SIC code 28990 classifies businesses engaged in manufacture of other special-purpose machinery n.e.c.. There are 2,802 active companies registered under this code in the UK, forming a substantial sector within the national economy. It falls under Section C (Manufacturing) of the UK SIC 2007 classification system, which is used by Companies House to categorise all registered businesses.
See the full industry analysis on the Manufacture of other special-purpose machinery n.e.c. industry page.
With an average age of 20.6 years, companies in this sector tend to be well-established. This maturity reflects high barriers to entry and strong business continuity among surviving firms. Company formation is spread across decades: 15% pre-1990, 13% in the 1990s, 25% in the 2000s, 27% in the 2010s, and 20% since 2020. Companies are geographically dispersed across the UK, with no single location dominating. The top three locations — LONDON, LEEDS, BRISTOL — together account for just 9% of the sector.
SIC code 28990 stands for "Manufacture of other special-purpose machinery n.e.c." under the UK Standard Industrial Classification (SIC 2007) system. It belongs to Section C — Manufacturing. Companies use this code when registering with Companies House to indicate their primary business activity. The code is required for annual confirmation statements and is used by HMRC, ONS, and other government bodies for statistical and regulatory purposes.
There are currently 2,802 active companies registered under SIC code 28990 in the UK, out of 3,074 total registrations. This gives a survival rate of 91%, meaning 9% of companies registered under this code have since dissolved. These figures are based on Companies House data and updated regularly.
The top locations for manufacture of other special-purpose machinery n.e.c. companies (SIC 28990) are: LONDON (185), LEEDS (34), BRISTOL (34), SHEFFIELD (32), BIRMINGHAM (32). Geographic concentration can reflect local economic conditions, industry clusters, or proximity to key markets and supply chains.
Formation rates for SIC 28990 have been moderate: 20% of active companies formed since 2020, compared to 27% in the 2010s. The sector appears stable, with a balanced mix of established and newer businesses.
Companies classified under SIC 28990 have an average age of 20.6 years. This indicates a mature sector where businesses tend to operate long-term. Notable companies include PITNEY BOWES LIMITED, BÜHLER UK LIMITED, ALTRAD BABCOCK LIMITED.
Related SIC codes within the same division include: 28290 (Manufacture of other general-purpose machinery n.e.c.), 28220 (Manufacture of lifting and handling equipment), 28490 (Manufacture of other machine tools), 28250 (Manufacture of non-domestic cooling and ventilation equipment). Companies may use multiple SIC codes if they operate across several of these related activities. When registering with Companies House, businesses should select the code that best represents their primary activity.
You can search for companies with SIC code 28990 (Manufacture of other special-purpose machinery n.e.c.) using UVAGATRON's company explorer, which allows filtering by SIC code, location, and company status. Alternatively, Companies House offers a basic search on their website. Our platform adds risk intelligence, director networks, and signals from 50+ government databases to each company record.
Search, filter, and analyse 2,802 companies classified under this SIC code with AI-powered risk intelligence.
Data sourced from Companies House, HM Land Registry, FCA Register, and 50+ government databases. SIC classification follows the UK Standard Industrial Classification of Economic Activities 2007 (SIC 2007). Last updated: 2026-04-17.