Smiths Group plc (LSE: SMIN) is a British multinational diversified engineering business headquartered in London, United Kingdom. It has operations in over 50 countries and employs around 23,550 staff. Smiths Group is listed on the London Stock Exchange and is a constituent of the FTSE 100 Index.
Smiths Group has its origins in a jewellery shop, S Smith & Sons, which was founded by the watchmaker and businessman Samuel Smith. Supplying its precision watches to various clients, including the Admiralty, the business quickly grew and expanded into a major provider of timepieces, diamonds and automotive instrumentation. On 21 July 1914, the business became a public limited company, holding onto this status for over a hundred years. Throughout much of the twentieth century, Smiths Group was the principal supplier of instruments to the British motorcar and motorcycle industries, organising itself as Smiths Industries Ltd in 1960. During the 1980s and 1990s, the company restructured itself, disposing of its automotive division to focus on three divisions: Smiths Industrial, Smiths Medical Systems, and Smiths Aerospace and Defence. On 30 November 2000, its name was changed to Smiths Group; it merged with specialised engineering firm TI Group that same year.
Presently, Smiths Group has five divisions. Smiths Detection is the world’s largest manufacturer of sensors for the detection of explosives, weapons, chemical agents, biohazards, narcotics and contraband. John Crane is a manufacturer of seals and associated products for the process industries. Smiths Medical is a manufacturer and supplier of specialty medical devices and equipment. Smiths Interconnect is a manufacturer of electronic and radio frequency components. Flex-Tek is a supplier of components to heat and move fluids and gases.
Traded as: LSE: SMIN; FTSE 100 Component
Industry: Engineering
Founded: 1851; 169 years ago (London)
Founder: Samuel Smith
Headquarters: London, United Kingdom
Products:
Detection sensors
Mechanical seals (wet seals and dry gas seals)
Couplings
Hydrodynamic bearings
Filtration systems
Medical devices
Electronic components
Heating and ducting systems
Divisions:
John Crane Inc.,
Smiths Medical,
Smiths Detection,
Smiths Interconnect,
Flex-Tek
Website: www.smiths.com