Barry site from nature area with ponds in the foreground.

Dow in Barry

Operations at our Barry site first started in 1941, under ownership of the Ocean Salts company. Over the years, ownership of the site changed several times. The site became a wholly owned subsidiary of The Dow Chemical Company, now Dow Inc, in 2016. Today Dow Silicones UK Limited employs approximately 600 employees and on average 1000 additional staff through contractor firms, and operates the site, 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

Dow manufactures silicon-based products at the Barry site, which bring unique performance and properties for numerous applications, including electronics, semi-conductors, healthcare, cosmetics, household care, textiles, construction, automotive, defence, aviation, aerospace, renewable energy, batteries and many more.

Safety & emergency response

Safety is our top priority and an integral part of our culture. Through strict operating disciplines, we work towards our vision of protecting our people, community and environment from harm, in alignment with the Responsible Care® guiding principles. Incidents are rare, but the industrial complex where we operate has various mechanisms to alert the surrounding community in case of emergency.

Emergency Klaxon

All companies on the complex have a klaxon which is activated in case of an emergency. A warning siren will sound on for three seconds and then off for three seconds. Upon hearing the Klaxon, residents should go indoors, close doors and windows and other outlets that draw in outside air and stay inside until the all-clear signal is given. The all-clear siren is a continuous siren tone lasting one minute. The sirens for all companies on the industrial park are tested every Monday between 3pm and 3:30pm to help ensure residents are familiar with their sounds and to ensure they function properly.

Warn & Inform Telephone System

In addition, we encourage members of the community to register for our Warn & Inform telephone system, on-line via barry-registration.sendwordnow.eu/HomePage.aspx. Registered users will receive safety information in the event of a major emergency.

Message Line

During an emergency, a message line provides recorded status updates. This line can be reached on 020 3824 1912.

Safety Booklet

The Barry Industrial Complex issues a safety booklet detailing all information and hosts regular meetings with the Industrial Complex Community Advisory Panel. More information on both can be requested via phone at 0800 783 0187 or 01446 732350.

Community engagement

We believe that a thriving community is a shared future. Through donations, volunteering, and other forms of engagement we work to address the needs in the communities close to us. Following are some examples of activities around our Barry site.

Since 2007 we operate a Nature Centre & Education Centre that is linked to Cadoxton Pond Nature Reserve, which is managed by the Wildlife Trust South and West Wales. This is aimed to be a free resource for local school and community groups to improve their understanding of nature, sustainability, biodiversity, ecosystems, and habitats as well as a place to build community.
Every year, we host a Science Week for around 250 pupils from local primary schools with the aim of learning more about science. In 2024, Barry Site hosted 250 pupils, aged between eight and ten, from eight local primary schools.
Through donations we support charitable community organizations, schools, and other not-for-profits with their work. These donations support, among others, digital literacy, mental and physical wellbeing, and STEM education.
Through Dow’s ‘Day of Service’ program our employees regularly volunteer in the community supporting a range of projects.