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 IMI produced a wide range of products from Amal Carburreters and Marston nuclear components to Lightning zip fasteners[2].
1966 IMI was listed on the London Stock Exchange. Initially ICI retained a majority holding.
1968 IMI opened the first liquid-metal-cooled vacuum titanium-melting furnace, in Birmingham.
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 IMI Group[3].
1972 Acquired Muntz Plastics of Wrexham from Glynwed[4]
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.[5]
1978 IMI became fully independent of ICI.
1993 The Ammunition Division was incorporated as Eley.
2015 IMI Plc. Revenue £1.6bn. Divisions are IMI Critical Engineering, IMI Precision Engineering, and IMI Hydronic Engineering. Employ 12,00 persons in 50 countries. [6]
See Also
Sources of Information
- [1] Wikipedia
- The Engineer of 10th May 1968 p742