ABSTRACT
'Achieving things at the speed of light.' That was the challenge set to the ICI Fluorochemical technical team at the beginning of 1987. More than 60 chemists, chemical engineers and chemical plant designers worked non-stop with outside contractors to develop and produce ICI's replacement for Chlorofluorocarbons, marketed as KLEA 134a. Intense innovative activity, the first commercial size KLEA 134a plant in the world was commissioned in October 1990, three months ahead of schedule. ICI intends to develop HFAs for other markets such as polyurethane and polystyrene foam-blowing. Flowcrete Plc is one of the foremost manufacturers of specialist non-resin floorings in the UK. Across the UK and Ireland there are people in large bureaucratic organizations who have this maverick instinct. The long-term success of an organization is built on the creativity of its teams and sometimes the cost of this doesn't sit easily with bottom-line performance.
