Mannheim of 1848, the city was a centre for political and revolutionary activity. In 1865, Friedrich Engelhorn founded the "Badische Anilin- und Soda-Fabrik" (Baden Aniline and Soda Factory, BASF) in Mannheim, but the factory was constructed across the Rhine in Ludwigshafen because Mannheim residents feared air pollution from its operations. From this dye factory, BASF has developed into the largest chemical company in the world. After opening a workshop in Mannheim in 1871 and patenting engines from 1878, Karl Benz patented the first motor car in 1886. He was born in Mühlburg (now part of Karlsruhe). The Schütte-Lanz company, founded by
Leading Edge Brands Leading Edge Brands Leading Edge Brands is a soft drink marketing and manufacturing company based in Temple, Texas. Leading Edge Brands (LEB) is part of the McLane Group, which is headed by Drayton McLane, Jr., (also CEO of Major League Baseball's Houston Astros). LEB's CEO is Webb Stickney, and its products are distributed in the United States, the Caribbean, Mexico and the South Pacific. Leading Edge Brands was founded in 1997 when the Kist and Flavette soda brands were purchased from the Monarch Beverage Company. The Frostie Root Beer brand was purchased from Monarch in 2000 and sold in 2009.