Bakelite Hylam whose brands Decolam and Decolite have become generic names, is a pioneer in laminates and also resins. Set up by a trust and named Hyderabad Laminates, it was one of the few private sector units to exist and flourish at that time. Down the years, the original name got shortened to Hylam India and later by merger with Bakelite India (then agents for Bakelite, UK), and the company became Bakelite Hylam in 1969.

After introducing industrial laminates, the company started manufacturing decorative laminates, simultaneously putting up capacities for plain and copper-clad industrial laminates in 1974. Industrial laminates are used in consumer electronics -- covering TVs, VCRs and audio systems. Later, glass epoxy was introduced in 1987, to be used in professional electronics, telecommunication, computers, etc. The company also manufactures resins. In 1983, as a backward integration, BHL assumed full control of a sick unit near Hyderabad, manufacturing formaldehyde, a vital raw material for resins. In the recent past, it has added phenolic foam called phenotherm, electrical insulating varnishes (in collaboration with Sterling Varnishes, UK), surface textures and integrated forward into resins like polyester.

The company undertook expansion plan for particle boards at a cost of Rs.90 crores. The company has co-promoted, along with the West Bengal government, a unit at Haldia to manufacture 12,000 tpa of acrylic fibre.

A precipitator was installed at Balarshah plant to control the wastage generated from the production and the same is being as fuel.As the networth of the company has been fully eroded the company has been referred to BIFR as per the provision of SICA,1985.