| AdminHistory | The Cutlery and Allied Trades Research Association was set up in 1952 to provide Research and Development facilities for the local Cutlery and Knife Manufacturers.
At a request by the British Cutlery Industry, of which the majority were based in Sheffield, the British Government’s Board of Trade went on to set up the Cutlery Research Council which utilised laboratory facilities and seconded staff from the British Iron and Steel Research Association on Hoyle Sheet, Sheffield.
In 1962 the name was changed to Cutlery and Allied Trades Research Association (CATRA) and it became a limited company (by Guarantee). After the nationalisation of the British Steel Industry in 1966, CATRA moved out of the BISRA Laboratories into purpose built facilities on Henry Street, Sheffield.
Funding for research activities between 1952 and 1988 came from both the UK Government and a levy of British Cutlery Manufacturers, which allowed the makers of table cutlery, kitchen and professional knives, folding knives and scissors to unlimited access to the Research and Development output and technical problem solving services. In 1988 this Stainless Steel Scientific Research Levy was abolished by the Government, thereby ending 36 years of compulsory support by the UK’s Cutlery Industry. CATRA still continued to receive Government funds until 1989, but in latter years the business has managed to attain commercial contracts for its wide range of services.
Source: https://www.catra.org/about-us/60-years/ |