Industrial History Online

Industrial History Online

Universal Metallic Packing Co - Beehive Works

Description and History of Site:-
Universal Metallic Packing Co started in a small way in Bradford producing metallic packings for mill steam engines, taking advantage of the boom in steam power sweeping through Bradford's textile mills.
Metallic packings are seals comprised of Babbitt metal (an alloy of Tin - Antimony - Copper) and held against the working surface, the piston rod, by circumferential springs. They seal the gland where the piston rod passes through the cylinder head cover thereby preventing the escape of high pressure steam into the atmosphere.
Prior to the metallic packing the gland was sealed with a Stuffing Box, comprising of cotton rope impregnated with graphite grease and tightened with a gland nut, however this method required constant maintenance. With the increase in steam pressure to provide engines with ever more horsepower, this necessitated the metallic seal that was able to take the increased pressures/heat, was more reliable and needed virtually no maintenance, other than lubrication. The Babbitt metal sealing rings were low friction and caused practically no wear to the engines piston rods.
The company started producing seals for other equipment such as compressors, locomotive steam pistons and maritime vessels; both for the engines but also the screw propeller shafts.
The company operated its own foundry and engineering shops. The company was formed in 1900-1.
By 1902 Kelly's Directory of Bradford shows Universal Metallic Packing Co (UMPC) at 182 Harris Street, Bradford.
1909 the company moved to Beehive Mills, Longside Lane, Bradford a former woollen mill (NGR SE15653 33088), lending Its name for future UMPC's work locations.
1916 moved location to Beehive Works, 305 Clayton Road, Bradford.
1927 UMPC moved to Downham Street, Bradford.
1930 Production started on seals for the screw propeller shafts of deep sea fishing boats.
1938 UMPC moved to nearby Edderthorpe Street naming the works Beehive.
1940 Production started on stern-tube seals for US-Marine Liberty Boats.
1950 Packings with segmented rings designed for higher temperatures and pressures produced. PTFE blends started to replace bronze and babbitt metal.
1960 UMPC purchased by Associated Engineering Ltd. By this time they were mainly producing seals and bearings for the maritime industry.
1987 UMPC became part of Turner and Newall.
1994 UMPC purchased by Hoerbiger, an Austrian company, and started the production of compressor seals (cylinder seals and rod packings).
1998 UMPC became Hoerbiger Rings and Packings UK (HRPU).
2008 Valve production/repair was transferred from Hoerbiger Birmingham to Bradford.
2015 Hoerbiger closes the Bradford works and transfers all work back to Austria.


Further Reading and References:-
WYB689 Universal Metallic Packing/Hoerbiger Archive West Yorkshire Archive Service-Bradford
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Babbitt_(alloy)
https://www.gracesguide.co.uk/Universal_Metallic_Packing_Co
Kelly's Directory of Bradford 1902 p91, p392
Post Office Directory of Bradford 1909 p451
Post Office Directory of Bradford 1916 p495
Kelly's Directory of Bradford 1927 p455


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Key Words :- metallic packings seals

Viewing the Site :- Public footpath alongside road.

Address :- Edderthorpe Street, Bradford, West Yorkshire, BD3 9RB
Grid Ref :- SE 17321 32825
Co-ordinates :- Lat 53.791455 , Long -1.738558
Local Authority :- City of Bradford
Pre 1974 County :- Yorkshire - West Riding
Site Status :- Site extant - Protected status unknown
Site Condition :- Site in alternative industrial use
Site Dates :- 1938 - 2015
Contributor :- Andrew Garford - 11 December 2019

Copyright :- cc-by-nc-sa 4.0 © Andrew Garford