Thos. W. Ward Ltd, a renowned Sheffield-based company, began its journey in 1878 as a small coal and coke merchant business. Founded by Thomas William Ward, the company expanded its operations into various sectors, ultimately becoming a major industrial conglomerate with global activities.

Ward’s early involvement included providing scrap metal essential to Sheffield’s foundries and steelmakers. This marked the beginning of an ambitious and rapid expansion, encompassing scrap metal, works dismantling, machinery, and shipbreaking.

During the 20th century, the company played a significant role in various industrial activities, including construction projects, machine tool reconditioning, and contributions to the war effort. Ward’s also gained recognition for its good publicity and the well-known slogan “Ward’s Might Have It.”

By World War I, Ward’s employed 1,235 people and supplied 1,000 tons of scrap metal daily to the nation’s steelmakers. Thomas W. Ward served as the Master Cutler in 1913, while Joseph Ward chaired the Scrap Advisory Committee to the Ministry of Munitions.

Between the two World Wars, the company continued to expand its activities and acquisitions, including engineering businesses, quarries, foundries, and interests in iron and steel production. In 1928, Ward’s took a controlling interest in the Ketton Portland Cement Co. Ltd. The 50th anniversary of Thos. W. Ward Ltd was celebrated in the same year.

Ward’s became known for its unconventional means of transport during the First World War when Lizzie the elephant, purchased from a visiting circus, replaced horses conscripted by the military. Lizzie transported machinery around Sheffield until her retirement.

During the Second World War, Ward’s rescued the Triumph car factory from receivership, subsequently selling it to the Standard Motor Co. Ltd. in 1944. Ward’s shipbreaking yards in Inverkeithing and elsewhere were famously referred to as “Ward’s Navy,” where many capital ships met their end.

By its 75th anniversary in 1957, the Thos. Ward Group employed over 11,500 people and consisted of more than 30 companies. In 1978, the company was reorganized into five divisions to adapt to changing times.

In 1980, the Thos. Ward Group was acquired by Rio Tinto Zinc, and in 1983, the Machinery Division, which would become T W Ward CNC Machinery Ltd, was acquired by a management buyout (MBO). Under the current ownership, the company has evolved into its present-day form.

In 2018, Managing Director Simon Whitworth announced a new strategic direction for ‘Ward CNC,’ emphasizing core values and setting three key objectives: growth, transformation, and talent management as part of a five-year growth plan for the business. The rich history of Thos. W. Ward Ltd reflects its enduring commitment to innovation and adaptability, ensuring its continued success in the world of CNC machinery.

Visit the Ward CNC website at www.wardcnc.com