Strachan & Henshaw Ltd

Strachan & Henshaw Ltd (SHL) is an engineering and project management company based in Ashton, Bristol, UK, specialising in the design and supply of high integrity mechanical handling solutions to the Defence and Nuclear markets.

The business was established as a partnership in the 19th century as a millwrighting and general engineering business. During the 20th century it evolved into three material handling businesses: bulk materials, defence, and nuclear. The bulk material business was sold in 2000 to Svedala.

SHL's defence business is particularly focused on submarine systems, especially as the UK design authority for Weapon Handling and Discharge Systems (since 1976).

SHL's involvement in the UK nuclear industry began in 1948. Of the 10 currently operation UK nuclear power stations, 6 use fuel equipment designed by SHL.

SHL employs approximately 650 personnel at its Ashton site and at various satellite offices in the UK and abroad in Canada, Australia and the US.

In April 2008 SHL was sold by Weir Group plc to Babcock International Group.

History

In 1879 Robert Price Strachan & George Henshaw, both residents of Bristol, UK, formed a partnership for the production of paper-bag making machinery, operating from Lewins Mead, Bristol.

Following Henshaw's retirement in 1900 the partnership business was transferred to Strachan & Henshaw Ltd, a private company incorporated on 24-Dec-1900.

In 1920 Robert Price Strachan retired, and the business was sold to ES&A Robinson.

In 1942 SHL's Mechanical Handling Division was formed.

In 1948 SHL undertook work at Windscale.

In 1956 SHL moved to its current lcoation at Ashton, Bristol, UK.

In 1966 ES&A Robinson merged with the John Dickinson group and the Dickinson Robinson Group (DRG) was formed.

In 1968 SHL won the Queen's Award for technical innovation in mechanical handling.

In 1972 SHL became the MoD's prime contractor for the design and development of Weapon Handling Systems for Trafalgar Class submarines.

In 1976 SHL was appointed the UK MoD Design Authority for submarine Weapon Handling Systems.

In 1989 DRG was acquired by Pembridge Associates, who soon commenced the disposal of the various DRG group businesses.

In July l990 SHL was acquired by The Weir Group, an engineering company headquartered in Glasgow, UK.

Other group business disposed of by Pembridge Associates included Strachan Henshaw Machinery Ltd, which ceased trading in 2000.

In March 1998 SHL acquired 'Bridgetest Holdings Ltd' a Manchester based engineering company whose subsidiaries included Cunnington & Cooper Ltd, Nuclear and General Engineering Ltd, & Wingrove and Rogers, all well-established businesses in the UK nuclear industry.

By 2000 Strachan & Henshaw operated in three distinct markets; Defence, Nuclear, and Bulk Handling. In May 2000 the Bulk Handling business was sold to Svedala.

In 2002 the Bridgetest Holdings businesses ceased trading following a series of unprofitable contracts with BNFL.

On 21 April 2008 SHL was acquired by Babcock International Group for £65M