Chubb Fire & Security is a British
multinational company that provides property protection and life safety equipment and services, including
fire protection
Fire protection is the study and practice of mitigating the unwanted effects of potentially Conflagration, destructive fires. It involves the study of the behaviour, Compartmentalization (fire protection), compartmentalisation, suppression and inve ...
and
security system
A security alarm is a system designed to detect intrusions, such as unauthorized entry, into a building or other areas, such as a home or school. Security alarms protect against burglary (theft) or property damage, as well as against intruders. ...
s. It has been a
subsidiary
A subsidiary, subsidiary company, or daughter company is a company (law), company completely or partially owned or controlled by another company, called the parent company or holding company, which has legal and financial control over the subsidia ...
of APi Group Corporation since January 2022.
[
]
History
The company was founded by Charles
Charles is a masculine given name predominantly found in English language, English and French language, French speaking countries. It is from the French form ''Charles'' of the Proto-Germanic, Proto-Germanic name (in runic alphabet) or ''* ...
and Jeremiah Chubb, who patented their Chubb detector lock
A Chubb detector lock is a lever tumbler lock with an integral security feature, a Combination lock#Internal mechanisms, re-locking device, which frustrates unauthorised access attempts and indicates to the lock's owner that it has been interfered ...
in 1818. The company won a government competition for a lock which could not be opened other than by its own key.
In 1835, the company produced its first Chubb safe at its factory in Wolverhampton
Wolverhampton ( ) is a city and metropolitan borough in the West Midlands (county), West Midlands of England. Located around 12 miles (20 km) north of Birmingham, it forms the northwestern part of the West Midlands conurbation, with the towns of ...
, UK and, in the second half of the 19th century, the company expanded into the United States, and produced a time lock that was fitted to bank vaults across the country. In the 1800s, Chubb gained some important customers such as the Duke of Wellington
Duke is a male title either of a monarch ruling over a duchy, or of a member of royalty, or nobility. As rulers, dukes are ranked below emperors, kings, grand princes, grand dukes, and above sovereign princes. As royalty or nobility, they ar ...
and the Bank of England
The Bank of England is the central bank of the United Kingdom and the model on which most modern central banks have been based. Established in 1694 to act as the Kingdom of England, English Government's banker and debt manager, and still one ...
.
Over the next one hundred years, the company turned out more than 2.5m locks. By the 1940s, Chubb expanded its operations in 17 countries. From being a single company manufacturing specialized security products it turned into a broad-based group of companies covering not only many aspects of security but fire protection as well.
The company went on to acquire a number of rival firms including Chatwood-Milner Ltd. (1958), Burgot Alarms Ltd and Rely-a-Bell (1962), Read and Campbell Limited (1964), Josiah Parkes and Sons Ltd. (1965) and The Pyrene Company Limited
file:Carbon tetrachloride 1930s fire extinguisher.jpg, Carbon tetrachloride pump fire extinguisher
The Pyrene Company Limited from their beginning in 1914, until 1971 when they became Chubb Security, Chubb Fire Security Limited, were among the worl ...
(1967). It was bought by Racal Electronics in August 1984, from which it was demerged in September 1992, before being acquired by Williams Holdings
Williams Holdings was a major United Kingdom, British Conglomerate (company), conglomerate. It was listed on the London Stock Exchange, and was a constituent of the FTSE 100 Index.
History
The company was established by Nigel Rudd and Brian McGow ...
in February 1997. as the latter company sought to build a security-focused conglomerate. Chubb was again demerged in July 2000.
In August 2000, Chubb sold Chubb Locks
Chubb Locks is a former brand name of the Mul-T-Lock subsidiary of the Assa Abloy Group, which manufactures locking systems for residential, secure confinement and commercial applications. When the brand licence expired in 2010 the name cea ...
, its lock and safe making unit, to Assa Abloy
Assa Abloy AB is a Swedish Group whose offerings include products and services related to locks, doors, gates, and entrance automation. Related products and services include controlling access and confirming identities with keys, cards, tags, ...
, and concentrated on security systems such as door access and CCTV systems. In May 2002, Chubb held intensive acquisitions talks with Sweden-based Securitas AB
Securitas AB is a Swedish Corporate group, group devoted to security services, such as security guarding, mobile patrolling, Surveillance, monitoring, Private investigator, investigation and related consulting services. The group is headquartere ...
, the world's biggest security services business. After 18 months of negotiations, the talks were called off on the grounds that the deal would not be "financially attractive" to either company's shareholders.
In Australia, Chubb Security bought MSS Security in 1996, but then sold it to SIS Limited in 2008.
In April 2003, Chubb was acquired for £622m by United Technologies Corporation
United Technologies Corporation (UTC) was an American multinational corporation, multinational list of conglomerates, conglomerate headquartered in Farmington, Connecticut. It researched, developed, and manufactured products in numerous are ...
. In March 2007, UTC bought Initial Fire and Security, the security arm of Rentokil Initial and proceeded to merge the business and its assets with Chubb in UTC Climate, Controls & Security. In December 2013, Chubb's Australian cash in transit business was sold to Prosegur.
In 2020, Chubb was spun off with the rest of UTC Climate, Controls & Security into a separate company, Carrier Global
Carrier Global Corporation is an American multinational heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC), refrigeration, and fire and security equipment corporation based in Palm Beach Gardens, Florida. Carrier was founded in 1915 as an in ...
.
On 3 January 2022 it was announced that Carrier Global had sold the business to APi Group Corporation for US$
The United States dollar (Currency symbol, symbol: Dollar sign, $; ISO 4217, currency code: USD) is the official currency of the United States and International use of the U.S. dollar, several other countries. The Coinage Act of 1792 introdu ...
3.1 billion.
Brands
*Chubb Sicli (Secours Immédiat Contre L’Incendie)
*Chubb Delta Security Solutions
*Chubb VitalCALL
*SMC (Security Monitoring Centre)
*Counterforce by SMC
* Ajax Brandbeveiliging (Ajax Fire Protection)
See also
*Chubb Locks
Chubb Locks is a former brand name of the Mul-T-Lock subsidiary of the Assa Abloy Group, which manufactures locking systems for residential, secure confinement and commercial applications. When the brand licence expired in 2010 the name cea ...
* Chubbsafes
References
External links
Chubb global website
Chubb UK website
Chubb Sicli Swiss website
Chubb Delta website
SMC Monitoring UK website
SMC Monitoring NL website
Ajax Brandbeveiliging website
{{DEFAULTSORT:Chubb Fire and Security
United Technologies
Business services companies established in 1818
Security companies of the United Kingdom
Fire detection and alarm companies
Manufacturing companies of the United Kingdom
Service companies of the United Kingdom
Manufacturing companies established in 1818
Companies formerly listed on the London Stock Exchange
British companies established in 1818
Racal
1818 establishments in England
2003 mergers and acquisitions
British subsidiaries of foreign companies