History
The incorporation in November 1905 of the rather grandly named 'British, Foreign & Colonial Automatic Light Company Limited' was the beginning of 'Chemring Group PLC', as it is known today. The name of the company came from its main business activity – the manufacture of clockwork timepieces to control gas street lighting.
Following a lean period during World War II due to the “blackout” the company enjoyed a period of postwar growth, and in 1952 the company was acquired by Suchy Holdings Limited which was able to invest in the business which needed modernising to compete in a market where all new street lighting was now electric.
Suchy Holdings Limited had been formed in 1946 and included several companies, one of which was Chemring Limited, which had a process for metallising fabrics. Chemring adapted the process for silver coating nylon filaments and netting for light-weight radar reflectors for balloons which the Meteorological Office used to measure wind speed by tracking them with ground radar. In addition, the Royal Swedish Air Board and the UK Ministry of Defence became interested in the silver coated filaments for use as chaff as a radar decoy.
In 1964 the entire business transferred to the Alchem Works in Portsmouth. The business at Portsmouth consisted of chaff manufacture, an automatic machine shop producing mineral insulated cable connectors and a design and development department providing technical services.
By 1974 the Company was in good financial shape, and the Board applied for a full listing on the newly formed, United Stock Exchange (now the London Stock Exchange). Chemring was chosen as the name for the listed company, as this name was better known nationally and internationally.
The Falklands war in 1982 was a significant event, not only for the UK, but for Chemring. Sea skimming missiles were a major threat to the British fleet and aluminum glass chaff was seen as a key countermeasure. Chemring opened a new factory in weeks, and was acclaimed for its exceptional efforts during this period.
Chemring was increasing its presence in the United States, and in September 1993, it completed its first US acquisition. Alloy Surfaces Company Inc had developed a new pyrophoric material which was a covert area decoy particularly suitable for the new rapid reaction requirements for the military involving helicopters and transport aircraft.
In 2001 Chemring became the largest provider of decoys to the US Department of Defence through its acquisition of Kilgore Flares Company LLC, a manufacturer of conventional magnesium flares.
Since 2004, Chemring has completed several acquisitions in the UK, the USA, Germany and Italy, which will increase its Energetics turnover.
Today Chemring is a global player with non UK sales at 75% of total turnover. It has technical and production capabilities in companies in seven countries and it is strongly positioned to continue its spectacular growth.
| The Chemring Group Centenary |  |
| The Sixtieth Anniversary of Window 1943 – 2003 | |