The BereznikI Museum exposition contains a French-language register called ‘Lyubimov-SolvAy and Co. Society for the production of soda in Russia’. Each page of the register is titled ‘Tableau comparatif de fabrication’ - " production summary table’.
The register tables are neatly filled with data on bicarbonate de soude - soda ash, chaux - lime, acide carbonique - carboxylic acid, and other materials. This magazine refers to the history of the Bereznikovsky soda plant, which appeared in the SolikAmsk district in 1883.
In the last quarter of the 19th century, Russian industry experienced an enormous need for soda. The country annually consumed about two million poods of soda, which was used in the glass and textile industries, soap making, in the production of kerosene out of oil.
There were no domestic productions at that time - soda was supplied to Russia only from foreign factories. This situation was corrected by the merchant of the first guild, salt breeder IvAn LyubImov. In 1881, he bought from the treasury a small territory of 118 acres – the BerezOvy Island on the KAma River.
The construction of the plant would have been impossible without financial and technical assistance from the European soda monopoly - the Solvay company. It was headed by Ernest SolvAy, the owner of the patent for the ammonia method for producing soda ash. By 1880, he owned soda factories in England, France, Germany, and the USA.
On February 23, 1881, Lyubimov signed the “LyubImov and Co” partnership with SolvAy. In May of the same year, the first brick of the building of the BereznikI soda plant was laid, and on July 21, 1883, the first pound of soda was received at the plant. This major event was celebrated not only in the Perm region, but also beyond its borders.
At the time of launch, the plant was equipped with the most modern technologies. By the beginning of the 20th century, the plant had 11 steam engines, three locomotives, 25 boilers, and five electric motors. There were auxiliary establishments at the enterprise: sawmill, cooperage production. There was also a great rarity for those times - electric lighting. The plant worked in two shifts of 12 hours each, workers received high salaries and bonuses, people with seven years of experience could count on annual vacations.
The supremacy of foreign specialists at the Berezniki soda plant was supported by the secrecy of production, which Solvay insisted on. Technological schemes, descriptions, drawings with a general view of the equipment were not allowed into circulation under any pretext.
Technical reporting and the most important correspondence with the plant’s management were conducted exclusively in French. The plant did not accept any guests and excursions; even DmItry MendelEev was not granted the permission from the board to visit the workshops.
The register tables are neatly filled with data on bicarbonate de soude - soda ash, chaux - lime, acide carbonique - carboxylic acid, and other materials. This magazine refers to the history of the Bereznikovsky soda plant, which appeared in the SolikAmsk district in 1883.
In the last quarter of the 19th century, Russian industry experienced an enormous need for soda. The country annually consumed about two million poods of soda, which was used in the glass and textile industries, soap making, in the production of kerosene out of oil.
There were no domestic productions at that time - soda was supplied to Russia only from foreign factories. This situation was corrected by the merchant of the first guild, salt breeder IvAn LyubImov. In 1881, he bought from the treasury a small territory of 118 acres – the BerezOvy Island on the KAma River.
The construction of the plant would have been impossible without financial and technical assistance from the European soda monopoly - the Solvay company. It was headed by Ernest SolvAy, the owner of the patent for the ammonia method for producing soda ash. By 1880, he owned soda factories in England, France, Germany, and the USA.
On February 23, 1881, Lyubimov signed the “LyubImov and Co” partnership with SolvAy. In May of the same year, the first brick of the building of the BereznikI soda plant was laid, and on July 21, 1883, the first pound of soda was received at the plant. This major event was celebrated not only in the Perm region, but also beyond its borders.
At the time of launch, the plant was equipped with the most modern technologies. By the beginning of the 20th century, the plant had 11 steam engines, three locomotives, 25 boilers, and five electric motors. There were auxiliary establishments at the enterprise: sawmill, cooperage production. There was also a great rarity for those times - electric lighting. The plant worked in two shifts of 12 hours each, workers received high salaries and bonuses, people with seven years of experience could count on annual vacations.
The supremacy of foreign specialists at the Berezniki soda plant was supported by the secrecy of production, which Solvay insisted on. Technological schemes, descriptions, drawings with a general view of the equipment were not allowed into circulation under any pretext.
Technical reporting and the most important correspondence with the plant’s management were conducted exclusively in French. The plant did not accept any guests and excursions; even DmItry MendelEev was not granted the permission from the board to visit the workshops.
