Northern Engineering Industries
Northern Engineering Industries plc was a British engineering firm, which for over 10 years was one of the largest employers on Tyneside. Its headquarters were based at the Regent Centre at Gosforth in Newcastle upon Tyne.
History
The company was established on the initiative of Sir James Woodeson, who had been chairman of Clarke Chapman from 1949 until 1977 and of chairman of Reyrolle Parsons from 1974 to 1977. The companies merged to form Northern Engineering Industries with Woodeson as chairman and chief executive in 1977. It manufactured cranes, transformers, switchgear, boilers, control systems, and turbines.In 1981 the company acquired Amalgamated Power Engineering, a leading manufacturer of engines. APE was itself the result of a merger in 1968 of W.H. Allen, Sons & Co., Belliss and Morcom of Birmingham, and Crossley Engines.
Northern Engineering Industries was led through much of its existence by Sir Duncan McDonald, first as Group Managing Director and, following Woodeson's death in a car accident in January 1980, as Chairman. It was later led by Sir Terence Harrison first as Chief Executive and then as Chairman.
The company was acquired by Rolls-Royce plc in 1989 later becoming known as the Rolls-Royce Industrial Power Group.