Smiths Group
Encyclopedia
Smiths Group plc is a global engineering company headquartered in London, United Kingdom. It has operations in over 50 countries and employs around 23,550 staff.
Smiths Group has five divisions. Smiths Detection is the world's largest manufacturer of sensors for the detection of explosives, weapons, chemical agents, biohazards, narcotics and contraband. John Crane is a major manufacturer of seals and associated products for the process industries. Smiths Medical is a major supplier of medical devices and equipment. Smiths Interconnect is a major manufacturer of electronic and radio frequency products. Flex-Tek is a major supplier of components to heat and move fluids and gases.
Smiths Group is listed on the London Stock Exchange
and is a constituent of the FTSE 100 Index
.
in London in 1851 as a clock and watch business. At the start of the 20th century, the age of the early automobiles, the company produced the first British odometer
("mileometer") and speedometer
. In the 1930s Smiths agreed a trading deal with Lucas whereby the two would not compete in certain areas and Lucas took on part of Smiths non-instrumentation assets. Smiths became the dominant supplier of instruments to British motorcar and motorcycle firms. From 1915 Smiths had a factory at Cricklewood
, north London
and later moved their headquarters there.
In 1946, Smiths and the Ingersoll Watch Company
founded the Anglo-Celtic Watch Co. Ltd., which produced watches in Wales. This became one of the largest producers of watches in Europe before closing in 1980.
Separate Smiths Aviation and Smiths Marine divisions were set up in 1958. In 1960, an Industrial division was formed whose main operations were industrial instrumentation. With increasing diversification and international operations the name Smiths Industries Ltd. was adopted in 1965. Clocks, watches, and automotive instruments eventually ceased to be significant markets for Smiths, and by the 1980s, the automotive instrument division had been sold, first to Lucas, and eventually to the factory employees. The new company, Caerbont Automotive Instruments, continues to produce classic Smiths-branded instruments with the blessing of Smiths Group plc.
On 4 December 2000, Smiths completed a merger with TI Group
. TI had major interests in aerospace, industrial seals and automotive parts. However Smiths divested TI Automotive
shortly after the merger.
The company's name was changed to Smiths Group plc on 30 November 2000.
In 2007 GE Aviation, a division of General Electric
, acquired Smith's aerospace subsidiary
for US$4.8 billion.
, trace
detection, millimetre-wave, infra-red, biological detection and diagnostics.
is a world-leading provider of products and services for the major process industries, including the oil and gas
, power generation, chemical, pharmaceutical, pulp and paper
, and mining
sectors. John Crane’s products include wet seals, gas seals
couplings
, seal support systems, specialist filtration
systems, hydrodynamic bearings
and equipment for upstream applications. Around one third of John Crane sales derive from the design and supply of these products, while the remaining two-thirds stem from the aftermarket servicing of this equipment. John Crane has made a number of acquisitions of competitors and other industry related companies, namely Flexibox, Indufil Bv, Sealol Safematic, Orion Corporation and Sartorius Bearing Technology
, defence, space
, medical, rail, test and industrial markets.
equipment and other applications such as medical diagnostic equipment.
Smiths Group has five divisions. Smiths Detection is the world's largest manufacturer of sensors for the detection of explosives, weapons, chemical agents, biohazards, narcotics and contraband. John Crane is a major manufacturer of seals and associated products for the process industries. Smiths Medical is a major supplier of medical devices and equipment. Smiths Interconnect is a major manufacturer of electronic and radio frequency products. Flex-Tek is a major supplier of components to heat and move fluids and gases.
Smiths Group is listed on the London Stock Exchange
London Stock Exchange
The London Stock Exchange is a stock exchange located in the City of London within the United Kingdom. , the Exchange had a market capitalisation of US$3.7495 trillion, making it the fourth-largest stock exchange in the world by this measurement...
and is a constituent of the FTSE 100 Index
FTSE 100 Index
The FTSE 100 Index, also called FTSE 100, FTSE, or, informally, the footsie , is a share index of the 100 most highly capitalised UK companies listed on the London Stock Exchange....
.
History
The company was founded by Samuel SmithSamuel Smith (watchmaker)
Samuel Smith was the founder of Smiths Group, one of the United Kingdom's largest engineering businesses.-Career:Trained as a craftsman, Samuel Smith opened his first shop in Newington Causeway in London in 1851. His business expanded rapidly, as he gained a reputation for offering a fast and...
in London in 1851 as a clock and watch business. At the start of the 20th century, the age of the early automobiles, the company produced the first British odometer
Odometer
An odometer or odograph is an instrument that indicates distance traveled by a vehicle, such as a bicycle or automobile. The device may be electronic, mechanical, or a combination of the two. The word derives from the Greek words hodós and métron...
("mileometer") and speedometer
Speedometer
A speedometer is a gauge that measures and displays the instantaneous speed of a land vehicle. Now universally fitted to motor vehicles, they started to be available as options in the 1900s, and as standard equipment from about 1910 onwards. Speedometers for other vehicles have specific names...
. In the 1930s Smiths agreed a trading deal with Lucas whereby the two would not compete in certain areas and Lucas took on part of Smiths non-instrumentation assets. Smiths became the dominant supplier of instruments to British motorcar and motorcycle firms. From 1915 Smiths had a factory at Cricklewood
Cricklewood
Cricklewood is a district of North London, England whose northeastern part is in the London Borough of Barnet, western part is the London Borough of Brent and southeastern part is in London Borough of Camden.-History:...
, north London
North London
North London is the northern part of London, England. It is an imprecise description and the area it covers is defined differently for a range of purposes. Common to these definitions is that it includes districts located north of the River Thames and is used in comparison with South...
and later moved their headquarters there.
In 1946, Smiths and the Ingersoll Watch Company
Ingersoll Watch Company
The Ingersoll Watch Company grew out of a mail order business started in New York City in 1882 by 21-year-old Robert Hawley Ingersoll and his brother Charles Henry. The company initially sold low-cost items such as rubber stamps...
founded the Anglo-Celtic Watch Co. Ltd., which produced watches in Wales. This became one of the largest producers of watches in Europe before closing in 1980.
Separate Smiths Aviation and Smiths Marine divisions were set up in 1958. In 1960, an Industrial division was formed whose main operations were industrial instrumentation. With increasing diversification and international operations the name Smiths Industries Ltd. was adopted in 1965. Clocks, watches, and automotive instruments eventually ceased to be significant markets for Smiths, and by the 1980s, the automotive instrument division had been sold, first to Lucas, and eventually to the factory employees. The new company, Caerbont Automotive Instruments, continues to produce classic Smiths-branded instruments with the blessing of Smiths Group plc.
On 4 December 2000, Smiths completed a merger with TI Group
TI Group
TI Group plc was a holding company for specialised engineering companies. It was based in Abingdon, Oxfordshire. It was registered as Tube Investments in 1919, combining the seamless steel tube businesses of Tubes Ltd, New Credenda Tube , Simplex and Accles & Pollock. In 1928 Reynolds Tube joined...
. TI had major interests in aerospace, industrial seals and automotive parts. However Smiths divested TI Automotive
TI Automotive
TI Automotive develops, manufactures and supplies automotive fluid storage, carrying and delivery systems. The company has 14,000 employees at 126 locations in 27 countries, and supplies all of the world's major automobile manufacturers...
shortly after the merger.
The company's name was changed to Smiths Group plc on 30 November 2000.
In 2007 GE Aviation, a division of General Electric
General Electric
General Electric Company , or GE, is an American multinational conglomerate corporation incorporated in Schenectady, New York and headquartered in Fairfield, Connecticut, United States...
, acquired Smith's aerospace subsidiary
Smiths Aerospace
GE Aviation Systems .Smiths Aerospace was formerly one of four business units of Smiths Group plc., an engineering company and constituent of the FTSE 100 share index. However, it was announced on January 15, 2007 that Smiths Group was divesting Smiths Aerospace to General Electric for US $4.8...
for US$4.8 billion.
Operations
Following a company-wide restructuring programme in mid 2008, the Company is organised into five separate divisions, namely:Smiths Detection
Smiths Detection is a world leading designer and manufacturer of sensors that detect and identify explosives, weapons, chemical agents, biohazards, nuclear & radioactive material, narcotics and contraband. These products are widely used in airports, cargo screening at ports and borders, in government buildings and other critical infrastructure, as well as by the military and emergency responder services. They use a wide range of technologies including x-rayX-ray
X-radiation is a form of electromagnetic radiation. X-rays have a wavelength in the range of 0.01 to 10 nanometers, corresponding to frequencies in the range 30 petahertz to 30 exahertz and energies in the range 120 eV to 120 keV. They are shorter in wavelength than UV rays and longer than gamma...
, trace
Trace radioisotope
A trace radioisotope is a radioisotope that occurs naturally in trace amounts . Generally speaking, trace radioisotopes have half-lives that are short in comparison to the age of the earth, since primordial nuclides tend to occur in larger than trace amounts...
detection, millimetre-wave, infra-red, biological detection and diagnostics.
Smiths Medical
Smiths Medical is a leading supplier of specialist medical devices and equipment for global markets. The devices include drug delivery systems that help treat cancer patients and provide pain relief. Vital care products reduce hospital-acquired infections, manage patients’ airways before, during, and after surgery, maintain body temperature and assist reproduction through IVF therapy. The safety products keep health workers safe by helping prevent needlestick injuries and reducing cross-infectionsJohn Crane
John CraneJohn Crane Inc.
John Crane Inc. is a subsidiary of Smiths Group, which is a British company listed on the London Stock Exchange.John Crane designs and manufactures mechanical seals , sealing support systems, gland packing, asset management systems, power transmission couplings, bearings and bearing isolators for...
is a world-leading provider of products and services for the major process industries, including the oil and gas
Oil and gas
Oil and gas are two commonly associated fossil fuels. The phrase may refer to:*Oil and gas field*Oil and gas law in the United States-See also:* Gasoline* Heating oil* Hydrocarbon exploration* Natural gas* Petroleum industry* Petroleum...
, power generation, chemical, pharmaceutical, pulp and paper
Pulp and Paper
Pulp and Paper is the name of the largest United States-based trade magazine for the pulp and paper industry. See also: Paper engineering, Pulp and Paper Merit Badge...
, and mining
Mining
Mining is the extraction of valuable minerals or other geological materials from the earth, from an ore body, vein or seam. The term also includes the removal of soil. Materials recovered by mining include base metals, precious metals, iron, uranium, coal, diamonds, limestone, oil shale, rock...
sectors. John Crane’s products include wet seals, gas seals
Dry gas seal
Dry gas seals are non-contacting, dry-running mechanical face seals consist of a mating ring and a primary ring. When operating, grooves in the rotating ring generate a fluid-dynamic force causing the stationary ring to separate and create a gap between the two rings...
couplings
Coupling
A coupling is a device used to connect two shafts together at their ends for the purpose of transmitting power. Couplings do not normally allow disconnection of shafts during operation, however there are torque limiting couplings which can slip or disconnect when some torque limit is exceeded.The...
, seal support systems, specialist filtration
Filtration
Filtration is commonly the mechanical or physical operation which is used for the separation of solids from fluids by interposing a medium through which only the fluid can pass...
systems, hydrodynamic bearings
Bearing (mechanical)
A bearing is a device to allow constrained relative motion between two or more parts, typically rotation or linear movement. Bearings may be classified broadly according to the motions they allow and according to their principle of operation as well as by the directions of applied loads they can...
and equipment for upstream applications. Around one third of John Crane sales derive from the design and supply of these products, while the remaining two-thirds stem from the aftermarket servicing of this equipment. John Crane has made a number of acquisitions of competitors and other industry related companies, namely Flexibox, Indufil Bv, Sealol Safematic, Orion Corporation and Sartorius Bearing Technology
Smiths Interconnect
Smiths Interconnect is a recognised leader in technically differentiated electronic components and sub systems providing signal, power and microwave solutions. Designing and manufacturing products that connect, protect and control critical systems for the global wireless telecommunications, aerospaceAerospace
Aerospace comprises the atmosphere of Earth and surrounding space. Typically the term is used to refer to the industry that researches, designs, manufactures, operates, and maintains vehicles moving through air and space...
, defence, space
Space
Space is the boundless, three-dimensional extent in which objects and events occur and have relative position and direction. Physical space is often conceived in three linear dimensions, although modern physicists usually consider it, with time, to be part of a boundless four-dimensional continuum...
, medical, rail, test and industrial markets.
Flex-Tek
Flex-Tek is a global provider of engineered components, heating and moving fluids and gases for the aerospace, medical, industrial, construction and domestic appliance markets. Flexible hosing and rigid tubing products provide fluid management for fuel and hydraulic applications on commercial and military aircraft, deliver fuel gas and conditioned air in residential and commercial buildings, and provide respiratory care for medical applications. The heating elements improve the performance of domestic appliances such as tumble dryers and HVACHVAC
HVAC refers to technology of indoor or automotive environmental comfort. HVAC system design is a major subdiscipline of mechanical engineering, based on the principles of thermodynamics, fluid mechanics, and heat transfer...
equipment and other applications such as medical diagnostic equipment.