Kohler Mira Ltd
Encyclopedia
Kohler Mira Ltd is a plumbing company based in Cheltenham
, Gloucestershire
known for its brand of Mira showers, the most popular shower in the UK.
In 1933 the company also made gas and air flow, pressure and vacuum recorders (instrumentation
) for industry. These were made by the Arkon Instruments subsidiary.
In 1936 it launched the Leonard thermostatic mixing valve
s; this was world's first thermostatic shower. In 1937 it moved to Cheltenham, known as the Whaddon Works.
In the Second World War, all shower valves for British military use were made by them. By 1950 the Leonard brand of shower equipment was becoming the main brand used for institutional buildings - schools and hospitals. This was due to persuading the Ministry of Education
to install temperature-regulated showers. The thermostatic mixing valves were not just used for showers but for general heating of water, including their thermostatic steam water heaters.
In 1956 they introduced the Unatap range of spray mixing taps. These were used to save water - thought to be 5,500 gallons of hot water per washroom per year. They were developed in conjunction with the Building Research Establishment
.
In November 1961 it introduced the Leonard 72 thermostatic mixing valve which controlled water temperature as well as flow.
By 1970 turnover had reached £2 million, and it exported to 37 countries. From 1971-2 Richard Walker was President of the Comité Européen de l'Industrie de la Robinetterie
(now known as CEIR). In 1972-3 the company made a 90% increase in profits to £328,000, and Richard Walker had been made OBE.
In 1976 it launched the Miralec brand of shower with temperature stabilisation. Mira Thermostatic replaced the Leonard brand. In 1978 it launched its first instant electric shower. In 1979 the Rada brand was introduced to sell the Mira showers in export markets. In 1981 it introduced a thermoscopic electric shower for the domestic market.
In 1986 the company name changed to Caradon Mira Ltd. In 1988 the Miralec brand became Mira. On 3 October 1989 MB Group (former Metal Box) bought Caradon plc for £337 million, and the company became MB-Caradon plc. In 1995 it introduced its first thermostatic electric shower.
Caradon Plumbing Solutions, part of Novar
, was bought by HSBC Private Equity on 9 October 2000 for £442 million. In December 2000 Richard Walker died.
for £301 million. The bathroom division, Twyford Bathrooms
, had been sold to the Sanitec Group (a Finnish company) in January 2001 for £84 million.
, to the east of the Whaddon Road
football ground (it sponsors the club), in the middle of a residential area. The GCHQ
site at Oakley
is nearby to the east.
Cheltenham
Cheltenham , also known as Cheltenham Spa, is a large spa town and borough in Gloucestershire, on the edge of the Cotswolds in the South-West region of England. It is the home of the flagship race of British steeplechase horse racing, the Gold Cup, the main event of the Cheltenham Festival held...
, Gloucestershire
Gloucestershire
Gloucestershire is a county in South West England. The county comprises part of the Cotswold Hills, part of the flat fertile valley of the River Severn, and the entire Forest of Dean....
known for its brand of Mira showers, the most popular shower in the UK.
Walker Crosweller
Walker, Crosweller and Co. Ltd. was founded in London in 1921 by James MacFarlane Walker.In 1933 the company also made gas and air flow, pressure and vacuum recorders (instrumentation
Instrumentation
Instrumentation is defined as the art and science of measurement and control of process variables within a production, or manufacturing area....
) for industry. These were made by the Arkon Instruments subsidiary.
In 1936 it launched the Leonard thermostatic mixing valve
Thermostatic mixing valve
A thermostatic mixing valve is a valve that blends hot water with cold water to ensure constant, safe shower and bath outlet temperatures, preventing scalding....
s; this was world's first thermostatic shower. In 1937 it moved to Cheltenham, known as the Whaddon Works.
In the Second World War, all shower valves for British military use were made by them. By 1950 the Leonard brand of shower equipment was becoming the main brand used for institutional buildings - schools and hospitals. This was due to persuading the Ministry of Education
Ministry of Education (United Kingdom)
The administration of education policy in the United Kingdom began in the 19th century. Official mandation of education began with the Elementary Education Act 1870 for England and Wales, and the Education Act 1872 for Scotland...
to install temperature-regulated showers. The thermostatic mixing valves were not just used for showers but for general heating of water, including their thermostatic steam water heaters.
In 1956 they introduced the Unatap range of spray mixing taps. These were used to save water - thought to be 5,500 gallons of hot water per washroom per year. They were developed in conjunction with the Building Research Establishment
Building Research Establishment
The Building Research Establishment is a former UK government establishment that carries out research, consultancy and testing for the construction and built environment sectors in the United Kingdom...
.
Public company
On Thursday 24 August 1961 the company was floated on the London Stock Exchange with a share price of 8s 6d. The previous year the company had made £88,000 profit. The company chairman was Mr J.M. Walker.In November 1961 it introduced the Leonard 72 thermostatic mixing valve which controlled water temperature as well as flow.
Mira
On 27 June 1963, the company took over the Miraflo Ltd company, and it became a subsidiary. Miraflo made shower mixing taps. In December 1963 Richard Walker became chairman, following the death of his father. He was also the managing director. From 1966-7 he was the President of the British Valve Manufacturers Association (now the British Valve and Actuator Association). In November 1967, the company formed the subsidiary Richard Fife Inc. to market its products in the USA. It would also have subsidiaries in Germany, South Africa, Belgium, and Canada. In April 1968 it began television adverts - the first time showers had been advertised on British television. By 1968 it was selling Kelta shower fittings.By 1970 turnover had reached £2 million, and it exported to 37 countries. From 1971-2 Richard Walker was President of the Comité Européen de l'Industrie de la Robinetterie
Comité Européen de l'Industrie de la Robinetterie
The Comité Européen de l'Industrie de la Robinetterie, mostly known as the CEIR or the European Committee for the Valve Industry, is the European trade association for the industrial valve industry.-Structure:...
(now known as CEIR). In 1972-3 the company made a 90% increase in profits to £328,000, and Richard Walker had been made OBE.
Takeover
In April 1974 the company was bought out and left the LSE. The managing director was Dennis Arbon, until 1980.In 1976 it launched the Miralec brand of shower with temperature stabilisation. Mira Thermostatic replaced the Leonard brand. In 1978 it launched its first instant electric shower. In 1979 the Rada brand was introduced to sell the Mira showers in export markets. In 1981 it introduced a thermoscopic electric shower for the domestic market.
In 1986 the company name changed to Caradon Mira Ltd. In 1988 the Miralec brand became Mira. On 3 October 1989 MB Group (former Metal Box) bought Caradon plc for £337 million, and the company became MB-Caradon plc. In 1995 it introduced its first thermostatic electric shower.
Caradon Plumbing Solutions, part of Novar
Novar plc
Novar plc was an international group based in the United Kingdom with core activities in Security Systems, Aluminium Extrusion and Cheque Printing. It was bought by Honeywell in 2005, and its activities merged...
, was bought by HSBC Private Equity on 9 October 2000 for £442 million. In December 2000 Richard Walker died.
Kohler
On 19 July 2001 Mira Showers and Alstone Shower Cubicles were bought from HSBC Private Equity by Kohler CompanyKohler Company
'The Kohler Company is a manufacturing company in Kohler, Wisconsin best known for its plumbing products. Kohler also manufactures furniture, cabinetry, tile, engines, and generators.-History:...
for £301 million. The bathroom division, Twyford Bathrooms
Twyford Bathrooms
Twyford Bathrooms is a manufacturer of bathroom fixtures based in Alsager, Cheshire, England.-History:Thomas Twyford and his son Thomas William Twyford established what we now know as Twyford Bathrooms in 1849 in Bath Street, Hanley, Stoke-on-Trent. The worldwide demands for new sanitaryware soon...
, had been sold to the Sanitec Group (a Finnish company) in January 2001 for £84 million.
Structure
The factory is situated between Cromwell Road and Clyde Crescent in CheltenhamCheltenham
Cheltenham , also known as Cheltenham Spa, is a large spa town and borough in Gloucestershire, on the edge of the Cotswolds in the South-West region of England. It is the home of the flagship race of British steeplechase horse racing, the Gold Cup, the main event of the Cheltenham Festival held...
, to the east of the Whaddon Road
Whaddon Road
Whaddon Road is a football stadium in Cheltenham, England. It is the home ground of Cheltenham Town F.C. and shared with Gloucester City A.F.C.. It has a total capacity of 7,066, with a mixture of seating and terracing...
football ground (it sponsors the club), in the middle of a residential area. The GCHQ
Government Communications Headquarters
The Government Communications Headquarters is a British intelligence agency responsible for providing signals intelligence and information assurance to the UK government and armed forces...
site at Oakley
Oakley, Gloucestershire
Oakley is a district of Cheltenham in Gloucestershire, England. It is home to the smaller of Cheltenham's two GCHQ sites, and residential housing including private, council-owned and social housing. It backs onto Cleeve Hill and Harp Hill, greenbelt land and part of the Cotswold hills, including a...
is nearby to the east.