IMI Components History:

In 1862 Scottish Victorian entrepreneur George Kynoch opened a percussion cap factory at Witton in Birmingham, UK. By 1881 it had grown to be Britain's largest ammunition manufacturing company but had also diversified - there was now a brass rolling mill, a patent lamp business and a printing works.

In the decade following the end of the First World War in 1918 the company became a major supplier of carburettors and radiators for both automobiles and aircraft. There was also a new name, Nobel Industries, following a merger with a Swedish company.

Kynoch Works 1902

IMI HQ Building at Witton until 2004

In 1927 Nobel Industries became one of the four founders of Imperial Chemical Industries (ICI) and the Witton site became the head office and principal manufacturing base of ICI Metals Division.

In 1962, the one hundredth anniversary of George Kynoch's cap factory's opening, the company was renamed Imperial Metal Industries Ltd.

IMI's ambitions and distinct identity resulted in a stock exchange listing in 1966.

In 1978 ICI sold its remaining interest and IMI became a fully independent public company. During this period IMI Components Limited was formed as part of IMI's decentralisation and rationalisation policy.

Today IMI plc is a leading international business, with a turnover in excess of €2,200m, supplying high value-added products to major global customers in growing niche markets. IMI components Ltd is a wholly owned subsidiary of IMI plc, specialising in the supply of high precision components and fabrications.