Smiths Group

Smiths Group plc

Type	Public limited company
Traded as	LSE: SMIN
Industry	Engineering
Founded	1851 (1851) (London)
Founder	Samuel Smith
Headquarters	London, United Kingdom
Area served	Worldwide
Key people	Sir George W. Buckley (Chairman) Andrew Reynolds Smith (CEO)
Products	Detection sensors Mechanical seals (wet seals and dry gas seals) Couplings Hydrodynamic bearings Filtration systems Medical devices Electronic components Heating and ducting systems
Revenue	£2,897 million (2015)[1]
Operating income	£394 million (2015)[1]
Net income	£248 million (2015)[1]
Number of employees	23,000 (2016)[2]
Subsidiaries	John Crane Inc.
Website	smiths-group.com

Smiths Group plc (LSE: SMIN) is a British multinational diversified engineering business 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.^[3][4] John Crane is a manufacturer of seals and associated products for the process industries.^[4] Smiths Medical is a manufacturer and supplier of specialty medical devices and equipment.^[4] Smiths Interconnect is a manufacturer of electronic and radio frequency components.^[4] Flex-Tek is a supplier of components to heat and move fluids and gases.^[4]

Smiths Group is listed on the London Stock Exchange and is a constituent of the FTSE 100 Index.

History

S Smith & Sons

This remained the business's name from foundation until 1967. This watch chronometer and instrument makers business was established by Samuel Smith in London in 1851. Their premises were in The Strand and they were watchmakers to the Admiralty. Retailing and wholesaling of Smiths-branded motor accessories was added in 1904 when a Watford supplier turned out Smith's first speedometer—The Perfect Speed Indicator. Growth was fast. Smiths began to manufacture some of their own motor products particularly speedometers. From mid-1913 all motor accessories activities were carried out from handsome purpose-built premises at Speedometer House, 179-185 Great Portland Street ("Motor Row"). The premises in the Strand became a Lyons tearoom but jewellers establishments were retained at Trafalgar Square and 68 Piccadilly. By this time motor accessories production included Smiths multiple-jet carburettors (designed by Trier & Martin), lighting sets, headlamps, sidelights, tail lights, dynamo and electric starters, generators and the Smith's Auto-Clear mechanical horn.^[5]

The outbreak of war in 1914 led to the capture of markets around the world previously held by the German competition. By 1915 new War Office contracts for aeroplane accessories, lighting sets etc. and munitions required the speedy erection of a new freehold factory. The new factory, known as Cricklewood Works, was built at Cricklewood, north London.^[6] In 1921 Great Portland Street activities were moved to Cricklewood following 1920's purchase of the former Metallurgique works alongside their Cricklewood Works.^[7] Post World War I their accessories became standard fittings in new cars all provided by the manufacturer.^[8]

First half of 20th century

Speedometer 1903

At the start of the 20th century, the age of the early automobiles, Smith & Sons produced the first British odometer ("mileometer") and speedometer.^[9] 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.

These later 20th century instruments carried a distinctive logo, the word "SMITHS" centred above the middle of the dial and silk screened onto it in a unique house font familiar to generations of drivers.^[10]

The KLG Sparking Plug distribution rights were purchased from Kenelm Lee Guinness in 1919. The British Jaeger Instrument Company was purchased in 1927 as was the KLG Sparking Plug Company (Robinhood Engineering).^[11] The Jackall hydraulic jacking system was manufactured from 1935 by Smith's Jacking Systems and immediately became standard equipment in many popular cars. In 1937 a separate aircraft and marine department was created in the parent company and named Smiths Aircraft Instruments. It operated with Smiths subsidiary Henry Hughes and Son manufacturers of aircraft and marine instruments.^[12]

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.^[13]

Second half of 20th century

Separate Smiths Aviation and Smiths Marine divisions were set up in 1958.^[9] In 1960, an Industrial division was formed whose main operations were industrial instrumentation.^[9] With increasing diversification and international operations the name Smiths Industries Ltd. was adopted in 1967.

Clocks, watches, and automotive instruments eventually ceased to be significant markets for Smiths,^[9] and by the 1980s, the automotive instrument division had been sold,^[9] 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.^[14]

21st century

The company's name was changed to Smiths Group plc on 30 November 2000^[15] and on 4 December, Smiths completed a merger with TI Group. TI had interests in aerospace, industrial seals and automotive parts.^[16] However Smiths divested TI Automotive shortly after the merger.^[17]

In 2007 GE Aviation, a division of General Electric, acquired Smith's aerospace subsidiary, Smiths Aerospace, for US$4.8 billion.^[18]

In September 2011 Smiths Group acquired the United States-based power technology enterprise, Power Holdings Inc., for £145 million.^[19]

It was announced on 21 April 2016 that Smiths Group will be acquiring Morpho Detection LLC, a US-based subsidiary of Safran, as part of Smiths Detection division.^[20]

Operations

Cardinal Place, head office of Smiths Group

Following an enterprise-wide restructuring programme in mid 2008, Smiths Group is organised into five separate divisions, namely:

Smiths Detection

Smiths Detection designs and manufactures sensors that detect and identify explosives, weapons, chemical agents, biohazards, nuclear and radioactive material, narcotics and contraband. These sensors 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-ray, trace detection, millimetre-wave, infra-red, biological detection and diagnostics.

Smiths Medical

Smiths Medical makes specialty medical devices for infusion therapy, vascular access and vital care and other specialty products and services. Their devices are found in hospital, emergency, home and specialty care environments and are used during critical and intensive care, surgery, post-operative care and for support in managing chronic illness. The division has operations in 30 countries concentrated in the US, UK, Mexico, Italy, Germany, Czech Republic, and China, sales to 120 countries, and approximately 8,000 employees globally. The US is currently the division's largest market with approximately 45% of sales.

John Crane

John Crane provides products and services for the major process industries, including the oil and gas, power generation, chemical, pharmaceutical, pulp and paper and mining sectors. Products include wet seals, gas seals, couplings, seal support systems, specialist filtration systems, hydrodynamic bearings, and equipment for upstream applications.

Management

Andrew Reynolds Smith

In 2015, Smiths appointed Andrew Reynolds Smith its CEO. Smith replaced Philip Bowman. Immediately before joining Smiths, Smith was CEO of GKN Automotive. He started work at GKN in 2002. He has worked in senior management at Ingersoll Rand, Siebe. and Delpi Automotive Systems.^[21]

References

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Smiths Instruments.

• Official website

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