Armitage Shanks facts for kids
 |
|
| Private | |
| Industry | Bathroom fixtures & plumbing supplies |
| Predecessor | Armitage Ware Limited |
| Successor | American Standard Companies |
| Founded | 1817 |
| Founder | Thomas Bond |
| Headquarters |
,
England, United Kingdom
|
|
Number of locations
|
8 factories |
|
Area served
|
United Kingdom |
| Owner | Bain Capital |
Armitage Shanks is a very well-known British company. They make many things for bathrooms. This includes toilets, sinks, and other plumbing parts. Today, Armitage Shanks is part of a larger company called Ideal Standard.
In 2004, Armitage Shanks had eight factories. All of these factories were located in the United Kingdom. Their biggest factory was in a town called Armitage, in Staffordshire. Armitage Shanks also helps sponsor the "Loo of the Year Awards." This event celebrates the best public restrooms!
Contents
The Story of Armitage Shanks
How the Company Started
The company that became Armitage Shanks began a long time ago. It was founded in 1817 by a person named Thomas Bond. He started it in Armitage, Staffordshire. At first, it was known for making "sanitary pottery." This means they made ceramic items for bathrooms. The company quickly became a very successful maker of toilets in the United Kingdom. In 1907, the business officially became a company called Armitage Ware Limited.
Joining Forces: Armitage and Shanks
In 1969, Armitage Ware Limited joined with another company. This company was called Shanks Holdings Limited. Shanks Holdings was also a "sanitary engineering company." It had started in 1878 in Barrhead, near Glasgow. When these two companies merged, they created the famous brand name Armitage Shanks.
New Owners Over Time
In 1980, a company called Blue Circle Industries bought Armitage Shanks. Later, in February 1999, Blue Circle sold its bathroom businesses. This included Armitage Shanks and an Italian company called Ceramica Dolomite. They sold them to an American company. This company was American Standard Companies. The sale was for a large amount of money, US$430 million.
After this sale, the Armitage Shanks brand kept going strong. It continued to be popular in the United Kingdom. It also stayed popular in the countries where it used to export its products. In February 2007, Bain Capital bought American Standard. Now, another company, Sun Capital Partners, owns most of it.
Images for kids
