Our history
We have a proud heritage stretching back over 140 years during which time we have evolved from an industrial conglomerate centred on the UK's heavy engineering industry, into a global leader providing components and solutions that protect electronic devices from electromagnetic interference and heat, and that enable connectivity through wireless applications and antennae systems; technology for a connected world.
We serve specialist high growth markets with our broad set of complementary proprietary products, obtaining a competitive edge through technology and customer service allied to a well established, and still expanding, low cost manufacturing base. We deliver value through innovation.
1824 John Laird establishes Birkenhead Ironworks in Liverpool, UK 
1840 Laird & Son build the first iron ship for the British Government.
1898 On 4 January the present Laird PLC is incorporated.
1903 Laird amalgamates with Charles Cammell & Company Limited, the Sheffield-based maker of high quality steel, to become Cammell Laird & Company Limited. Cammell Laird was known for its manufacture of Navy ships and submarines (including the HMS Ark Royal).
1970 A major restructuring is undertaken by the Industrial Reorganisation Corporation, with the UK Government taking over the shipbuilding business. The Company’s 50 per cent equity stake in that business is nationalised in 1977. The Company changes its name to The Laird Group Limited.
1972 The Laird Group supplies trains for London Transport and commences production on single and twin engine aircraft for the RAF.
1976 Laird’s Transport Division supplies rapid transit trains and cars for the Hong Kong Mass Transit Railway System.
1985 Laird acquires Fullarton Fabrication, a supplier of components to the computer industry.
1989 Laird disposes its rapid transit train manufacturing company, Metro-Cammell. Panel Prints is acquired, which expands to become one of the largest specialist printers in the US.
1992 Aero-engine component manufacturer Burnley Engineering is divested.
1993 Draftex, Laird’s car body seal business, establishes a joint venture in the Czech Republic.
1994 Laird develops a range of Electromagnetic Interference (EMI) shields.
1996 Laird acquires APM, a manufacturer of specialist metal coated textiles used to protect against electromagnetic interference.
1999 Laird divests the printing and packaging activities.
2000 Instrument Specialties, a leading supplier of electromagnetic interference (EMI) shielding products, is acquired. Laird disposes of its automotive activities. The Group is reclassified to the Electronic and Electrical Equipment sector of the FTSE indices.
2001 R&F Products, a leading supplier of EMI absorber products mainly to the military market, joins Laird Technologies.
2002 Laird divests its computer assembly business, Fullarton and acquires BMI, the market leader in the design and supply of high quality, high precision printed circuit board EMI shields.
2003 More bolt-on acquisitions join Laird Technologies, including Warth, Orcus and Korea-based Magnes. Laird Security Systems enters the fast-growing UK market of high specification composite doors with the acquisition of Intron.
2004 Laird inaugurates a new plant in the Czech Republic and acquires thermal interface product manufacturer Thermagon. Composite door business Lindman and Homedoors and Houseproud are acquired. Laird moves into the field of mobile communications antennae with the acquisition of Centurion Wireless Technologies. Laird Plastics is divested.
2005 Laird enters the thermoelectric cooler market in January with the acquisition of Melcor.
Laird acquires Builders Hardware, a supplier of products for patio doors, screens and windows and divests its UK uPVC window systems business.
2006 Wireless communications antennae manufacturer Antenex and RecepTec, a provider of satellite digital radio, GPS and other antennae, are acquired. New Laird Technologies plants open in Shenzhen, Beijing and Tianjin, China and Reynosa, Mexico. Steward, a signal integrity products business and Coolab, a manufacturer of thermoelectric modules are also acquired.
2007 Laird acquires AeroComm, a provider of radio frequency modules enabling Laird Technologies to offer full wireless systems capability, M2Sys in Korea and Cushcraft, a manufacturer of advanced communication antennae. The Security Systems Division is divested, with the capital to be redeployed into the fast expanding Laird Technologies business and approximately £100 million returned to shareholders. Laird Technologies establishes a Corporate Research Laboratory in Bangalore, India. 
2010
Laird acquires Cattron Inc, a leading designer and supplier of wireless control and automation products, systems and aftermarket services for the global industrial, rail and mobile markets. The Group is reclassified to the Technology Hardware sector of the FTSE indices.
2011
Laird acquires Klüver, a leading designer and supplier of active cooling systems for medical equipment.
2012
Laird acquires Microwave Materials Group, a global leader in the development and manufacture of microwave absorbing materials, low-loss dielectrics and electrically conductive shielding materials and Summit Data Communications, the latter expanding Laird’s presence in the wireless machine-to-machine (M2M) market.
Today
As a focused electronics and technology company operating in specialist high growth markets and with a broad range of proprietary products and strong customer relationships, Laird is well placed for future growth.