RCR Tomlinson
| Formerly | Tomlinson Steel Tomlinson Bros |
|---|---|
| Company type | Public |
| ASX: RCR | |
| Industry | Engineering |
| Founded | 1898 |
| Founder | Ernest Tomlinson Edward Tomlinson |
| Defunct | 2018 |
| Headquarters | , Australia |
Area served | Asia Australasia |
Key people | Roderick Brown (Chairman) Bruce James (CEO) |
| Revenue | $2.0 billion (2017/18) |
| ($16 million) (2017/18) | |
Number of employees | 3,400 (November 2018) |
| Website | www.rcrtom.com.au |
RCR Tomlinson was an Australian multi-disciplined engineering company that traded from 1898 until 2018.
History
In 1898, Tomlinson Bros was founded as an engineering company in Perth by Ernest and Edward Tomlinson.[1] In 1951 the company was floated on the Perth Stock Exchange.[2][3] A new factory in Welshpool opened in the 1950s.[4]
After an unsuccessful takeover offer from Clyde Engineering in 1964, Tomlinson entered an agreement to produce AE Goodwin and AG Healing products under licence.[5][6] The same year, the company's foundry in Lord Street, Perth closed after it decided to cease casting activities.[7]
In 1981, Clyde Engineering that already held a 63% shareholding, launched a successful takeover bid.[8][9] In 1985 with a lack of work, Clyde proposed to close the business, however it was rescued in a management buyout.[10] In December 1996 RCR Engineering and Tomlinson Bros merged to form RCR Tomlinson.[3]
In the 2000s, it diversified into solar power projects.[11]
In 2012 the Norfolk Group of companies including O'Donnell Griffin, Hadens and Resolve Facilities Management was purchased..[12] In 2015 the construction division of the Water Corporation was acquired.[13][14]
In November 2018, RCR Tomlinson was placed in voluntary administration.[15][16][17] The collapse came just three months after it had received a $100 million capital injection.[11]
The O'Donnell Griffin rail business was sold to John Holland.[18] RCR Boilers and RCR Energy Services were sold to The Environmental Group.[19]
The Metalbilt and Danks doors businesses were sold to the ARA Group.[20] RCR Laser was sold to Wangara Business.[21] NRW Holdings acquired RCR Mining Technologies.[22] The RCR Energy New Zealand boiler products division was sold to Windsor Engineering Group.[23]
In March 2019, RCR Tomlinson was placed in liquidation.[24][25]
Notable projects
Rail
- 2,000 wagins for India under the Colombo Plan[26]
- 200 wheat wagons for the Western Australian Government Railways[27]
- 161 flatwagons for the Western Australian Government Railways[28]
- 44 iron ore wagons for Western Mining Corporation[29]
- 130 iron ore wagons for the Hamersley & Robe River railway line[30]
- fitout of ADL/ADC class diesel multiple unit[31]
- bogies for Transperth B-series trains[32]
Solar
- Darling Downs Solar Farm[33]
- Emerald Solar Park[34]
- Gannawarra Energy Storage System[35]
- Sun Metals Solar Farm[36]
References
- ^ Tomlinson and Co Southern Cross Times 1 July 1939
- ^ Tomlinson Steel The West Australian 22 June 1951 page 8
- ^ a b Our History RCR Tomlinson
- ^ Tomlinson Steel Shows Expansion The West Australian 25 March 1953 page 20
- ^ Clyde Makes Bid for WA Engineering Co Railway Transportation February 1964 page 6
- ^ Tomlinson and Healing-Goodwin in Manufacturing Agreement Railway Transportation April 1964 page 8
- ^ Foundry Plant Closed Railway Transportation June 1964 page 8
- ^ In Brief Canberra Times 11 April 1981 page 22
- ^ Tomlinson Steel Limited Delisted Companies
- ^ Staff and unions rescue company Canberra Times 14 September 1985 page 9
- ^ a b RCR Tomlinson administrators reveal debts of up to $630m from collapsed engineering firm ABC News 4 December 2018
- ^ Record Result PerthNow 23 February 2012
- ^ RCR buys Water Corp division The West Australian 14 August 2015
- ^ RCR Tomlinson buys Water Corp of WA's engineering unit Australian Financial Review 14 August 2015
- ^ RCR Tomlinson to be split up and sold after staggering collapse Australian Financial Review 22 November 2018
- ^ Circular to Suppliers McGrathNicol 22 November 2018
- ^ Engineering firm RCR Tomlinson goes into adminstration ABC News 23 November 2018
- ^ John Holland buys RCR Tomlinson rail unit through administrators McGrathNicol The West Australian 21 December 2018
- ^ RCR finfs buyer for Tomlinson Energy Division Australian Mining 8 January 2019
- ^ ARA acquires Metalbilt and Danks ARA Group 16 January 2019
- ^ Wangara buys RCR Laser Business News 29 January 2019
- ^ RCR Mining Technologies Acquisition NRW Holdings
- ^ Windsor Energy: Acquisition of RCR Energy and RCR Energy Service Windsor Engineering March 2019
- ^ Update to shareholders McGrathNicol 28 June 2019
- ^ Notice of meeting of members of committee of inspection Australian Securities & Investments Commission 14 June 2022
- ^ Australian Railway Wagons for India Canberra Times 8 August 1955 page 2
- ^ Tomlinson's Receive Big WAGR Wagon Order Railway Transportation August 1959 page 29
- ^ Rolling Stock Order to Tomlinson Steel Railway Transportation June 1969 page 39
- ^ World Market International Railway Journal March 1965 page 17
- ^ Ore Wagons Contract to Tomlinson Steel Railway Transportation February 1973 page 8
- ^ 10 New air-conditioned suburban railcars for Westrail Westrail News Letter April 1981 page 2
- ^ News in brief Railway Digest October 2003 page 17
- ^ Darling Downs Solar Farm RCR Tomlinson
- ^ RCR awarded capital works framework agreement and maintenance contract RCR Tomlinson 30 May 2018
- ^ Gannawarra Energy Storage System Australian Renewable Energy Agency
- ^ Queensland’s biggest solar farm starts generating to grid Renew Economy 31 May 2018