Our History
James Briggs Ltd, established in 1830 in Northern England, is one of the UK’s oldest chemical manufacturers. Originally serving the textile industry during the Industrial Revolution, the company evolved into a leading supplier of aerosols, lubricants, paints, and cleaning products across sectors such as automotive, industrial, and retail.
James Briggs Timeline
1830s – The Beginning
Founded by businessman James Briggs in Oldham during the industrial revolution, producing lubricants for Lancashire and Yorkshire’s textile mills.
1900s – Growth & Expansion
Our portfolio expanded to support industrial and automotive sectors with specialist formulations.
1970s – Aerosol Manufacturing
Entered large-scale aerosol production that shapes our services today.
2000s – Full-Service Solutions
Built end-to-end services: technical expertise, formulation, packaging design, and logistics.
Today – Market Leadership
From Royton and Chadderton we manufacture up to 150M aerosols and 30M litres annually across contract and own brands (Hycote, Nilco, Bikeright).
Our Sites
At James Briggs Ltd, our operations are centred across two modern manufacturing sites in Greater Manchester – Royton and Chadderton (Oldham). Together, these facilities form the backbone of our production capability, allowing us to deliver millions of high-quality products every year.
Chadderton
At Chadderton, we focus on liquid filling and packaging solutions, complemented by our in-house laboratories for product formulation and quality testing. This site also serves as a hub for logistics and distribution, ensuring we can provide full end-to-end service for our partners.
Royton
Our Royton facility is home to advanced aerosol filling lines, capable of producing a wide range of products for automotive, industrial, hygiene, and retail markets. With large-scale capacity and state-of-the-art technology, the site is designed to meet the demands of both high-volume manufacturing and specialist product runs.
Heap Bridge
At Heap Bridge, we specialise in the manufacturing, blending, and packaging of automotive care and maintenance products, supporting many of Tetrosyl’s leading brands. Our operations are backed by on-site quality assurance and testing facilities to ensure consistency across every batch.
Beverley
At our Beverley site, we focus on the production, filling, and packaging of solvents, adhesives, decorating sundries, and household chemicals, all manufactured to high safety and quality standards. The site houses dedicated facilities for flammable and water-based product lines, supported by stringent in-house testing and compliance systems.
