Our history

Cape was founded in 1893, as an importer and manufacturer of insulation materials. For over 50 years we grew rapidly, acquiring or building factories and businesses in the UK and overseas.

  

The Group’s principal trading subsidiaries are:

  • Cape Industrial Services Limited (UK)
  • DBI Industrial Services Limited (UK)
  • Cape East LCC (Abu Dhabi)
  • Cape East WLL (Qatar)
  • RB Hilton Saudi Arabia Ltd (Saudi Arabia)
  • Total Corrosion Control Pty Limited (Australia)
  • Concept Hire Limited (Australia)
  • PCH Group Limited (Australia)
 

In the 1950s, we set up our contracting operations and began expanding our horizons. We established Cape East, and began making the most of fresh and exciting market opportunities in the Middle East and Asia over the next 25 years. Then, in 1976, we created Cape Scaffolding to meet the rapidly growing access requirements of existing and prospective clients.

In 1994, we merged Cape Contracts and Cape Scaffolding, establishing Cape Industrial Services. This served all markets except the Middle East and Asia - managed by Cape East. Eventually, in 2007, all Cape Group companies united under one name - Cape plc.

We continue to grow as a business and seek opportunities in new markets. For example, in 2006 we acquired DBI in the UK, and in 2007 we acquired TCC, Concept Hire and PCH Group in Australia.

1893

Cape Group is founded

1894

Turin factory opens

1896

Cape acquires first factory in the UK

1913

Barking (London) factory opens

1939

Manufacturing begins at Acre Mill, West Yorkshire

1945

Cape acquires Uxbridge Flint Brick Company and first Uxbridge premises

1950

Cape Contracts is formed

1969/70

Cape closes and sells its Barking and Acre Mill Factories

1976

Cape Scaffolding is created

1979

Cape sells its mining operations in South Africa

1982

Cape stops manufacturing asbestos products

1994

Cape Scaffolding and Cape Contracts merge to form Cape Industrial Services

2002

Cape Calsil manufacturing business and premises close and go on sale

2006

Cape creates a £40m asbestos fund for UK claimants
Sale of the Cleton group of companies (Netherlands, Belgium and Germany)
Acquires DBI Group

2007

Cape acquires TCC, Concept Hire and PCH in Australia All Cape companies unite under single Cape brand

2008

Cape plc Head Office moves to Stockley Park, Uxbridge, UK

2010

Cape reintroduces dividend after ten-year absence and announces change of industry classification to Oil Services

2011

Cape establishes Jersey-incorporated Group holding company which is admitted to the premium listing segment of the London Stock Exchange

Video loading...