Murex (company)
Murex Limited was a leading British provider of services to metallurgists, smelters and refiners, and welders. It was an original constituent of the FT 30 index of leading stocks on the London Stock Exchange.
 | |
| Type | Public |
|---|---|
| Industry | Iron |
| Fate | Acquired |
| Successor | ESAB |
| Founded | 1909 |
| Defunct | 1967 |
| Headquarters | Rainham, Essex, England |
| Products | Ferroalloys |
History
Murex was founded in 1909 as an iron founder and a ferroalloy manufacturer. The company moved to Rainham, Essex in 1917.[1]
In the 1930s, Murex made large quantities of electrodes at their factory in Waltham Cross,[2] and many ships including HMS Ark Royal and Queen Elizabeth 2 have been welded using Murex equipment.[2]
The business was sustained by a high level of activity during World War II, but after the war ended, its profits reduced substantially.[3]
It fell out of the FT 30 index in 1967 when its share price declined, and it was replaced by Beechams.[4]
Welding equipment made by Murex occasionally comes up for sale.[5]
Demise of the business
Murex was acquired by the BOC Group in 1967.[6] In the UK, the rights to the Murex brand were sold to ESAB.[7]
Murex Limited was officially dissolved on 11 June 2013.[8]
References
- W. R. Powell (1978). History of the County of Essex (vol. 7). Victoria County History. p. 134–38. ISBN 0197227201.
- "Vodex Electrodes". UKWelder forum.
- "Lex: The first column to appear in the FT". FT.com. October 1945.
- "FT 30 - the UK's oldest surviving stock market index". FT.com. Archived from the original on 1 March 2007.
- "Shap Granite - Part 2". Durham Mining Museum. Archived from the original on 26 April 2008.
- "Obituary: Peter Hobbs". Welding and Joining Society. Archived from the original on 19 January 2008.
- "ESAB Welding and Cutting Journal vol. 59 no. 1 2004" (PDF). ESAB. Archived from the original (PDF) on 10 July 2011.
- "Murex Limited". Companies House. Retrieved 13 November 2015.
