Nylex
| Company type | Private (since 2014) |
|---|---|
| Industry | Plastics manufacturing |
| Predecessor | Australian Moulding Corporation |
| Founded | 1927 in Mentone, Melbourne, Australia |
| Founder | John Derham |
| Defunct | 2009 (entered liquidation) |
| Fate | Liquidation; brand acquired by AMES Australasia in 2014 |
| Headquarters | Melbourne , Australia |
Area served | Australia |
Key people | John Derham (founder), Peter Derham, Alan Jackson (former CEO) |
| Products | Plastic gardening products, garden hoses, Esky coolers, automotive trim and components, fuel tanks, water tanks, wheelie bins |
Number of employees | Approx. 1,000 (at Mentone facility peak) |
| Parent | AMES Australasia (since 2014) |
Nylex Plastics, originally established in 1927 as the Australian Moulding Corporation and renamed in 1948, is a prominent Australian producer of plastic products. The enterprise was founded by John Derham. From 1990 until 2009, Nylex was publicly traded on the ASX and ranked among the largest manufacturing companies in Australia as well as within the top 25 by size. Today, its operations focus mainly on the gardening products segment, manufacturing and distributing plastic gardening items throughout Australia under the Nylex brand. Its former affiliate, Nylex (Malaysia) Berhad, continues to operate independently in the marketplace.
Derham period
The origins of the Nylex name trace back to the Australian Moulding Corporation, a plastics manufacturer founded by John Derham in 1927 in Mentone, Melbourne. Another competitor, Moulded Products, emerged in 1931; Derham subsequently sold his business to this company and acquired shares in it. Eventually, he and his associates gained controlling interest in Moulded Products, merging both enterprises.
During the Second World War, the firm broadened its product lineup to include plastic radio receivers and military crash helmets such as the M42 Duperite model. The wartime surge in demand accelerated advancements in plastics manufacturing, including developments in PVC and other polymers. Military applications comprised PVC copolymer formulations for rifle moisture protection, PVC insulation for wiring, and waterproof striking surfaces for matches.
In the 1950s, production expanded to garden-related items and the company adopted the Nylex brand name. Following John Derham’s passing in 1957, his son Peter Derham assumed leadership in 1967 and maintained involvement for much of his life. The Derham family oversaw multiple divisions until Nylex was ultimately acquired by Australian Consolidated Industries (ACI).
BTR period
In 1984, British firm BTR Hopkins purchased Nylex from ACI. Alan Jackson acquired Australian Consolidated Industries Limited (ACI) in 1988 for approximately $1.6 billion after a stock market downturn. Under Jackson’s leadership, BTR renamed the company BTR Nylex and expanded its presence across Asia by establishing its Asian headquarters there. Key acquisitions included plastics businesses such as China General Plastics in Taiwan and a majority stake (51%) in Nylex Malaysia. Jackson diversified BTR Nylex’s operations by initiating recycling programs for PET bottles and glass and acquiring Formica in the United States. His successful management of Asian ventures led to his appointment overseeing global BTR operations from London in 1991. By 1995, as CEO of both BTR and Nylex, Jackson completed a full acquisition of Nylex valued at $4.48 billion within an overall company valuation of $11.8 billion.
Austrim period
Following his departure from BTR’s CEO role, Jackson joined Austrim, which purchased Nylex in October 1998 for A$63 million amid BTR’s financial decline. This acquisition price was considerably lower due to earlier asset disposals after Jackson retired from BTR in 1996. The combined entity initially operated under the name Austrim Nylex but reverted to simply Nylex to capitalize on its stronger brand recognition within Australia. Under Austrim Nylex’s control were approximately 30 major Australian brands, including numerous textile companies. However, rapid expansion coupled with significant borrowing compressed profit margins and increased debt servicing challenges. Jackson remained with the company until 2001; subsequent management was unable to halt profit declines or reduce growing debt levels. Financial difficulties continued through the period leading up to the 2008 financial crisis.
Products
During the 1940s and 1950s, Nylex manufactured kitchen utensils, lighting fixtures, and household goods under the Duperite label, as well as products branded Melmac from American Cyanamid. The vivid Bessemer range of casual tableware was widely found in Australian households throughout the 1960s. In 1984, Nylex took over production of plastic Esky coolers, originally developed by Malleys. By the time of its downfall, the company’s portfolio included garden hoses, Esky Coolers, flooring tiles, automotive trim and components, fuel tanks, water tanks, and wheelie bins.
Esky coolers became a distinctly Australian icon, with the brand name commonly used to refer to cooler boxes across the country.
Nylex Clock
In the 1950s, Nylex shifted its operations to Cremorne Street in Richmond, Victoria, where John Derham’s office overlooked prominent silos. Spotting a promotional opportunity, Derham commissioned a neon sign installation on these silos—a task later completed by his son Peter Derham. Initially mocked by employees as "Derham’s folly" due to its expense, the sign evolved into a well-known landmark advertising the Nylex name. Installed in 1961, the Nylex Clock remains a distinctive element of Melbourne’s cityscape and is visible from significant vantage points such as the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG).
Company collapse
Nylex entered liquidation in 2009 after defaulting on A$60 million in debt obligations. The receivership process was overseen by Ferrier Hodgson while business operations continued. At that point, Nylex comprised eight subsidiaries engaged in producing garden hoses, Esky Coolers, plastic automotive parts, and water tanks.
The company’s failure resulted from several causes: fierce competition from inexpensive Asian plastic imports; excessive expansion during the BTR and Austrim ownership periods that diminished profitability; and ventures into unprofitable sectors like textiles amid industry slumps. Although Nylex held several iconic Australian brands, it struggled to maintain adequate cash flow.
The water tank division initially benefited from drought-driven government subsidies until these were withdrawn as conditions improved; thereafter, imports intensified pressure on this segment. Additionally, downturns in the automotive sector adversely affected its car parts business. Significant asset write-downs occurred alongside reliance on backing from investors such as Kerry Stokes, while other supporters withdrew their involvement. The challenges were further compounded by the 2008 financial crisis.
At liquidation, Nylex owed creditors around A$100 million. Various divisions were sold off: Esky coolers were purchased by US-based Colemans; much of its industrial and commercial property holdings were sold and redeveloped into residential apartments. The extensive Mentone facility—formerly employing approximately 1,000 staff—was sold for mixed commercial and residential development, with the heritage-listed Nylex sign retained.
Current operations
The Nylex name continues to be used for marketing plastic garden hoses and related garden products throughout Australia via major hardware retailers. The brand also supports cricket in Australia through sponsorship of the Melbourne Renegades. Since being acquired in 2014 by AMES Australasia for A$36 million—which included additional businesses alongside Nylex—the brand has been managed under their ownership.
A former subsidiary of BTR Nylex, Nylex (Malaysia) Berhad remains a prominent plastics manufacturer based in Malaysia.