Northern Engineering Industries

Northern Engineering Industries plc
TypePublic
IndustryEngineering, Power Generation, Power Transmission, Power Distribution & Material Handling
Founded1977
Defunct1989
FateAcquired
SuccessorRolls-Royce plc
HeadquartersNewcastle, England, UK
Key peopleTerry Harrison, (Chairman)
Dr Robert Hawley, (Managing Director)
ProductsIndustrial Engineering
Number of employees
40,000 (1991)

Northern Engineering Industries plc (NEI) was a British engineering firm, which for over 10 years was one of the largest employers on Tyneside. Its headquarters were based at the Regent Centre at Gosforth in Newcastle upon Tyne.

History

The company was established on the initiative of Sir James Woodeson, who had been chairman of Clarke Chapman from 1949 until 1977 and of chairman of Reyrolle Parsons from 1974 to 1977. The companies merged to form Northern Engineering Industries with Woodeson as chairman and chief executive in 1977. It manufactured cranes (Clarke Chapman), transformers (Bruce Peebles & Co. Ltd.), switchgear (A. Reyrolle & Company), boilers (Power Engineering Ltd), control systems (Control and Instrumentation Ltd.), and turbines (C. A. Parsons and Company).

In 1981 the company acquired Amalgamated Power Engineering (APE), a leading manufacturer of engines. APE was itself the result of a merger in 1968 of W.H. Allen, Sons & Co. (founded in 1880 and based in Bedford), Belliss and Morcom of Birmingham, and Crossley Engines (founded in 1867 and based in Manchester).

Northern Engineering Industries was led through much of its existence by Sir Duncan McDonald, first as Group Managing Director (1977 to 1980) and, following Woodeson's death in a car accident in January 1980, as Chairman (1980 to 1986). It was later led by Sir Terence Harrison first as Chief Executive (1983 to 1986) and then as Chairman (1986 to 1989).

The company was acquired by Rolls-Royce plc in 1989, subsequently being rebranded as Rolls-Royce Industrial Power Group.

References

  1. ↑ "NEI Group Results". New Scientist. 7 May 1981. p. 343. Retrieved 29 March 2019.
  2. ↑ NEI names McDonald to succeed Woodeson as new chairman. Vol. 206. The Electrical Review. 1979. p. 5.
  3. ↑ "The Crane Makers". NZR Cranes. Archived from the original on 3 March 2016. Retrieved 20 September 2015.
  4. ↑ Warburton, Dan (20 April 2009). "Focus on the famous Parsons factory in Heaton". Evening Chronicle. Retrieved 25 May 2025.
  5. ↑ Godsmark, Chris (20 July 1996). "Threat to 2,500 jobs as Parsons goes on sale". The Independent. Archived from the original on 21 June 2022. Retrieved 29 March 2019.
  6. ↑ "Northern Engineering Industries". Grace's Guide. Retrieved 20 September 2015.
  7. ↑ "Amalgamations". W H Allen Engineering Association. Retrieved 20 September 2015.
  8. ↑ "Crossley Motors". Retrieved 20 September 2015.
  9. ↑ "Obituary: Sir Duncan McDonald". The Independent. 1 March 1997. Archived from the original on 21 June 2022. Retrieved 20 September 2015.
  10. ↑ Debretts People of Today 1994
  11. ↑ "Rolls-Royce To Buy N.E.I." New York Times. 11 April 1989. Retrieved 3 September 2025.
  12. ↑ Godsmark, Chris (20 July 1996). "Threat to 2,500 jobs as Parsons goes on sale". The Independent. Archived from the original on 21 June 2022. Retrieved 29 March 2019.
  13. ↑ "Clarke Chapman Marine Rolls-Royce Industrial Power Group". The National Archives. Retrieved 21 February 2022.