its name to Denso South Africa Ltd.
 

1970 - 1980

The 1970's saw the manufacture and introduction of heavy duty adhesive cold
applied bitumen laminate tapes for the external corrosion prevention of large
diameter buried steel pipelines. These tough flexible tapes were available in
several thicknesses each offering different degrees of mechanical protection. Being
cold applied they offered many advantages over the existing hot applied systems
and were an important addition to the product range.
 

Densopol  |  Densoclad  |  Denso CPT/PVC


Pipeline protected with the bitumen based Densopol Tape
 

The company was still undergoing a period of rapid expansion at this time and
during the early 1970's subsidiary companies were formed in the USA and Canada
opening the door to the vast potential of business there.

In 1978, Gulf Anti-Corrosion Ltd., a joint venture partnership providing a protection
consultancy agency in the Middle East, was formed to be followed in 1979 by the
company celebrating the fiftieth (50) anniversary of Denso Petrolatum Tape.

Fire resistant Denso systems were developed for use in oil refineries, in railway
tunnels and on offshore platforms.

As a finishing touch to the success gained during this decade a brand new
laboratory and conference building on the Chapel Road site was erected and
opened.
 

1960 - 1970

The simplicity of the Denso and Sylglas products gave them
an worldwide appeal and exports began to play a major
role in the companies activities during the sixties.

Tokstrip flexible jointing strip was introduced in 1960 for
sealing precast concrete inspection chamber and box culvert units and was an instant success.
 

Denso Tokstrip is used to seal precast concrete chamber units

In 1964 Denso International Pipeline Products Ltd. was formed to penetrate the
overseas pipeline market. Agents were appointed throughout the world to
promote the expanding product ranges and partnerships were formed in Australia,
New Zealand and South Africa as were associate relationships with existing Denso
companies in Europe.

In 1965 David Winn, grandson of the founder joined the company and three years
later was appointed Deputy Chairman, allowing Frank Coales to take a less active
part in the day to day affairs of the business. The company's extensive world-wide
network today owes most of its creation to this period. This rapid commercial
expansion was set against a background of emerging new phenomena including
Beatlemania and man's first step on the moon.
 

1950 - 1960

The next ten years saw the beginning in Britain of the mammoth task of rebuilding
after the Second World War. Denso House in Chapel Road, West Norwood, built on
the site of an old brewery, was discovered and considered a great improvement
over the Beckenham premises. The company moved there in 1950 under the
chairmanship of Frank Coales who had taken over after the death of Paul Winn in
1946.

Customer demand continued to fuel the steady expansion of the Denso product
range and products such as Coal Tar Tape were developed during this period. A
company research laboratory for product development was also established for
the first time.

In 1957, using knowledge and experience gained over the previous 25 years, a
range of water and weatherproofing products aimed at the DIY market were
launched under the Sylglas brand.
 

1940 - 1950

The turbulent onset of World War Two in 1939 set the pace for the next decade.
Much Denso Tape was purchased for gasproofing rooms and reparing bomb
damaged gas mains as well as waterproofing military vehicles.

The company moved its administration to the Beney Lighter premises in
Beckenham after the Head Office at Trinity Square along with many company
records were destroyed in a 'doodlebug' flying bomb attack. Manufacturing
demand began to outstrip capacity but the company had to carry on making the
best of the situation unable to look for anywhere larger until the war was over and
everyday life in Britain had settled back down to something approaching normality.
 

1930 - 1940

Even the bleak economy climate of the thirties with the Jarrow hunger marches
failed to stifle the demand for business which saw the need to create a new
manufacturing operation. In 1933 Paul Winn appointed Frank Coales as his
partner, Winn & Coales Ltd. was formed and the manufacture of Denso Tape
began in factory premises in Stepney. The new company took over all the activities
of Department 'C' and it was from this beginning that the present Winn & Coales
(Denso) Ltd. originated. Sales grew rapidly and new products such as the bitumen
based Densotherm Tape were developed and added to the range.

Eddy Webb and John Banks joined the company during this period and both
eventually arose through the ranks to the position of Managing Director. In 1918,
Beckenham based Beney Lighters was acquired, adding utility lighters and
precision tools to the company's ever growing list of products. The biggest selling
line manufactured by Beney was the Economic Gas Lighter which hung on the side
of housewife's gascookers and was also used for lighting bunson burners in
labaratories.
 

1920 - 1930

Perhaps as an antidote to the severity of the war years, the 1920's is remembered
as the era of the 'flapper' and frivolity. Paul Winn & Company Ltd. remained a
private company whilst, The Barking Brassware Company, which manufactured
pipes for plumbing and bathroom fittings and P. Winn (Barking) Ltd. which
manufactured Abbey Tiles, became a public company and was the origin of Winn
Industries Ltd.

In 1929 Paul Winn & Co Ltd. took on the agency for a German manufactured
tape used for corrosion prevention and sealing.
Marketed as Denso anti-corrosion tape, it was a great success with the gas
and water industry who used it for the protection of pipes and fittings.

Comprising a bandage impregnated with petroleum jelly
compound the tape protects metal by providing an impermeable flexible
barrier between the steel surface and its surrounding environment. The tape
coating is also totally effective even when applied over layers of light rust and
entrapped moisture.

1910 - 1920

Events leading up to and culminating in the outbreak of the first World War
dominated the next ten years of the company's development. Paul's son Eric Winn
joined the company in 1910 and diversity was the order of the day. This entailed
the additional trading in wall tiles and other building commodities.

With the onset of the war in 1914, many staff were called up for active service and
in 1916 Frank B. Coales joined the company which now traded as Paul Winn &
Company. Eric Winn was appointed a Director of the company and during the time
a new agency was acquired for making thorium nitrate used in the manufacture of
gas mantles. Paul Winn's second son Norman joined the company in 1919 and the
company was reorganised into specialist departments bearing the initial of its
manager. Frank Coales section became Department 'C'. This embryo of the present
company also acquired an agency for miners lamps.
 

1900 - 1910

Social change and the struggle for women's suffrage was the unsettled
background to this period.

By 1905 the company had taken the bold step of its first manufacturing venture,
the production of soda crystals and Glauber salts. Soda crystals were used for
softening water, washing and degreasing and are still popular today because they
contain no phosphates, enzymes or bleach. at the turn of the century when they
were introduced they were (apart from soap flakes), virtually the only domestic
cleaner available.

Glauber salts (originally extracted from Hungarian spring waters by Johann
Glauber) were used as a mild laxative and dying applications.
 

1883 - 1900

In 1883 Queen Victoria was in her 23rd year of widowhood, the motor car was
beginning to make its presence felt and a feeling of change was in the air. Against
this background Paul Winn set up the import/export house in London that was
later to become Winn & Coales (Denso) Ltd.

Paul Winn began by exporting coke to Germany but soon expanded to import
starches and sugars. By 1900 he had established the company in the heart of the
commodities sector in Mark Lane, and had increased its trading base to include
such items as waxes and petroleum jelly.