The German Glanzstoff Manufacturing Company, an artificial silk concern started their factory in Flint producing artificial silk from wood pulp. An agreement made between them and Courtaulds in 1913 saw them making a change in the production to produce viscose, which to all intent and purpose was a better quality of yarn. During the First World War the factory was taken over by Courtaulds in 1917 and renamed Aber Works. Courtaulds then took over the site that once was occupied by Muspratt Bros & Huntley, later United Alkali, and built Castle Works in 1920, rapidly following with the building of Deeside Mill in 1922. The Greenfield factory was opened in 1936. At its height Courtaulds employed around 10,000 people at its four sites and was the main source of employment in the area alongside Shotton Steelworks. Textile production started a gradual decline about 1950 and Aber Works was closed for the first time in 1957 but reopened for the production of rayon around 1966. It was pulled down in 1984. Castle works closed in 1977 and Deeside Mill in 1989. The retail shopping centre occupies the site of Deeside Mill, and Aber and Castle Industrial estates occupy the other two sites were these giants of industry once stood.

---