Vesuvius plc is a British engineered ceramics company headquartered in London whose products are used by steelmakers and foundries as well as in the glass and solar energy industries. The company is listed on the London Stock Exchange and is a constituent of the FTSE 250 Index.
History
The company was founded by Isaac Cookson in 1704 as a collection of metal and glass businesses on Tyneside.[2] In 1851, the company diversified into lead manufacturing. In 1924, it merged with Lock Lancaster and W.W. & R. Johnson & Sons to form Associated Lead Manufacturers. During 1930, the firm was first listed on the London Stock Exchange.[3] In 1966, Associated Lead Manufacturers was renamed Lead Industries Group. In 1977, it re-acquired the one-time largest antimony smelter in the world, based in Laredo, Texas.[4]