Man in nitrating plant, nitro-cellulose production, ICI-Nobel, Ardeer, 1956

Man in nitrating plant, nitro-cellulose production, ICI-Nobel, Ardeer, 1956. Alfred Nobel set up what was to become the world's largest commercial explosives factory on this site during the late 19th century and throughout the 20th century the factory was the major supplier of explosives to mines, quarries and defence industries. When these photographs were taken the firm had become part of the chemical giant ICI. Nitro cellulose was a key component of the explosives industry but the chemical had other applications as well: as a film forming resin it was used in the inks and coatings market. Photograph by Walter Nurnberg (1907-1991) who transformed industrial photography after WWII using film studio lighting techniques. Photographie ©SSPL/NMeM/Walter Nurnberg