Business History Explorer Supported by the Business Archives Council

Imperial Metal Industries Ltd

Other Business Names:

  • Kynoch Ltd
  • Nobel Industries Ltd
  • ICI Ltd
  • IMI Plc

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

  • Witton, Birmingham, West Midlands, West Midlands, England

Sectors:

  • Transport equipment production Aeroengines & components production
  • Mechanical engineering Armaments & ammunition production exc warships, aircraft, cannon, hand guns and cartridges, swords, etc
  • Transport equipment production Bicycle & components production
  • Chemical production Candle production
  • Fabricated metal products manufacture Copper & brass products manufacture inc plumbing fittings
  • Basic metals production Copper & brass smelting
  • Chemical production Explosives & fuses production
  • Fabricated metal products manufacture Metal casting
  • Transport equipment production Motor vehicle engines & components production
  • Publishing & printing Other printing
  • Chemical production Soap & detergent production

Notes:

Traces origins to such businesses as Kynoch Ltd, a percussion cap maker at Witton, Birmingham, which by process of many mergers, notably those forming Nobel Industries Ltd, merged in 1926 to form Imperial Chemical Industries Ltd, [ICI Ltd]. Within ICI organised into its Metals Division which in 1920s and 1930s was a leading UK supplier of copper and copper alloys as well as heat exchangers and sporting ammunition. 1950s developed titanium as a commercially viable product. 1962 renamed Imperial Metal Industries Ltd (IMI). Floated 1966 with ICI retaining control until 1978. From 1980s gave up basic metal activities to focus on greater added value metal products. Continues as IMI Plc, an engineering business focused on niche products

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