Bodycote International
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Bodycote International plc [1] is an industrial group which is a leading supplier of specialist testing and heat treatment services.[2] Based in Macclesfield England, it is listed on the London Stock Exchange and is a constituent of the FTSE 250 Index.
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[edit] Overview
Although the company name is synonnymous with the metallurgical industry, the company was founded under a very different expertise. In Hinckley, Leicester, 1923 - Arthur Bodycote founded his textile business - GR Bodycote Ltd. Later, the hosiery specialist became part of the Slater Walker concern from 1951 to 1969, before being spun off and listed on the stock market under Bodycote International Ltd. It refocused on its present activities in the 1970s, realising that high wage costs made UK based textile manufacturers. Its expertise in bullet proof and flame retardant clothing facilitated its transformation into the specialist materials sector. From 1980 onwards it made a series of acquisitions of materials companies, the first of which was Zinc Alloy Rust Proofing Ltd, which was the beginning of its metallurgical business.
In 1990 Bodycote acquired Metallurgical Testing Services Ltd (MTS) of Edinburgh, Scotland from Murray International plc, laying the foundations for what would become Bodycote's world-class Materials Testing business. The company had mapped out a strategy for substantial growth utilising its oil and gas experience into international markets and diversifying into aerospace, engineering and analytical services. Bodycote provided the vehicle for this expansion.
Bodycote International now operates from more than 300 facilities in 35 different countries, with facilities in Europe the Middle East and North and Central America. Continual and rapid acquisition growth has seen the group expand into China and Australia. Bodycote is essentially an outsourcing firm and has two divisions:
[edit] Thermal Processing
- Heat Treatments: operates computerised heat treatment centres and sophisticated metal joining facilities which undertake contract work for the aerospace, power generation, automotive, railway and general engineering industries. This division accounts for more than half of total sales.
- Hot Isostatic Pressing: works with the power generation, precision castings, automotive, aerospace, precision tooling and medical engineering industries.
- Metallurgical Coatings: operates coating centres which provide ceramic coatings, sherardizing, zinc flake organic coatings, mechanical plating, PVD coatings, and anodising.
Testing group
- Materials testing: inspection, analytical and forensic services.
- Health Sciences: testing and advisory services to the pharmaceutical, food & consumer products and medical device industries.
- Engineering and Technology: vehicle, engine, component and structural testing.
- Environmental: analytical, ecotoxocology and services in industrial hygiene
- Measurement Solutions: metrology and calibration on site and in accredited laboratories
Bodycote International's turnover for the year to 31 December 2004 was £457.2 million. Profits were £24.5 million before tax and £18.9 million after tax.
