Baker, Perkins
of Peterborough.
1870 Joseph Baker and Sons founded in Canada
1902 Became public company
1920 Joseph Baker and Sons acquired Perkins Engineers Ltd forming Joseph Baker Sons and Perkins Ltd.
1922 Major fire at Peterborough works
1923 Name changed to Baker, Perkins Ltd. Expansion at both Willesden and Peterborough
1924 Acquired assets of Aublet, Harry and Co Ltd, of Peterborough, makers of laundry equipment
1928 Minority holding in Forgrove Machinery Co of Leeds, makers of wrapping machinery
1931 Acquired minority interest in Peerless Electrical Manufacturing Co
1932 The David Thomson operations were moved to Peterborough and that company was liquidated.
1933 Reduction in demand due to the Depression; operations concentrated at Peterborough; Willesden was closed. Chance meeting with general manager of Sun Engraving Co of Watford led to construction of rotagravure colour printing press, based on the analogous chocolate refining machine. More than 20 of these machines were delivered in the next 6 years.
1937 Began work on cordite mixers, followed by machines to make detonators and parts for anti-aircraft guns.
WWII Production of a variety of munitions-related equipment including parts for Bofors guns
1942 Acquired major interest in Peerless Electrical Manufacturing Co which became a subsidiary.
1943 Amalgamated with Forgrove Machinery Co
1946 Set up an additional factory at Bedewell, Hebburn-on-Tyne. Acquired Alliance Foundry, Luton, and St Peters Foundry, Newcastle, to ensure supplies of castings.
1947 Introduction of profit-sharing scheme.
1954 Plan developed for future growth which included acquisition of suitable companies. Established a separate division for making chemical plant.
1957 Public company - quoted on the London Stock Exchange
1958 Purchased Steele and Cowlishaw to augment the Chemical Division, Packman Machinery of Twyford, plant designers, and Yates Plant Ltd, makers of welding equipment.
1959 Acquired William Douglas and Sons Ltd, of Putney
1960 Acquired Rownson (Conveyors) Ltd, Granbull Tool Co Ltd of Kingston on Thames, Alfred Porter and Co of Teddington.
1961 Group engaged as engineers, manufacturing principally machinery for baking, biscuit and confectionery trade, wrapping and packing machines, and machines for the plastics, paint, laundry, chemical, rubber and other industries. 5,200 employees
1961 Rights issue. Acquired Rose Brothers (Gainsborough) Ltd, packaging and wrapping machinery makers, the Northern Manufacturing Co Ltd makers of gears and gearboxes, William Jack and Sons of Glasgow, and James Halley and Sons makers of printing machinery.
1962 Installation of KDF6 computer
1963 Formation of Baker Perkins Holdings Ltd to separate Group responsibilities from management of the trading companies.
1960s Formation of Divisional structure; decision to run down the chocolate and confectionary machine production but orders did not disappear completely.
1967 Baker, Perkins brought together all of its packaging machinery businesses in Rose Forgrove Ltd.
1967 Cravens Machines, a subsidiary of John Brown and Co, acquired the Granbull Division of Baker, Perkins which was responsible for the company's plastics work[1].
1974 New, reorganised company, called Baker Perkins Chemical Machinery will consist of Baker Perkins and Cowlishaw.[2]
1976 the West Bromwich factory of James Halley and Sons was closed and the work transferred to Peterborough.
1984 Re-entered chocolate machinery market by acquiring Westal, a small private company of Redditch.
1987 APV acquired Baker Perkins Holdings. The Redditch factory was closed. The name of the food machinery company was later changed to APV Baker.
1997 Taken over by Siebe, which later became Invensys.
2006 Baker Perkins acquired by private investors.
Introduced new moulding and forming technology that enables bakers to improve the quality of their bread; developed equipment allowing confectioners to develop colourful new candies and lollipops; and pioneered technology expanding the variety of convenient, tasty and attention grabbing snacks and breakfast cereals.
2021 Baker Perkins history webpage: [2]
See Also
Sources of Information
- 1961 Dun and Bradstreet KBE
- History of Baker, Perkins [3]
- List of Baker, Perkins subsidiaries [4]
- Westwood Works 1903 - 2003 website [5]