Ultra Electronics
Encyclopedia
Ultra Electronics Holdings is a British
company serving the defence, security
, transport
and energy
industries. It is listed on the London Stock Exchange
and is a constituent of the FTSE 250 Index
.
in 1920 as Edward E. Rosen & Co. manufacturing high quality headphones. In 1923 the company moved to new premises at Harrow Road, London and in 1925 a new company Ultra Electric Ltd. was formed. Ultra introduced its first mains powered wireless set in 1931. After further expansion the company moved to larger premises at Erskine Road, Chalk Farm
, NW3 in 1932 and also built a new 150000 sq ft (13,935.5 m²) factory at Western Avenue, Acton
, W3 in 1935. Ultra manufactured a wide range of domestic radio receivers including the Blue Fox, Lynx, Panther and Tiger models. In 1939 Ultra presented a television receiver to the market for the BBC High Definition Television Service which was transmitted on 405 lines from the studios at Alexandra Palace
, North London.
During World War II
the company diversified into building tails and bomb doors for the Short Stirling
aircraft.
Ultra opened a new factory at Gosport
for the production of televisions and radios in 1956 and acquired Pilot Radio & Television in 1959, before splitting into two divisions, one dealing with domestic radio and television and the other with electronic products, in 1960. In 1961 Ultra's consumer electronics interests became part of Thorn Electrical Industries
, who continued to manufacture products using the Ultra brandname until 1974. The remainder of the company became Ultra Electronics Ltd. which was bought by the Dowty Group
in 1977.
In 1993 Ultra was the subject of a management buyout led by Julian Blogh of seven Dowty Group
plc companies, which had been acquired by TI Group
in 1992. The company floated on the London Stock Exchange
in 1996.
Ultra comprises 24 businesses, with approximately half in the UK and half in the USA and Canada
. It also has offices in Singapore and the UAE and has recently established (2007) the Ultra Electronics Pty Ltd subsidiary based in Adelaide
Australia
.
The company is structured around 3 divisions : Aircraft & Vehicle Systems, Information & Power Systems and Tactical & Sonar Systems.
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
company serving the defence, security
Security
Security is the degree of protection against danger, damage, loss, and crime. Security as a form of protection are structures and processes that provide or improve security as a condition. The Institute for Security and Open Methodologies in the OSSTMM 3 defines security as "a form of protection...
, transport
Transport
Transport or transportation is the movement of people, cattle, animals and goods from one location to another. Modes of transport include air, rail, road, water, cable, pipeline, and space. The field can be divided into infrastructure, vehicles, and operations...
and energy
Energy industry
The energy industry is the totality of all of the industries involved in the production and sale of energy, including fuel extraction, manufacturing, refining and distribution...
industries. It is listed on the London Stock Exchange
London Stock Exchange
The London Stock Exchange is a stock exchange located in the City of London within the United Kingdom. , the Exchange had a market capitalisation of US$3.7495 trillion, making it the fourth-largest stock exchange in the world by this measurement...
and is a constituent of the FTSE 250 Index
FTSE 250 Index
The FTSE 250 Index is a capitalisation-weighted index consisting of the 101st to the 350th largest companies on the London Stock Exchange. Promotions to and demotions from the index take place quarterly in March, June, September and December...
.
History
The Company was started by Teddy RosenTeddy Rosen
Edward E. Rosen was the founder of Ultra Electronics, one of the United Kingdom's largest electronics manufacturers.-Career:...
in 1920 as Edward E. Rosen & Co. manufacturing high quality headphones. In 1923 the company moved to new premises at Harrow Road, London and in 1925 a new company Ultra Electric Ltd. was formed. Ultra introduced its first mains powered wireless set in 1931. After further expansion the company moved to larger premises at Erskine Road, Chalk Farm
Chalk Farm
Chalk Farm is an area of north London, England. It lies directly to the north of Camden Town and its underground station is the closest tube station to the nearby, upmarket neighbourhood of Primrose Hill....
, NW3 in 1932 and also built a new 150000 sq ft (13,935.5 m²) factory at Western Avenue, Acton
Acton, London
Acton is a district of west London, England, located in the London Borough of Ealing. It is situated west of Charing Cross.At the time of the 2001 census, Acton, comprising the wards of East Acton, Acton Central, South Acton and Southfield, had a population of 53,689 people...
, W3 in 1935. Ultra manufactured a wide range of domestic radio receivers including the Blue Fox, Lynx, Panther and Tiger models. In 1939 Ultra presented a television receiver to the market for the BBC High Definition Television Service which was transmitted on 405 lines from the studios at Alexandra Palace
Alexandra Palace
Alexandra Palace is a building in North London, England. It stands in Alexandra Park, in an area between Hornsey, Muswell Hill and Wood Green...
, North London.
During World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
the company diversified into building tails and bomb doors for the Short Stirling
Short Stirling
The Short Stirling was the first four-engined British heavy bomber of the Second World War. The Stirling was designed and built by Short Brothers to an Air Ministry specification from 1936, and entered service in 1941...
aircraft.
Ultra opened a new factory at Gosport
Gosport
Gosport is a town, district and borough situated on the south coast of England, within the county of Hampshire. It has approximately 80,000 permanent residents with a further 5,000-10,000 during the summer months...
for the production of televisions and radios in 1956 and acquired Pilot Radio & Television in 1959, before splitting into two divisions, one dealing with domestic radio and television and the other with electronic products, in 1960. In 1961 Ultra's consumer electronics interests became part of Thorn Electrical Industries
THORN Electrical Industries
Thorn Electrical Industries, Limited was an electrical engineering business. It was listed on the London Stock Exchange but it merged with EMI Group to form Thorn EMI in 1979...
, who continued to manufacture products using the Ultra brandname until 1974. The remainder of the company became Ultra Electronics Ltd. which was bought by the Dowty Group
Dowty Group
Dowty Group was a leading British manufacturer of aircraft equipment. It was listed on the London Stock Exchange and was once a constituent of the FTSE 100 Index but was acquired by TI Group in 1992.-History:...
in 1977.
In 1993 Ultra was the subject of a management buyout led by Julian Blogh of seven Dowty Group
Dowty Group
Dowty Group was a leading British manufacturer of aircraft equipment. It was listed on the London Stock Exchange and was once a constituent of the FTSE 100 Index but was acquired by TI Group in 1992.-History:...
plc companies, which had been acquired by TI Group
TI Group
TI Group plc was a holding company for specialised engineering companies. It was based in Abingdon, Oxfordshire. It was registered as Tube Investments in 1919, combining the seamless steel tube businesses of Tubes Ltd, New Credenda Tube , Simplex and Accles & Pollock. In 1928 Reynolds Tube joined...
in 1992. The company floated on the London Stock Exchange
London Stock Exchange
The London Stock Exchange is a stock exchange located in the City of London within the United Kingdom. , the Exchange had a market capitalisation of US$3.7495 trillion, making it the fourth-largest stock exchange in the world by this measurement...
in 1996.
Operations
The company operates its portfolio as an umbrella of specialist businesses designing, manufacturing and supporting electronic and electromechanical systems, sub-systems and products for defence, security, transport and energy applications worldwide. It employs over 4100 people. The Head Office is located in Greenford, Middlesex, UK.Ultra comprises 24 businesses, with approximately half in the UK and half in the USA and Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
. It also has offices in Singapore and the UAE and has recently established (2007) the Ultra Electronics Pty Ltd subsidiary based in Adelaide
Adelaide
Adelaide is the capital city of South Australia and the fifth-largest city in Australia. Adelaide has an estimated population of more than 1.2 million...
Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
.
The company is structured around 3 divisions : Aircraft & Vehicle Systems, Information & Power Systems and Tactical & Sonar Systems.