Armstrong Whitworth had developed along similar lines to Vickers, expanding into various military sectors and was notable for their artillery manufacture at Elswick and shipbuilding at a yard at High Walker on the River Tyne. In 1927, Vickers merged with Tyneside based engineering company Armstrong Whitworth to become Vickers-Armstrongs. In 1911 the company name was changed to Vickers Ltd and expanded its operations into aircraft manufacture by the formation of Vickers Ltd (Aviation Department) and a Vickers School of Flying was opened at Brooklands, Surrey on 20 January 1912. With these acquisitions, Vickers could now produce a complete selection of products, from ships and marine fittings to armour plate and a whole suite of ordnance. They expanded even further into electrical and railway manufacturing, and in 1928 acquired an interest in the Supermarine.
- These interests were primarily centred on land warfare products and brought the Challenger 1 tank into Vickers’ portfolio.
- Beginning in the 1960s, various parts of the company were nationalised, and in 1999 the rest of the company was acquired by Rolls-Royce plc, which sold the defence arm to Alvis plc.
- In 1927, Vickers merged with Tyneside based engineering company Armstrong Whitworth to become Vickers-Armstrongs.
- In 1911 a controlling interest was acquired in torpedo manufacturer Whitehead & Company.
- These outstanding drivetrain products are widely used across many industries, including mining, marine, paper, metalworking, oil and gas, can manufacturing, laundry, logging, roll form and grinding.
- In 1868 Vickers began to manufacture marine shafts; in 1872 they began casting marine propellers and in 1882 they set up a forging press.
I love my role as a customer service team leader as I enjoy helping our customers. Our customers select us and remain with us – for our insight, quality and service. Our employees have the knowledge and expertise to work with you on your most challenging projects, from developing new products to improving existing ones. We’re dedicated to delivering the highest levels of service for our customers. As a specialty chemical manufacturer, we manage large scale production alongside bespoke products and batch sizes. Since 1970, Vickers had been the parent of the Scottish Brown Brothers group, which produced marine steering gear and stabilisers.
Armstrongs shipbuilding interests became the “Naval Yard”, those of Vickers on the west coast the “Naval Construction Yard”. In 1919, the British Westinghouse electrical company was taken over as the Metropolitan Vickers Electrical Company; Metrovick. In 1911 a controlling interest was acquired in torpedo manufacturer Whitehead & Company. Further diversification occurred in 1901 with the acquisition of a proposed business which was incorporated as The Wolseley Tool and Motor Car Company and in 1905 the goodwill and patent rights of the Siddeley car. In 1901 the Royal Navy’s first submarine, Holland 1, was launched at the Naval Construction Yard. The time could have never been more fortunate, with the Naval Defence Act 1889 significantly increasing the domestic demand and the invention of nickel steel armour rendering obsolete and worthless the investments of established producers into compound armour.
Vickers
1929 saw the merger of the acquired railway business with those of Cammell Laird to form Metropolitan Cammell Carriage & Wagon. In 1938, both companies were re-organised as Vickers-Armstrongs (Aircraft) Ltd, although the former Supermarine and Vickers works continued to brand their products under their former names. In 1928, the Aviation Department became Vickers (Aviation) Ltd and https://www.betvickers.uk/ soon after acquired Supermarine, which became the “Supermarine Aviation Works (Vickers) Ltd”.
After a decline in lucrative tool steel demand in the US during the first half of 1880s, the stockholders logically decided in spring 1887 to diversify into large-scale armaments production and approved £1.5 million (1887, equivalent to £172.83 million in 2023) capital increase. They were also supplying steel forgings for gun barrel manufacturers, including their future main competitor Armstrong, as early as 1870. In 1868 Vickers began to manufacture marine shafts, in 1872 they began casting marine propellers and in 1882 they set up a forging press.
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In 1986, Vickers acquired the armaments manufacturer Royal Ordnance Factory, Leeds, which became Vickers Defence Systems. The Aircraft and Shipbuilding Industries Act also led to the nationalisation of Vickers’ shipbuilding division as part of British Shipbuilders. In 1960, the aircraft interests were merged with those of the Bristol, English Electric and Hunting Aircraft to form the British Aircraft Corporation (BAC).
About Vickers Hydraulics and Products
The company bought out the Barrow-in-Furness shipbuilder The Barrow Shipbuilding Company in 1897, acquiring its subsidiary the Maxim Nordenfelt Guns And Ammunitions Company at the same time, to become Vickers, Sons & Maxim. In 1868 Vickers began to manufacture marine shafts; in 1872 they began casting marine propellers and in 1882 they set up a forging press. In 1863 the company moved to a new site in Sheffield on the River Don in Brightside. In 1854 Vickers’ sons Thomas and Albert joined the business. It began life making steel castings and quickly became known for casting church bells.
In 1999 Reumech, owner of OMC, the South African defence company was purchased and renamed as Vickers OMC. These interests were primarily centred on land warfare products and brought the Challenger 1 tank into Vickers’ portfolio. In 1990, the Cosworth automotive engineering group was purchased. In September 2004, BAE announced the creation of BAE Systems Land Systems, a new company bringing together the BAE subsidiaries, RO Defence and Alvis Vickers, which saw the end of the Vickers name after 176 years. Within three months BAE Systems, which already held a 29% stake, bid £355m for the company; this was seen as a defence of the home market from a foreign rival. In 2004, the board of the parent group Alvis approved a £309m takeover bid by the American defence company General Dynamics.
Aircraft
1.6 Fifth change of the companyAfter the Second World War Vickers-Armstrongs manufactured commercial aircraft. In 1929, the acquired railway business was merged with that of Cammell Laird to form Metropolitan Cammell Carriage & Wagon. With their steelworking operations also nationalised into British Steel Corporation the remnants of Vickers became Vickers plc. The Supermarine operation was closed in 1963 and the Vickers name for aircraft was dropped in 1965.
When your application needs rotary power, they have a hydraulic motor to do the job. Even on the most exacting industrial applications, you’ll find our directional controls keep your maintenance simple and downtime at a minimum. Ruggedness of design, controlled manufacturing quality and world-wide parts interchangeability are important parts of the overall story.
- As a worldwide leader, Vickers Hydraulics designs and manufactures a comprehensive line of reliable, high-efficiency hydraulic systems and components.
- The name was first used by the Vickers family for Vickers Limited – at first a Sheffield steel foundry and later a manufacturing conglomerate – from 1867 to 1927.
- In 1960, the aircraft interests were merged with those of the Bristol, English Electric and Hunting Aircraft to form the British Aircraft Corporation (BAC).
- Their commitment to science and innovation is driven by their internal expertise combined with strategic acquisitions, offering a comprehensive set of products, services, and support to their customers.
- From closed-circuit to open-circuit systems and fixed displacement vane pumps, our expansive range of industrial pumps provide the performance, durability and flexibility your hydraulic application needs.
- Vickers entered naval shipbuilding with the purchase of Barrow Shipbuilding Company in 1897, forming the Naval Construction Yard at Barrow-in-Furness in Cumbria.
Built with quality components under stringent manufacturing standards, Danfoss hydraulic power units ensure efficient, reliable, cost-effective operation and maximum productivity. Airflex industrial clutches and brakes are world-renowned for their superior performance, long life and high quality. Perfect for applications such as drilling machinery, top head drives and marine winches, our low-speed high torque motors are engineered with robust components to deliver smooth, consistent power even in the toughest conditions.
Automotive engineering
In 2003, Rolls-Royce renamed its Vickers subsidiaries Vinters Engineering plc. The name was first used by the Vickers family for Vickers Limited – at first a Sheffield steel foundry and later a manufacturing conglomerate – from 1867 to 1927. I’ve always really enjoyed helping people, going the extra mile and giving the best customer service I can give, ensuring efficiency and professionalism in everything I do, and always with a smile. Together with Calibre Scientific, we are committed to driving innovation and continuing to deliver our excellent service and adaptability. Based in Holland, Ohio, the company continues to grow across diverse industries and regions, broadening their product range and global presence to better serve laboratories around the world. We are delighted to announce that Calibre Scientific has acquired Vickers Laboratories Ltd.
Edward’s investments in the railway industry allowed him to gain control of the company, based at Millsands near Sheffield, and known as Naylor Vickers and Company. Naylor was a partner in the foundry Naylor & Sanderson, and Vickers’ brother William owned a steel rolling operation. Vickers was formed in Sheffield as a steel foundry by the miller Edward Vickers and his father-in-law George Naylor in 1828. The Vickers name resurfaced as Vickers plc between 1977 and 1999. Airships and aircraft were added, and Vickers jet airliners were to remain in production until 1965.
In the interwar period Vickers worked on several tank designs. The company was also involved in the manufacture of 6,000–10,000 (6181 is often quoted) Luger pistols in 1922–24. The British tested John Pedersen’s design for a semi-automatic rifle between World War I and World War II. This merger was to take effect on 1 January 1928 and would give Vickers shareholders ownership of two-thirds of the new company. In 1919, the British Westinghouse electrical company was taken over as the Metropolitan-Vickers Electrical Company, its name often shortened to Metrovick. Vickers brand aircraft were produced from 1911 to 1965, when BAC ended use of the name.
Their commitment to science and innovation is driven by their internal expertise combined with strategic acquisitions, offering a comprehensive set of products, services, and support to their customers. This yard later passed into the hands of the nationalised British Shipbuilders in 1977, was privatised as Vickers Shipbuilding and Engineering Ltd in 1986 and remains in operation to this day as BAE Systems Submarine Solutions. Vickers formed Vickers Ltd (Aviation Department) 1911 and produced one of the first aircraft designed to carry a machine gun, the FB5 (fighting biplane) Gun Bus. They later took over the company and improved the design as the Vickers machine gun, which was the last major design Hiram Maxim himself worked on. In 1911, the company name was changed to Vickers Limited and expanded its operations into aircraft manufacture by the formation of Vickers Ltd (Aviation Department).
Vickers by Danfoss pumps, motors, valves, HPUs and cylinders are found in industrial applications worldwide. A full suite of standard and customizable hydraulic solutions, available around the globe to provide precisely what’s needed for your project. Vickers®, one of the most experienced and respected names in hydraulics, became part of Danfoss in 2021.