Solvay was founded by Ernest Solvay in 1863. The company wanted to produce sodium carbonate through the solvay process. Solvay’s innovation is still used today to produce flue glass cleaning, washing powder and glass. After Solvay’s ammonia soda process was patented, he opened his first soda factory in 1865 in Couillet, Belgium.
Between 1870 and 1880, Solvay began serious efforts leading to global expansions with a number of factories and manufacturing facilities constructed in the US, Russia, Germany, England, France, and Belgium.
The company diversified into pharmaceuticals, plastics and chemicals. However, the company sold its pharmaceuticals segment to Abbot Laboratories in September 2009 for €4.5 billion.
Solvay acquired the French chemicals company Rhodia in April 2011 for €3.4 million. The acquisition of Rhodia was the beginning of Solvay’s venture into this chemical, which replaced the sold pharmaceuticals segment.