 vesuvius plc is a leading engineered ceramics company headquartered in london whose products are used by steelmakers and foundries as well as in the glass and solar energy industries. the company is listed on the london stock exchange and is a constituent of the ftse 250 index. ==history== the company was founded by isaac cookson in 1704 as a collection of metal and glass businesses on tyneside.cookson america profile in 1851 the company diversified into lead manufacturing. in 1924 it merged with lock lancaster and w.w. & r. johnson & sons to form associated lead manufacturers. it was first listed on the london stock exchange in 1930.cookson group history in 1966 it was renamed lead industries group and in 1979 it acquired the a.j. oster company, a non-ferrous metal producer. in 1982 it changed its name again to cookson group and in 1987 it bought the vesuvius crucible company, a ceramics supplier. sir robert malpas was chairman of the group from 1991 to 1998, simultaneously serving as co-chairman of eurotunnel from 1996 to 1998.'malpas, sir robert', in who's who 2012 (london: a. & c. black, 2012) in 2005 the cookson group chose to focus on high technology products and emerging markets. in 2008 it went on to acquire foseco, a supplier to the foundry and steel industries.cookson to buy foseco in december 2012 cookson group changed its name to vesuvius, the former performance materials division was demerged to form a new company called alent and the name cookson ceased to be used.demerger update: scheme effectivecookson becomes vesuvius ==operations== the company's operations are formed into four activities: steel flow control, foundry technologies, advanced refractories and precious metals processing.vesuvius: about us ==refe
Companies_based_in_London Companies_established_in_the_18th_century Companies_listed_on_the_London_Stock_Exchange Engineering_companies_of_the_United_Kingdom