Business History Explorer Supported by the Business Archives Council

Birmid Qualcast Industries Ltd

Other Business Names:

  • Birmid Industries Ltd
  • Qualcast Group
  • Derwent Foundry
  • Kaufmann Group
  • Suffolk Lawnmowers
  • Atco Qualcast Ltd

Locations city-town / local authority / county1974 / region-state / country:

  • Derby, City of Derby, Derbyshire, East Midlands, England
  • Smethwick, Sandwell, West Midlands, West Midlands, England
  • Stowmarket, Suffolk, Suffolk, East of England, England

Sectors:

  • Mechanical engineering Agricultural, forestry & garden machinery, implements, etc, production
  • Fabricated metal products manufacture Metal casting

Notes:

Established in 1967 by merger of Birmid Industries Ltd and Qualcast Group. Qualcast traced its origins to 1928 when formed to hold the lawnmower manufacturing interests established by Derwent Foundry of Derby in 1920. Subsequently it developed into a major manufacturer acquiring in particular Kaufmann Group which included Suffolk Lawnmowers of Stowmarket in 1958. Birmid Qualcast was acquired in 1988 by Blue Circle Industries [BCI] when its foundry industries were disposed of. The remaining lawnmower interests, subsequently known as Atco Qualcast Ltd, were acquired by Boche of Germany in 1996 and continue at Stowmarket

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