Ferranti

Ferranti

Company type	Public
Industry	Electronics & Defence
Founded	1882 (as Ferranti, Thompson and Ince); 1885 (as S.Z. de Ferranti); 1901 (as Ferranti Ltd)
Defunct	Bankrupt 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, officially known as Ferranti International PLC, 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, defense electronics, and computing, and was once a constituent of the FTSE 100 Index.

The company had an extensive presence in the defense sector, manufacturing 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, with facilities at Silverknowes, Crewe Toll, Gyle, Granton, and Robertson Avenue, as well as an aviation facility at Turnhouse Airport.

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.^[1]