Meggitt

The company's origins trace back to 1947, when a machine tool manufacturer named Willson Lathes was founded in Halifax, UK, becoming a public company that same year. In a pivotal move, Willson Lathes acquired a Dorset-based engineering business called Meggitt in 1964 and adopted its name, becoming Meggitt Holdings. The modern era for Meggitt, however, began in 1983 with a management buy-in led by Nigel McCorkell and Ken Coates. They envisioned building an international engineering company focused on specialized sectors like aerospace and energy. This strategy led to a string of acquisitions, significantly expanding the company's capabilities and market presence throughout the 1980s and 90s. Meggitt grew into a key supplier of high-performance components for the aerospace, defense, and energy markets, making everything from aircraft braking systems to sensors and fire safety systems. The company's journey as an independent entity culminated in a major event. In September 2022, U.S. industrial giant Parker Hannifin completed its acquisition of Meggitt for approximately £6.3 billion, marking the end of its time on the London Stock Exchange and the start of a new chapter as part of a larger corporation.