Company Timeline

Major events in the history of Michell Bearings

• 1905

  Mr Anthony George Malden Michell patented the Tilting Pad Bearing

• 1907

  First Vertical Tilting Pad Thrust Bearing for a centrifugal pump installed at Cohuna on the Murray River, Victoria, Australia.

• 1904 – 1919

  Licences sold for manufacture of product.

• 1913

  First ship fitted with Michell Thrust Blocks; cross channel steamer “Paris” built by Dennys of Dumbarton, UK.

• 1914

  First naval ships fitted with Michell Thrust Blocks; destroyers “HMS Leonidas” and “HMS Lucifer” built by Palmers of Jarrow, UK.

• 1920

  Manufacturing company founded on expiry of patents. Shareholders were Vickers, John Brown, Fairfield, Cammel Laird, AGM Michell, Thomas Newbiggin (Business Manager)

• 1969

  Michell Bearings became wholly owned by Vickers plc.

• 1977

  Official opening of current purpose built factory.

• 1981

  Founder member of Vickers Marine Engineering Division.

• 1994

  Official opening of Michell Bearings India in Bangalore.

• 1994

  Member of Vickers Propulsion Technology Division, KAMEWA Group.

• September 1996

  First Michell Polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) Faced Thrust Bearing installed at Ffestiniog Power Station, Wales, UK.

• 1999

  Member of Vickers Ulstein Marine Systems Division.

• December 1999

  Rolls-Royce plc acquire Vickers Group.

• 2000

  Member of Rolls-Royce Power Engineering plc.

• February 2005

  Michell sign broad-ranging alliance agreement with Pioneer Motor Bearing Co, USA.