Francis Ward has been a supplier of reusable chemical containers
for almost half a century.
In the fifties the Company imported glass carboys for which it
manufactured protective cages and cardboard contents identification
labels. Francis Ward became an agent for Bowater Plastics in the
sixties, supplying the ‘Polycrate’, a plastic bottle
within a PVC coated cage.
Glass carboys in use
Glass carboys
Polycrates in use
In 1971 the adoption of the rotational moulding process led to
the world’s first plastic free-standing carboy, the ‘Wardrum’.
The ‘Wardrum’ was to become an industry standard and
is still produced in large numbers today.
Wardrums
45L Wardrum
25L and 45L Wardrums
Increasing safety legislation in the eighties led to blow moulded
double walled containers. Francis Ward responded in 1987 with an
award winning design, the ‘Warboy’. More than 1 million
Warboy’s have been manufactured to date.
1987 advertisement campaign
Double walled design
30L and 45L Warboys
More recently the drum range was enhanced with a pallet efficient
square round container, the ‘Warlord’, which features
a unique UN approved hand tight closure.
Francis Ward was voted BCDTA (British Chemical Distributor and
Traders Association) Supplier of the Year in 2000, largely in recognition
of its services to the UK chemical distribution industry.
1997 advertisement campaign
20L and 30L Warlords
BCDTA Diamond Award
In February 2003 Francis Ward acquired Bison IBC Systems Limited.
The extensive range of range of intermediate bulk containers (IBCs)
is now offered alongside the drum range creating a wide choice
of reusable packaging options for hazardous and non hazardous materials
transport and storage.
