IMI Group
of Witton, Birmingham
Post WWI: Kynoch became part of Nobel Industries.
1927 The new company in turn was one of the four businesses which merged to create Imperial Chemical Industries (ICI). The Witton site became the head office of ICI Metals Division.
1950s the company's researchers perfected the process for producing titanium on a commercial basis.
1962 The name Imperial Metal Industries Limited (IMI for short) was adopted on the 100th anniversary of G. Kynoch and Co.
1964 Acquired 29.6% of Wolverhampton (Holdings) Ltd[1]
1965 Acquired H. Gill (Stampings) and William Ross and Sons
1965 Imperial Metal Industries produced a wide range of products from Amal Carburreters and Marston nuclear components to Lightning zip fasteners[2].
1966 Imperial Metal Industries was listed on the London Stock Exchange. Initially ICI retained a majority holding.
1968 Imperial Metal Industries opened the first liquid-metal-cooled vacuum titanium-melting furnace, in Birmingham.
1968 IMI Ltd bought Elkington Copper Refiners Ltd, Goscote Works, Walsall. Already a subsidiary of 'Mercury Securities,' Elkington Copper Refiners Ltd had originated from the Birmingham based Elkington & Co, who were famous for their method of electro-deposition of silver on metal.
1969 Principal companies were:
- Amal
- Garnham, Harris and Elton
- Henry Righton and Co
- Imperial Metal Industries (Kynoch)
- James Bridge Copper Works
- J. F. Ratcliff (Metals)
- John Wilkinson and Sons (Saltley) / Headley, Birch and Co Ltd
- Lightning Fasteners
- Marston Excelsior
- Marston Radiators
- Optilon
- Range Boilers
- Santon
- Sir W. H. Bailey and Co / Whites-Nunan
- Wolverhampton Metal Co
- William Bailey (Birmingham)
- Yorkshire Imperial Metals
- Yorkshire Imperial Plastics
1970 Esperanza Trade and Transport acquired the 36% of the shares in the Lead and Alloys Ltd owned by Imperial Metal Industries[3].
1972 Acquired Muntz Plastics of Wrexham from Glynwed[4]
1972 Formation of IMI Engineering Composites to develop a business in fibre reinforced plastics; based at Witton[5]
1974 March. Sir St John de Holt Elstub retired from the posts of chairman and managing director. Sir Michael Clapham succeeded him as chairman with Eric Swainson becoming the firms new managing director.[6]
1977 One part of the business was Imperial Metal Industries (Kynoch)
1978 Became fully independent of ICI when ICI sold its remaining interest.
1978 Name changed to IMI[7]
1978 Acquired Samuel Birkett and Sons
1986 Acquired Coldflow Ltd which was integrated in the Drinks Dispense business. Acquired Martonair which was added to the Fluid Control business[8]
1993 The Ammunition Division was incorporated as Eley.
2003 IMI PLC moved from the Witton site to new headquarters close to Birmingham Airport.
2015 IMI Plc. Revenue £1.6bn. Employed 12,000 persons in 50 countries. Divisions:[9]
- IMI Critical Engineering,
- IMI Precision Engineering
- IMI Hydronic Engineering.
Today they provide products in fluid controls and retail dispense.
See Also
Sources of Information
- [1] Wikipedia
- The Engineer of 10th May 1968 p742