A UK branch of an international engineering company with roots dating back more than 90 years has fallen into administration. capricorn Automotive Limited, the British arm of German technology group capricorn, appointed Lisa Marie Moxon and Christopher Benjamin Barrett, of Dow Schofield Watts Business Recovery, as joint administrators on May 29, according to a notice in the Gazette.
The company, which operated from the Lutyens Industrial Centre in Basingstoke, manufactured high-precision engineering components for a range of industries. The site was the group's sole UK operation. According to Companies House, capricorn's UK branch was incorporated in February 1992. The wider group traces its history back to 1933 and today operates across Germany, France, Italy and the UK.
Specialist in lightweight components
The family-owned business specialises in producing lightweight and precision-engineered components for sectors including automotive, motorsport, aerospace, defence and medical technology. Rather than manufacturing complete vehicles or aircraft, the company produces the highly specialised parts that go inside them, such as precision metal components, engine parts and advanced carbon-fibre structures.
On its website, capricorn describes itself as a technology company offering "metallic and non-metallic lightweight components and technical solutions for special requirements worldwide, from hidden champions to global players". The group says it provides a complete manufacturing service, handling everything from design and tooling through to machining, coating, assembly and testing.
Carbon-fibre expertise and Formula 1 success
One of its key specialisms is carbon-fibre composite manufacturing. The company describes itself as a quality market leader in the production of complex prepreg fibre composite components – advanced lightweight materials widely used in motorsport, aerospace and other industries that require reducing weight while maintaining strength. The group has supported its partners in securing 18 Formula 1 World Championship titles. It has roughly 500 employees and more than 100 manufacturing plants and machining centres.
The Daily Express has reached out to capricorn Automotive Limited for comment.
