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In January 1929, Mr E A Murphy, a Dunlop research scientist working in Birmingham, measured some liquid latex, soap and gelling agents into a cake mixer and whisked them for 15 minutes. He poured the mixture into a tray and placed it in a steam oven at 100°C.
Two hours later, he knew he had finally reached the end of several years’ intensive research. Mr Murphy and his team of scientists had invented latex foam.
Dunlopillo a division of the world renowned Dunlop Co. was formed shortly after this, producing latex cushioning for the automotive industry, seating for cinemas and mattresses and pillows for the home, hotels, hospitals and ships.
During the 1930s, the product grew in popularity but virtually disappeared during the war years due to the blockade of the rubber plantations.
After the war, normal supplies were resumed and the company flourished as an important part of the Dunlop group. Dunlopillo’s headquarters were established in Pannal in the 1960’s where the installation of the Talalay Latex process made it the most advanced latex manufacturing plant in the world.
Dunlopillo continued to be a highly successful division of Dunlop Ltd, which was acquired in 1985 by the industrial giant BTR plc.
Following a successful Management Buyout in March 1997, Dunlopillo became a privately owned company backed by Venture Capitalists. This provided the company with the financial backing to invest substantially in new developments.
In October 2002 Dunlopillo sold its UK operations to Hilding Anders and became known from that date on as Dunlop Latex Foam Ltd. trading overseas as Dunlopillo International.
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