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Revision as of 11:21, 22 May 2006 by GraemeLeggett (talk | contribs) (→Aerospace: copyedit)(diff) ← Previous revision | Latest revision (diff) | Newer revision → (diff)| Company type | Public (LSE: SMIN) |
|---|---|
| Industry | Engineering |
| Founded | 1851 |
| Headquarters | London, United Kingdom |
| Products | Detection Medical Aerospace Speciality engineering |
| Revenue |  £3.017 billion GBP (2005) |
| Number of employees | 27,200 (2004) |
| Website | www.smiths-group.com |
Smiths Group is a British engineering company involved in wide-ranging speciality engineering.
History
The company that became Smiths started as clock and watch business in the mid 19th century. A family business, it was founded by Samuel Smith in 1851. At the starty of the 20th century and the age of the automobile they 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 domiant supplier of instruments to British motorcar and motorcycle firms.
Separate Smiths Aviation and Smiths Marine divisions were setup in 1958. In 1960, an Industrial division was formed whose main operations were industrial instrumentation. With increasing diversification and internation operations the Smiths Industries Ltd. was adopted in 1965 to reflect wider operations. The contribution of clocks and watches to the business declined and Smiths stopped being the direct supplier of motor equipment to European car producers.
Organization
Detection
Smiths Detection is a leading company in the fast growing sector of detection systems. Products of the company include:
- Trace detectors - For the detection of chemical and biological agents, chemicals or explosives.
- X-Ray security systems
- Biometrics - Authentication, i.e. establishing the identity of an individual by measurement of physiological or behavioral features
- Metal detectors
- Product inspection systems - Systems for quality control of products (e.g. food).
Medical
- Airway management
- Needle protection
- Ambulatory infusion
- Medication delivery
- Patient monitoring
Aerospace
- Actuators - Electrical motors, hydraulic pistons etc. for control of flight control (flaps, slats, ailerons), landing gear and thurst reversers.
- Components - an important supplier of jet engine components
- Electronics - although covering a wide range of products centred on aircraft and flight management systems. Including aerial refueling (a partner in the 767 Tanker Transport, Crew information, Flight Control Systems (FCS), Navigation and Power Distribution Systems.
Speciality engineering
- Flexible Technologies
- Interconnect
- John Crane
- Kelvin Hughes Limited (Marine Systems)
- Tubular Systems
- Titeflex - flexible fluid hoses
- Lewis and Saunders - tubular assemblies
- Gastite - fuel piping products.