Sheffield

:This article is about the city in England. For other uses see Sheffield (disambiguation).

Industry

Sheffield has an international reputation for metallurgy and steel-making, which dates back to at least the 14th century. In 1740 Benjamin Huntsman discovered the crucible technique for steel manufacture, at his workshop in the district of Handsworth. This process had an enormous impact on the quantity and quality of steel producton and was only made obsolete, a century later, in 1856 by Henry Bessemer's invention of the Bessemer converter which allowed the true mass production of steel. Bessemer had moved his Bessemer Steel Company to Sheffield to be at the heart of the industry. Thomas Boulsover invented Sheffield Plate (silver-plated copper), in the early 18th century, and the Sheffield Assay Office, which opened in 1773, stamps precious metals with the city's crown mark. A more recent major Sheffield steel invention was that of stainless steel by Harry Brearley in 1912, and the work of Profs. F. B. Pickering and T. Gladman throughout the 1960s, '70s, and '80s was fundamental to the development of modern high strength low alloy steels.

Related Topics:
Steel - 14th century - 1740 - Benjamin Huntsman - Crucible technique - Handsworth - Henry Bessemer - Bessemer converter - Thomas Boulsover - Sheffield Plate - 18th century - Sheffield Assay Office - 1773 - Crown - Stainless steel - Harry Brearley - 1912 - F. B. Pickering

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While iron and steel have always been the main industries of Sheffield, coal mining has been a major feature of the outlying areas, and the Palace of Westminster in London was built using limestone from quarries in the nearby village of Anston.

Related Topics:
Coal mining - Palace of Westminster - London - Limestone - Quarries - Anston

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The Sheffield Industrial Museums Trust, a partnership between Sheffield City Council, Sheffield Hallam University and The Cutlers' Company of Hallamshire, has preserved key sites associated with the city's industrial heritage, some of which actually still operate ancient equipment for the public, such as the Abbeydale Industrial Hamlet and the Kelham Island Museum.

Related Topics:
Sheffield Industrial Museums Trust - Abbeydale Industrial Hamlet - Kelham Island Museum

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Northwest of the city lies Wortley Top Forge, which was a heavy ironworks of international renown. It is a site of historical and industrial importance, contributing to Sheffield's reputation for manufacturing high-quality, precision steel goods, though actually it is located within the boundaries of neighbouring Barnsley.

Related Topics:
Wortley Top Forge - Steel - Barnsley

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The city once spearheaded the knowledge advances which gave it preeminence in steel and cutlery production, today the transfer of technology from Sheffield's universities is guaranteeing Sheffield's continuing industrial and commercial evolution, creating cutting-edge enterprises across the city.

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High technology businesses such as the US company Fluent, for example, have chosen Sheffield as the centre for their international operations and so has Jennic, specialists in semiconductor design for the Internet. See the list of hi-tech companies in Sheffield.

Related Topics:
Fluent - Jennic - Semiconductor - List of hi-tech companies in Sheffield

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Insight Enterprises will invest £50m in a new European headquarters in the city resulting in 1700 jobs over the 2005-2008 period, while Boeing, through its collaboration with the University of Sheffield will be at the centre of an advanced manufacturing park on the edge of the City, home to a cluster of businesses in the advanced manufacturing sector.

Related Topics:
University of Sheffield - Manufacturing park

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Other areas of employment include call centres, the City Council, universities and hospitals.

Related Topics:
Call centre - Council - Hospital

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Sheffield currently produces more steel per year than at any other time in its history. However, the industry is now less noticeable as it has become highly automated and employs far fewer staff than in the past.

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