Ferranti
 | |
| Type | Public |
|---|---|
| Industry | Electronics & Defence |
| Founded | 1882 (as Ferranti, Thompson and Ince); 1885 (as S. Z. de Ferranti); 1901 (as Ferranti Ltd) |
| Defunct | 1993 (the Belgian subsidiary lives on as Ferranti Computer Systems and as of 1994 is part of the Nijkerk Holding) |
| Fate | Bankrupt & broken up |
| Successor | GEC-Marconi, Matra Marconi Space |
| Headquarters | Hollinwood, Greater Manchester, United Kingdom |
| Key people | Sebastian Ziani de Ferranti |
Ferranti International PLC or simply Ferranti was a UK-based electrical engineering and equipment firm that operated for over a century, from 1885 until its bankruptcy in 1993. At its peak, Ferranti was a significant player in power grid systems, defence electronics, and computing, and was once a constituent of the FTSE 100 Index.
It was founded by the pioneering electrical engineer Sebastian Ziani de Ferranti during 1885, and soon became a key supplier of electricity meters to numerous electric utility firms and power distribution companies. The firm branched into other electrical apparatus, such as transformers, while also establishing overseas subsidiaries, such as the Canada-based Ferranti Electric in 1912, to access further opportunities. Starting in the 1910s, Ferranti entered the defence sector, producing shells and fuzes during the First World War. In the Second World War, it played a key role in the development of both radar and the Identification Friend or Foe (IFF) system. During the Cold War, the company produced an extensive range of defense products, including advanced cockpit displays, radar transmitters, inertial navigation systems, and avionics for military aircraft, including the Tornado fighter jet. It was a pioneer in computer technology, launching the Ferranti Mark 1 in 1951, one of the world's first commercially available computers. Ferranti's global footprint extended beyond the UK, with factories and branch plants in Australia, Canada, Singapore, Germany, and the United States. The company had a strong presence in Edinburgh, including numerous branch-plants as well as an aviation facility.
During the mid 1970s, Ferranti received a bailout from the British government, and was partly-owned by the state until the early 1980s. In 1987, the company purchased the American defence contractor International Signal and Control (ISC); two years later, Ferranti announced that it had discovered irregularities in ISC, which turned out to have been allegedly heavily involved in illegal arms sales directed by US clandestine organizations. While ISG's CEO was jailed, the debt burden from the ill-advised ISG investment compelled Ferranti to divest divisions and declare bankruptcy in late 1993. Despite its eventual collapse, some parts of Ferranti's legacy continue today. The Belgian subsidiary survives as Ferranti Computer Systems, now part of Nijkerk Holding since 1994. Other divisions were acquired by major corporations, including BAE Systems, Leonardo (formerly Finmeccanica), Ultra Electronics, Thales, and Elbit Systems, with some still operating under different names. Even outside of business, Ferranti left a cultural mark. The Ferranti Edinburgh Recreation Club, the Ferranti Mountaineering Club, and the Ferranti Ten-Pin Bowling League continue to exist. Additionally, Ferranti Thistle F.C., originally founded in 1943, evolved into Livingston F.C., a team competing in the Scottish Professional Football League.