Metalrax

Metalrax was a British manufacturing company and trade name associated most strongly with non-stick steel bakeware. Based in the West Midlands and historically linked with Worcestershire, the business became a major supplier to the United Kingdom bakeware market from the 1960s and was at one stage described as Europe's largest supplier of non-stick coated steel for the bakeware industry. Its products used both steel and aluminium, with polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) coatings used for non-stick applications. The company was incorporated on 27 February 1964 and was created through the amalgamation of four companies. On 17 March 1964, Metalrax (Holdings) was admitted to the London Stock Exchange. The business did not remain narrowly focused on consumer bakeware. By 1979, it comprised eighteen subsidiary companies producing a range of non-bakeware industrial goods, reflecting a diversified manufacturing strategy. Products associated with the wider group included wine racks, wooden and plastic housewares, coated metal products and other components supplied to industrial and consumer markets. The name Metalrax subsequently became closely associated with Metalrax Group, which operated a collection of manufacturing subsidiaries rather than a single product factory. The group's business model combined metal forming, coating and other manufacturing capabilities, allowing it to supply branded goods, retailer products and industrial customers. Its bakeware activities were particularly important because the company supplied coated steel products at significant scale to the British market. Metalrax later encountered difficult trading conditions, especially in its consumer durables division. The loss of a major United Kingdom supermarket contract in July 2012 placed substantial pressure on the group. Metalrax had been traded on AIM since June 2008, but the deterioration in trading led to a collapse and entry into administration in 2013. Administrators sold subsidiaries to different purchasers, with the transactions reportedly preserving nearly 400 jobs. These disposals marked the break-up of the group as an integrated manufacturing organization. Some businesses associated with the Metalrax name continued under new ownership or management. A management buy-out took place in July 2017, and EWS, described as a leading United Kingdom cold-roll-forming business serving housing fenestration, was acquired in July 2018. Cooper Coated Coil, another former Metalrax subsidiary, was also sold and continued operations from the Steelpark Trading Estate in Wednesfield. Because the original group collapsed and its divisions were separated among different owners, the continuing corporate status of Metalrax as a unified brand is unclear. Its historical significance lies in the development of large-scale coated-metal bakeware production in Britain and in the diversification of a regional manufacturer into a multi-subsidiary industrial group.

Metalrax originated in the British Midlands manufacturing sector. The company was incorporated on 27 February 1964 through the amalgamation of four companies and was listed as Metalrax (Holdings) on the London Stock Exchange on 17 March of the same year. Its early and best-known market was bakeware: the company produced steel and aluminium items with non-stick coatings and became a major supplier to the United Kingdom market from the 1960s onward. At its peak in this field, it was described as Europe's largest supplier of non-stick coated steel for bakeware. The business expanded beyond consumer baking products. By 1979, its structure included eighteen subsidiary companies manufacturing other industrial and household goods. This diversification made Metalrax less a single-product label than a group of related manufacturing operations. Its range included wine racks, wooden and plastic housewares, coated metal products and other industrial components. In January 1982, the company adopted the Metalrax Group name. Metalrax's later history was shaped by financial and commercial pressure. The group was admitted to AIM in June 2008. Its consumer durables division subsequently experienced difficult trading conditions, and the loss of a major United Kingdom supermarket contract in July 2012 intensified the strain. In 2013, the group collapsed and entered administration. Administrators sold its subsidiaries to multiple buyers; the disposals reportedly saved nearly 400 jobs, but they also ended the group’s existence as an integrated manufacturing organization. The Metalrax name remained connected with successor businesses and former divisions. A management buy-out was completed in July 2017. EWS, a cold-roll-forming business described as a United Kingdom market leader in housing fenestration, was acquired in July 2018. Cooper Coated Coil, another former subsidiary, was sold and continued operating from the Steelpark Trading Estate in Wednesfield. These transactions illustrate the fragmentation and continuation of individual capabilities after the 2013 administration. The current status of Metalrax as a unified brand or group is not established by the available reference material.

• 2018

  EWS acquisition

  [1]Metalraxen.wikipedia.org

  EWS, a former Metalrax-associated cold-roll-forming business, was acquired in July 2018.

• 2017

  Management buy-out

  [1]Metalraxen.wikipedia.org

  A management buy-out took place in July 2017 involving a business associated with the former group.

• 2013

  Administration and sale of subsidiaries

  [1]Metalraxen.wikipedia.org

  The group entered administration after difficult trading conditions, and its subsidiaries were sold to different buyers.

• 2008

  Admission to AIM

  [1]Metalraxen.wikipedia.org

  Metalrax Group was admitted to the Alternative Investment Market in June 2008.

• 1982

  The company becomes Metalrax Group

  [1]Metalraxen.wikipedia.org

  The corporate name changed to Metalrax Group in January 1982.

• 1979

  The group reaches eighteen subsidiaries

  [1]Metalraxen.wikipedia.org

  By 1979, Metalrax comprised eighteen subsidiary companies producing bakeware and other industrial products.

• 1964

  Metalrax is incorporated and listed

  [1]Metalraxen.wikipedia.org

  Metalrax was incorporated on 27 February through the amalgamation of four companies and was listed as Metalrax (Holdings) on the London Stock Exchange on 17 March.

A British industrial manufacturing group positioned around large-scale coated-metal production, household goods and diversified contract manufacturing, with particular historical prominence in non-stick bakeware.

• Bakeware

  Non-stick steel bakeware

  Metalrax was historically best known for steel bakeware treated with PTFE-based non-stick coatings. The company supplied this type of product to the United Kingdom market from the 1960s and became one of Europe's largest manufacturers in the category.

• Bakeware

  Aluminium bakeware

  Aluminium bakeware formed part of Metalrax's broader baking-product range alongside coated steel items. The available reference material identifies aluminium as one of the principal materials used in the group's bakeware manufacturing.

• Household products

  Wine racks

  Wine racks were among the household products manufactured within the diversified Metalrax group. They illustrate the company's expansion beyond bakeware into practical domestic metal goods.

• Household products

  Wooden and plastic housewares

  The wider group also manufactured wooden and plastic housewares. These products formed part of the consumer-oriented portfolio managed alongside Metalrax's metalworking and industrial operations.

• Industrial components

  Coated steel and cold-formed components

  Metalrax-associated businesses produced coated steel and cold-roll-formed components for industrial customers. EWS served the housing-fenestration market, while Cooper Coated Coil specialized in coated coil operations after the former group was broken up.

• 2017

  Management buy-outM&A

  Background

  A business associated with the former Metalrax operations was separated from the group’s earlier corporate structure.

  Action taken

  A management buy-out was completed in July 2017.

  Aftermath

  The transaction allowed part of the former Metalrax business to continue under new management, although the reference material does not establish the precise scope of the retained brand.

  Source

• 2013

  Entry into administration and subsidiary disposalsOther

  Background

  The group faced difficult trading conditions, particularly in its consumer durables division, after losing a major United Kingdom supermarket contract in 2012.

  Action taken

  Metalrax entered administration, after which administrators sold subsidiaries to a number of different buyers.

  Aftermath

  The transactions reportedly saved nearly 400 jobs but fragmented the group and left the continuing status of Metalrax as a unified company unclear.

  Source

1. 1Metalraxen.wikipedia.org