Babcock Contractors Ltd was incorporated as a limited liability company in 1978 with head offices in London, England. The company specialised in engineering and contract work and was a subsidiary of Babcock & Wilcox Ltd , boilermakers, London, as well as owning a number of its own subsidiary companies. Prior to 1980 , Babcock Contractors Ltd owned 2 Dutch subsidiary companies: Duiker Projekten BV and BV Machinefabriek Spaans . Both of these companies were sold to Babcock Technische Maatshappij BV , Netherlands, in 1980 .
In 1979 , Babcock & Wilcox Ltd became Babcock International Ltd and then Babcock International plc in 1982 . By 1984, Babcock Contractors Ltd had been made the chief company in the Mechanical & Process Plant Contracting Group of Babcock International plc. The group was divided into divisions, namely, Water Engineering, Process Plant Contracting, Bulk Handling, Coal Technology and Electrical. This group of companies specialised in engineering contracting including water treatment, sewage purification, desalination, steelworks processes, oil and petrochemical processes, glass and glass fibre production, fertiliser processes, gas production and minerals processing and extraction. The group also dealt with the bulk handling of all major materials including coal, ores, ash and powders, deep and surface mining, slurry handling, electrical power generation and supply and food processing. Contracts could be awarded to individual companies within the group or by a group of companies with Babcock Contractors Ltd the managerial and technical ability.
In 1987 , Babcock International plc, the parent company of Babcock Contractors Ltd, merged with FKI Electricals plc, engineering company, London, to form FKI Babcock plc . In 1989 , FKI Babcock plc demerged to form FKI plc and Babcock International Group plc and Babcock Contractors Ltd remained with the latter of these companies.
In 1993, Babcock International Group plc restructured and Babcock Turnkey Operations Ltd , turnkey contractors, London, a sister company within the Mechanical & Process Plant Contracting Group, became Babcock Contractors Ltd. By 1995, the company was a dormant subsidiary company of Babcock King-Wilkinson Ltd but by 2002 was a management holding company within Babcock International Group plc.
From the guide to the Records of Babcock Contractors Ltd, 1978-, engineers and contractors, London, England, 1978-1985, (Glasgow University Archive Services)
