William Cook Group Explained

The William Cook group is a British steel company headquartered in Sheffield, South Yorkshire, England.[1] [2] It is the UK's largest manufacturer of steel castings.[3]

History

William Cook was founded in 1840 in Glasgow, by the present chairman's great-great-grandfather, William Cook. After surviving a bank failure in the latter half of the 19th century, a small factory was founded in Sheffield in 1883, making crucible steel castings for collieries.[4] The company remained in family ownership until 1956, when the company was floated on the London Stock Exchange. The company continued to grow, building and developing a new works in Sheffield, which is today one of the group's four main plants.[5] [6] [7]

The present Chairman, Sir Andrew Cook,[8] took control of the company in 1981. In 2004, the company was brought back to 100% family ownership after a hostile takeover bid from Triplex-Lloyd plc.[9]

Company structure

The William Cook group consists of three arms - Cook Defence Systems,[10] William Cook Rail[11] and William Cook Cast Products. William Cook Cast Products specialises in high-specification castings in specialist alloys for energy, infrastructure and specialist engineering. Cook Defence Systems makes track systems and armoured steel castings for fighting vehicles.[12] William Cook Rail makes cast steel components and complete coupler assemblies for trains. The company has three main plants - one in Sheffield, one in Leeds, and one in Stanhope. The company is a member of the Cast Metals Federation,[13] and the University of Sheffield Advanced Manufacturing Research Centre (AMRC).

Significant activity

In 2014, the William Cook group was recognised as one of Yorkshire's Fastest 50 - a list of the fifty fastest growing companies in the region.[14] In 2015, the British Secretary of State for Defence, the Rt Hon Michael Fallon, announced that the Ministry of Defence had awarded Cook Defence Systems a four-year, £70 million deal to supply spare tracks for the British Army's in-service armoured vehicles.[15] [16] [17] [18] This was followed in 2016 by Cook Defence Systems securing a £30m contract with General Dynamics to supply tracks for the British Army's new AJAX armoured vehicle.[19] In 2016, the Group joined the University of Sheffield Advanced Manufacturing Research Centre (AMRC) as a research partner.[20] During the Russo-Ukrainian War Cook Defence Systems manufactured track for soviet built equipment for use by Ukraine.[21]

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Leading cast steel engineering group becomes latest Advanced Manufacturing Research Centre partner. Advanced Manufacturing Research Centre. The University of Sheffield. 30 May 2016.
  2. News: Williamson. Jonny. Cast steel engineering group becomes latest AMRC partner. 22 June 2016. The Manufacturer. The Manufacturer. 10 May 2016.
  3. Web site: Marsh. Peter. How a Sheffield steel-casting maker survives. Financial Times. Financial Times. 22 June 2016.
  4. News: Global demand sees William Cook plan £5m site investment. 22 June 2016. The Yorkshire Post. The Yorkshire Post. 17 May 2011.
  5. News: Wright. Greg. Cook shrugs off the turmoil to boost profits. 22 June 2016. The Yorkshire Post. The Yorkshire Post. 14 January 2012.
  6. Web site: Yorkshire industrial group William Cook acquires County Durham military track manufacturer Astrum (UK). gordonsllp.com. Gordons LLP. 22 June 2016.
  7. Web site: History. William Cook Steel Castings. 30 May 2016.
  8. News: THE NEW YEAR HONOURS: The Prime Minister's List. 22 June 2016. Independent. 30 December 1995.
  9. News: Global demand sees William Cook plan £5m site investment. 30 May 2016. Yorkshire Post. 17 May 2011.
  10. Web site: Engineering a major acquisition. Gordons LLP. 29 May 2016.
  11. Web site: William Cook Rail - Complete Solutions for Powered and Non-Powered Passenger Vehicles, Freight Vehicles and Locomotives. Railway Technology. 29 May 2016.
  12. News: Sheffield firm wins £30m contract to supply parts for new fleet of British Army fighting vehicles. 30 May 2016. The Star. Johnston Publishing Limited. 10 May 2016.
  13. Web site: William Cook Cast Products Ltd. Cast Metals Federation. Cast Metals Federation. 30 May 2016.
  14. News: The high achievers that have won a place in Yorkshire’s Fastest 50. 29 May 2016. Yorkshire Post. 25 February 2014.
  15. News: Tovey. Alan. Tanks a lot: Cook Defence Systems wins £70m Army deal. 22 June 2016. The Telegraph. The Telegraph. 19 November 2015.
  16. News: Fallon MP. The Rt Hon Michael. Defence investment boost for Northern Powerhouse. 22 June 2016. Gov.uk. Gov.uk. 19 November 2015.
  17. News: Hugill. Steven. Stanhope firm's work ethic keeps the Army on right tracks. 22 June 2016. The Northern Echo. The Northern Echo. 25 November 2015.
  18. News: £70m MoD order for William Cook. 30 May 2016. The Star. The Star. Johnston Publishing Limited. 19 November 2015.
  19. Web site: Defence firm scores multi-million pound army contract. Business Quarter. Room 501 Publishing. 30 May 2016.
  20. Web site: Leading cast steel engineering group becomes latest Advanced Manufacturing Research Centre partner. Advanced Manufacturing Research Centre. The University of Sheffield. 29 May 2016.
  21. News: 6 March 2024 . Tank Museum helps defence firm recreate tank tracks for Ukraine . BBC News . 7 March 2024 .

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