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Metalastik of Leicester
1937 Founded in Leicester on 25th May 1937 by Mac Goldsmith, an engineer and entrepreneur. He established Metalastik to design, develop and manufacture rubber-to-metal bonded components with anti-vibration and shock absorbing qualities. It was an associated company formed as 'the manufacturer of rubber to metal components' by John Bull Rubber Co.
1939 During the Second World War, the company produced rubber tyring for tank bogie wheels.[1]
1939 See Aircraft Industry Suppliers.
1951 Metalastik Ltd became a public company.[2]
1952 Plating plant installed at Leicester which was then the largest in the world for rubber-metal bonding.[3]
1955 John Bull group merger - John Bull, Metalastik, Precision Rubbers, CP Engineering.
1958 Became part of Dunlop Rubber Co Ltd..
1962 Metalastik celebrates 25 year anniversary (Silver Jubilee).
1967 Received Queen's award for industry.
1968 Name changed to Polymer Engineering Division - part of Dunlop Polymer Engineering.
1963 Motor Show exhibitor. Rubber to metal welding.[4]
1970 Metalastik establishes overseas selling companies in Scandinavia, EEC and North America.
1979 Computer controlled powder handling system installed in Leicester factory.
1983 Business split into 4 market orientated groups:-
- Metalastik - Automotive.
- Metalastik - General Engineering.
- Metalastik - Overseas.
- Automotive Hose.
1984 New £1 million R & D development project in offshore technology.
1985 Became part of BTR plc - name changed to Metalastik Vibration Control Systems.
1987 Multi-million pound investment programme under way in Leicester factory.
Metalastik Overseas
Metalastik Sweden In the mid 1950s Metalastik began to sell in Sweden through agents Helge Muller in Stockholm, who specialised mainly in rail and marine business and Handelsvarken in Gothenburg. Metalastik Sweden began 1st May 1970 as part of the AB Svenska Dunlop operations from new offices in Sodertalje - some 20 miles south of Stockholm under the present managing director Hans Tevemark. The company also represents in Sweden Westinghouse Brakes (UK), Triplex (UK) and Railtech(Canada).
Metalastik - North America After the closure of a Dunlop factory in Toronto (Canada) in 1970, Dunlop sales were continued through a factoring organisation. Metalastik-Canada opened in September 1970 and became part of Dunlop Canada sales operations in Toronto. In 1985 Metalastik transferred to Chicago. USA - Metalastik Inc - under the present managing director Derek Roworth who has handled all Metalastik North American business since he left Leicester for North America in 1973.
Metalastik - Holland In the early '50s Metalastik UK appointed a central heating systems distributor Heringa Wuthruch to handle Metalastik sales in Holland. In June 1965 Metalastik Holland began trading in its own right in Rotterdam under the managing director Frits den Haan who joined the company from Plessey International.
Metalastik - Belgium Metalastik appointed the UK company Renold Chains as a distributor in Belgium in 1955. The distributorship subsequently passed to another company handling converors (Unimap) in 1962. In 1969 Metalastik Belgium began trading at Anderlecht in Brussels in its own right under the managing director Serge Libert. The company also markets Dunloftex mudwings.
Metalastik - W. Germany In the early years Metalastik granted a technical aid licence to Carl Freudenberg GmbH, who took on the trade name of "Megulastik". Metalaslik's direct sales activities in W Germany began in 1972, and Metalastik GmbH was founded in 1976 under the managing director Fritz Lob who was in charge of the company's activities since the beginning in 1972.
Metalastik - France Metalastik initially granted a technical aid licence to Kleber Colombes and then later traded through a Paris based Dunlop organisation named Protecmo. In the early 1980s Dunlop set up its own warehouse in Paris, primarily to handle the hydraulic hose business transferred from the Dunlop Amiens tyre factory. Metalastik France eventually grew out or this organisation and later transferred to its own premises nearby in Paris (Villebon) under the present managing director Josette Philippon.
See Also
Sources of Information
- ↑ The Golden Anniversary of Metalastik (1937-1987)
- ↑ The Golden Anniversary of Metalastik (1937-1987)
- ↑ The Golden Anniversary of Metalastik (1937-1987)
- ↑ * 1963 Motor Show