Saiccor - The First 50 Years 5.8 MB - Sappi

The Cantacuzene Period (1952–1965)
A photo taken in 1950 of the original team that investigated the feasibility of the Saiccor project� From LEFT TO RIGHT
are: FC Aldred, Dr WD Spencer, WG Daroux (all from Courtaulds), L Rattray (a Natal tree farmer), D Bassi, I
Stefanelli, A Brunetti and Col� A Hancock (all from SNIA-Viscosa)
the team� They also conducted pilot plant studies which were not
completely successful, for although it made a good pulp, it was too
soft to go through the drying machine� The IDC selected the site and
examined the supply of services such as timber, electric power and
water�
Courtaulds produced a proposal for a 110 ton/day pulp mill� The
company, the South African Industrial Cellulose Corporation, soon
to become SAICCOR, was registered on 12 September 1951, with
Courtaulds, SNIA and the IDC each having a third of the
shareholding� SNIA were to design, build and commission the plant
(which they welcomed as they not only had the expertise but were
overmanned at the time after having to re-employ all former
employees returning from the war)� The IDC supplied all the local
expertise and were responsible for all external services and logistics�
Courtaulds wanted the product, and had the overall responsibility
for the success of the project� The project was to be managed by the
Saiccor Board�
The first Board of Directors was appointed on 3 October 1951 and
consisted of Claude Cornish-Bowden (Chairman) (IDC), Alessandro
Brunetti (SAICI) and Wilfred Sheldon (Courtaulds)� The first Board
meeting was held in Johannesburg on 4 October 1951, followed by a
further four in 1951, and eight in 1952� From November 1953 the
venue moved to Durban and from November 1954 to Umkomaas�
7
The original Saiccor logo designed
by Piero Miniutti was in use until
the 1960s, even though one of the
‘hands’, SNIA, sold its interests in
1956