1857 to 1947- On 24th November, 1857, a partnership firm was established by Mr. Charles Killick and Mr. Robert Preston Nixon for the purpose of doing business as "General Merchants and Commission Agents".

It is debatable whether anyone could have foreseen at that time the significance the name "Killicks" would assume in the annals of Indian industry. It is an amazing saga of industrial progress and fortune. Killick Nixon & Company successfully promoted and fostered an incredible number of commercial, industrial and consumer oriented enterprises. Also, its trading activities grew at the same time. The company built up a considerable business in the import, sale and distribution of products as varied as cement and cement coatings, tarpaulins, insulation and panel boards, aluminium products, etc. The company also handled products made in India. In addition to import and marketing of imported and indigenous products, the company represented reputed foreign concern and shipping companies as sole selling agents and ship owners' agents.

  • 10 New Railway Companies were floated:

    The Ahmedabad Prantej Railway Company Ltd. (metre gauge 143 Kms);
    Tapti Valley Railway Co. Ltd. (broad gauge 252 Kms);
    Ahmedabad Dholka Railway Co. Ltd. (metre gauge 54.5 Kms);
    Amritsar Patti Railway Co. Ltd (broad gauge 87.75 Kms);
    Central Provinces Railways Co. Ltd. (narrow gauge 227.5 Km.);
    Gujarat Railways Co. Ltd. (narrow gauge 136.5 Kms);
    Mandra Bhon Railway Co. Ltd. (broad gauge 76.4 Km.);
    Sara Siragunj Railway Co. Ltd. (broad gauge 87.75 Kms);
    Sialkot Narowal Railway Co. Ltd.(broad gauge 63.4 Kms);
    Mymensingh Bhairab Bazar Railway Co. Ltd. (metre gauge 162.5 Kms).

  • The first of its Textile Mills was acquired, the newly created Kohinoor Mills Co. Ltd
  • The Bombay Agency of Sir Edward Bates & Sons was amalgamated with the company.
  • The Central India Mining Company was floated for the purpose of mining manganese ore and later the Shivrajpur Syndicate Ltd. was formed.
  • The Hingir - Rampur Coal Co. Ltd. was established.
  • Three public utilities were floated:

       The Ahmedabad Electricity Co. Ltd.
       The Surat Electric Co. Ltd. and
       The Bombay Suburban Electric Supply Ltd.

  • Thane Electricity Supply Co. Limited was taken over by the Company.
  • The company acquired A.R. Haseler Limited a reputed firm concerned with the supply of aircraft equipments and spares to the Indian aviation industry and flying clubs.
  • The Bundi Portland Cement Co. Limited and the Punjab Portland Cement Limited were floated which led to the formation of the Indian Cement Manufactures' Association, a forerunner of the Cement Marketing Co. Ltd.
  • Killicks was eventually influential in bringing about the amalgamation of India's leading cement companies into a giant cement combine - The Associated Cement Companies Ltd. (ACC)-in whose management it played a leading role through its associated company, Cement Agencies Ltd.
    This unique arrangement took place in 1936, where three other leading cement manufactures - Tatas, Khataus and Dinshaws- joined hands with Killicks to pool their assets and jointly form ACC as a new public company.

1948- On 1st February, the company became a Limited Company with 98.5% of its shareholders being Indian nationals, in the name of Killick Industries Limited.

Killick Industries Limited became heirs to the high tradition of the old company with such divergent interests as Cotton Textiles, Silk Mills, Electricity Generation and Distribution Undertakings, Manganese Ore and Coal Mines, Railways and a large share in the Corporate Management of the Associated Cement Companies Limited.

The Company entered the field of light engineering products and consumer goods, including domestic appliances.

1953- The birth of Killick industrial estate with an area of 67,000 sq mtr. at Chandivli for locating manufacturing plants of the company.

1969- The company decided to restore the old and revered names of original founders by changing its corporate name to Killick Nixon Limited.