Electrium

Electrium
TypePrivate limited company
IndustryElectrical engineering
Founded1897; 129 years ago (1897)
HeadquartersCannock, West Midlands, United Kingdom
Key peopleRobin Grosse, Managing Director
ParentSiemens
Websitewww.electrium.co.uk

Electrium is a German-owned British manufacturer of electrical wiring accessories, circuit protection, cable management, and control equipment.

Electrium has two sites across the UK as of 2025: the old main factory in Wythenshawe, Manchester closed in 2024, leaving only the distribution center at Hindley Green, Wigan, and the head office at Cannock, West Midlands.

History

The company has its origins in George H. Scholes Ltd. which was founded in 1897 by George Hamer Scholes to manufacture electrical accessories and fuse boxes. It was re-organised into two businesses (i) Wylex and (ii) Appleby in 1988. Wylex Limited was acquired by Hanson Trust in 1994 and changed its name to Electrium Sales Limited in April 2001. After Hanson Trust decided to focus on building materials, it was the subject of a management buyout financed by Lloyds TSB Development Capital in December 2003. It was then bought by Siemens in January 2006.

Brand names

Siemens

After the takeover of Electrium Sales Ltd by Siemens AG in 2005, Electrium began to manufacture and distribute Siemens branded circuit protection and electrical equipment.

Crabtree

J. A. Crabtree & Co was founded in 1919 by John Ashworth Crabtree. The company became one of Britain's leading manufacturers of electrical accessories, low voltage switchgear and motor control gear. In 1972, the company was acquired by the British Ever Ready Electrical Company, which was itself acquired by Hanson Trust in 1981. For many years the company was based at the Lincoln Works in Walsall, Staffordshire, which was closed in 1997. The business was acquired by Electrium in 2006.

Volex

Ward & Goldstone Ltd., later known as Volex plc, was founded in 1892 by James Henry Ward and Meyer Hart Goldstone. That company's Volex Accessories business, involving switches and sockets for the building trade, was acquired by Wylex in 1991.

Wylex

Typical Wylex Consumer Unit.

George H. Scholes Ltd. was founded in 1897 by George Hamer Scholes to manufacture electrical accessories and fuse boxes. In 1934, he built the Wylex Works at Wythenshawe, near Manchester. The company's Wylex brand consumer units still dominate the UK market.

Appleby

H. & L. Appleby Ltd. was founded in 1840. The company's factory was in Short Heath, Willenhall, Staffordshire. The company, which makes a range of pattress boxes, dry lining boxes and bulkhead light fittings, was acquired by George H. Scholes and Co. in 1988.

Marbo

Marbourn Ltd. was a British manufacturer of electrical accessories, based in the North East of England. The company closed its factory in Hartlepool in 2000.

References

  1. ↑ "Movers and shakers". Professional Electricians Wholesaler. 5 December 2025. Retrieved 26 August 2026.
  2. ↑ "Obituary notices". Journal of the Institution of Electrical Engineers - Part I: General. 93 (72). IEEE: 614–620. 1946. doi:10.1049/ji-1.1946.0187. Retrieved 1 December 2014.[dead link]
  3. ↑ "Electrium Sales Ltd". Building Centre. Retrieved 26 August 2026.
  4. ↑ "George H. Scholes and Co". Grace's Guide. Retrieved 26 August 2026.
  5. ↑ "Electrium Sales Limited". Companies House. Retrieved 26 August 2026.
  6. ↑ "Siemens acquiring UK-based Electrium". Control Engineering. 16 December 2005. Retrieved 26 August 2026.
  7. ↑ "...and Siemens acquires Electrium". Building. 24 January 2006. Retrieved 26 August 2026.
  8. ↑ "Birmingham Post: Business news, local news, expert opinion". birminghampost.net. Archived from the original on 1 June 2013. Retrieved 1 December 2014.
  9. ↑ "Book celebrates history of Walsall's JA Crabtree". Business Live. 21 May 2013. Retrieved 26 August 2026.
  10. ↑ Rubinstein, W.D.; Jolles, M.; Rubinstein, H.L. (2011). The Palgrave Dictionary of Anglo-Jewish History. Palgrave Macmillan. p. 347. ISBN 9781403939104.
  11. ↑ "About us". Volex plc. Retrieved 26 August 2026.
  12. ↑ "Obituary notices". Journal of the Institution of Electrical Engineers - Part I: General. 93 (72): 614–620. 1946. doi:10.1049/ji-1.1946.0187.[dead link]
  13. ↑ "Wylex Consumer Units". Consumer Unit World. Retrieved 26 August 2026.
  14. ↑ "Willenhall". History Website. Retrieved 26 August 2026.
  15. ↑ "H. & L. Appleby Ltd". Grace's Guide. Retrieved 26 August 2026.
  16. ↑ "Massive jobs axe as factory closes". hartlepoolmail.co.uk. Archived from the original on 24 September 2015. Retrieved 1 December 2014.