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IMI plc

IMI plc[3] (lse: IMI), formerly Imperial Metal Industries Limited (1962–1968)[4] and IMI Limited (1978–1981),[5] is a British-based engineering company headquartered in Birmingham, England. It is listed on the London Stock Exchange and is a constituent of the FTSE 100 Index.

History

The company was founded by Scottish entrepreneur George Kynoch who opened a percussion cap factory in Witton, West Midlands in 1862, trading as Kynoch.[6] The business soon diversified, manufacturing goods ranging from soap and bicycle components to non-ferrous metals, but by the early 20th century it had developed particular expertise in metallurgy.[6] After World War I it merged with Nobel Industries.[6] In 1926 the company acquired Eley Brothers, an ammunition business.[7] The company, by then known as Nobel Explosives, was one of the four businesses that merged in 1927 to create Imperial Chemical Industries.[6] The Witton site became the head office of ICI Metals.[6] During the Second World War the Witton site was used for the development and production of uranium for the Tube Alloys project.[8]

In the 1950s the company's researchers perfected the process for producing titanium on a commercial basis.[6] In 1958 ICI Metals bought 50% of Yorkshire Imperial Metals: it acquired the other 50% four years later.[9]

The name Imperial Metal Industries Limited (IMI for short) was adopted on the 100th anniversary of the firm in 1962.[6] The company was listed on the London Stock Exchange in 1966.[6] Initially ICI retained a majority holding, but in 1978 IMI became fully independent.[6] In the 1990s the Company disposed of its more basic businesses such as metal smelting and metal founding.[6]

In 2003, IMI moved from the Witton site to new headquarters close to Birmingham Airport.[10]

The company announced in October 2013 that a decade-long programme of transformation had been completed with the disposal of two non-core subsidiaries to Berkshire Hathaway for £690m.[11] The disposal of the Cornelius Group, a beverage-dispensing machine business, together with the disposal of a marketing intelligence business, would enable the company to focus on its control valve making business.[12]

In November 2022, it was announced IMI had acquired the Blackburn-based smart thermostatic control manufacturer, Heatmiser, for £110 million.[13]

Sectors

The company is involved in five sectors:[14]

  • Process automation
  • Industrial automation
  • Climate control
  • Life science & fluid control
  • Transport

External links

References

  1. Annual Results 2025 IMI, retrieved 6 March 2026^
  2. IMI at a Glance IMI plc, retrieved 27 January 2026^
  3. IMI PLC overview - Find and update company information - GOV.UK find-and-update.company-information.service.gov.uk, retrieved 2025-01-26^
  4. Company name changed\certificate issued on 02/05/79 Companies House, 1979-05-02, retrieved 2025-01-26^
  5. Certificate of re-registration from Private to Public Limited Company Companies House, 1981-11-02, retrieved 2025-01-26^
  6. History IMI, retrieved 10 March 2014^
  7. About us Eley, retrieved 10 March 2014^
  8. The Pre-Harwell Era New Scientist, 15 August 1957^
  9. "I.C.I. and Yorkshire Copper Works", The Times, 4 January 1958, p. 12^
  10. Records of IMI [Imperial Metal Industries] PLC and subsidiary companies, 1865–1973, Walsall Local History Centre (Reference Code: 1000)^
  11. IMI boss says decade-long transformation complete The Telegraph, 16 October 2013, retrieved 10 March 2014^
  12. Berkshire Hathaway buys UK's IMI The Telegraph, 17 October 2013, retrieved 10 March 2014^
  13. Smart thermostat manufacturer set to be acquired for £110m West Midlands, 2022-11-08, retrieved 2022-11-08^
  14. What we do IMI, retrieved 26 January 2025^