Eighty Years of Steam Reforming The technological milestones of catalysts, reformer design and operation in Billingham since 1936

Steam reforming of methane is a vital unit operation in the manufacture of synthesis gas (or syngas). Johnson Matthey Process Technologies is a leader in reforming technology for the industrial production of hydrogen, methanol and ammonia to the chemicals and oil and gas sectors. Many of the key innovations in the development of the early reformers and catalysts have taken place in Billingham, UK (Figure 1) by ICI Agricultural Division and later Johnson Matthey Process Technologies. This paper explores the history of the site at which industrial reforming technology was established in 1936 and recounts the technological milestones of the engineers' work on catalysts, reformer design and operation since that time.