This Chapter has been extracted from the ONS Explanatory Notes and provides a more detailed explanation of possible activities that could fall within the SIC Codes related to the Chapter.
This division includes the manufacture of "pure" metal products (such as parts, containers and structures), usually with a static, immovable function, as opposed to the following divisions 26-30, which cover the manufacture of combinations or assemblies of such metal products (sometimes with other materials) into more complex units that, unless they are purely electrical, electronic or optical, work with moving parts.
The manufacture of weapons and ammunition is also included in this division.
This division excludes:
- specialised repair and maintenance activities, see 33.1
- specialised installation of manufactured goods produced in this division in buildings, such as central heating boilers, see 43.22
25.1 Manufacture of structural metal products
This group includes the manufacture of structural metal products (such as metal frameworks or parts for construction).
25.11 Manufacture of metal structures and parts of structures
This class includes:
- manufacture of metal frameworks or skeletons for construction and parts thereof (towers, masts,
trusses, bridges etc.)
- manufacture of industrial frameworks in metal (frameworks for blast furnaces, lifting and handling
equipment etc.)
- manufacture of prefabricated buildings mainly of metal:
• site huts, modular exhibition elements etc.
This class excludes:
- manufacture of parts for marine or power boilers, see 25.30
- manufacture of assembled railway track fixtures, see 25.99
- manufacture of sections of ships, see 30.11
25.12 Manufacture of doors and windows of metal
This class includes:
- manufacture of metal doors, windows and their frames, shutters and gates
- metal room partitions for floor attachment
25.2 Manufacture of tanks, reservoirs and containers of metal
This group includes the manufacture of tanks, central heating radiators and boilers.
25.21 Manufacture of central heating radiators and boilers
This class excludes:
- manufacture of electrical ovens and water heaters, see 27.51
25.29 Manufacture of other tanks, reservoirs and containers of metal
This class includes:
- manufacture of reservoirs, tanks and similar containers of metal, of types normally installed as fixtures for storage or manufacturing use
- manufacture of metal containers for compressed or liquefied gas
This class excludes:
- manufacture of metal casks, drums, cans, pails, boxes etc. of a kind normally used for carrying and
packing of goods of a capacity not exceeding 300 litres, see 25.91, 25.92
- manufacture of transport containers, see 29.20
- manufacture of tanks (armoured military vehicles), see 30.40
25.3 Manufacture of steam generators, except central heating hot water boilers
This group includes the manufacture of steam generators.
25.30 Manufacture of steam generators, except central heating hot water boilers
This class includes:
- manufacture of steam or other vapour generators
- manufacture of auxiliary plant for use with steam generators:
• condensers, economisers, superheaters, steam collectors and accumulators
- manufacture of nuclear reactors, except isotope separators
- manufacture of parts for marine or power boilers
This class also includes:
- pipe system construction comprising further processing of tubes generally to make pressure pipes or pipe systems together with the associated design and construction work
This class excludes:
- manufacture of central heating hot-water boilers and radiators, see 25.21
- manufacture of boiler-turbine sets, see 28.11
- manufacture of isotope separators, see 28.99
25.4 Manufacture of weapons and ammunition
25.40 Manufacture of weapons and ammunition
This class includes:
- manufacture of heavy weapons (artillery, mobile guns, rocket launchers, torpedo tubes, heavy machine guns)
- manufacture of small arms (revolvers, shotguns, light machine guns)
- manufacture of air or gas guns and pistols
- manufacture of war ammunition
This class also includes:
- manufacture of hunting, sporting or protective firearms and ammunition
- manufacture of explosive devices such as bombs, mines and torpedoes and conventional missiles
This class excludes:
- manufacture of percussion caps, detonators or signalling flares, see 20.51
- manufacture of cutlasses, swords, bayonets etc., see 25.71
- manufacture of armoured vehicles for the transport of banknotes or valuables, see 29.10
- manufacture of space vehicles, see 30.30
- manufacture of tanks and other fighting vehicles, see 30.40
- manufacture of intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBM), see 30.30
25.5 Forging, pressing, stamping and roll-forming of metal; powder metallurgy
This group includes general activities for the treatment of metal, such as forging or pressing, which are
typically carried out on a fee or contract basis.
25.50 Forging, pressing, stamping and roll-forming of metal; powder metallurgy
This class includes:
- forging, pressing, stamping and roll forming of metal
- powder metallurgy: production of metal objects directly from metal powders by heat treatment (sintering) or under pressure
This class excludes:
- production of metal powder, see 24.1, 24.2
25.6 Treatment and coating of metals; machining
This group includes general activities for the treatment of metal, such as plating, coating, engraving,
boring, polishing, welding etc., which are typically carried out on a fee or contract basis.
25.61 Treatment and coating of metals
This class includes:
- plating, anodising etc. of metals
- heat treatment of metals
- deburring, sandblasting, tumbling, cleaning of metals
- colouring, engraving, of metals
- non-metallic coating of metals:
• plasticising, enamelling, lacquering etc.
- hardening, buffing of metals
This class excludes:
- activities of farriers, see 01.62
- printing onto metals, see 18.12
- metal coating of plastics, see 22.29
- rolling precious metals onto base metals or other metals, see 24.41, 24.42, 24.43, 24.44
25.62 Machining
This class includes:
- boring, turning, milling, eroding, planing, lapping, broaching, levelling, sawing, grinding, sharpening,
polishing, welding, splicing etc. of metalwork pieces
- cutting of and writing on metals by means of laser beams
This class excludes:
- activities of farriers, see 01.62
- "while-you-wait" engraving services, see 95.25
25.7 Manufacture of cutlery, tools and general hardware
This group includes the manufacture of cutlery; metal hand tools and general hardware.
25.71 Manufacture of cutlery
This class includes:
- manufacture of domestic cutlery such as knives, forks, spoons etc.
- manufacture of other articles of cutlery:
• cleavers and choppers
• razors and razor blades
• scissors and hair clippers
- manufacture of cutlasses, swords, bayonets etc.
This class excludes:
- manufacture of hollowware (pots, kettles etc.), dinnerware (bowls, platters etc.) or flatware (plates,
saucers etc.), see 25.99
- manufacture of cutlery of precious metal, see 32.12
25.72 Manufacture of locks and hinges
This class includes:
- manufacture of padlocks, locks, keys, hinges and the like, hardware for buildings, furniture, vehicles etc.
25.73 Manufacture of tools
This class includes:
- manufacture of knives and cutting blades for machines or for mechanical appliances
- manufacture of hand tools such as pliers, screwdrivers etc.
- manufacture of non-power-driven agricultural hand tools
- manufacture of saws and saw blades, including circular saw blades and chainsaw blades
- manufacture of interchangeable tools for hand tools, whether or not power-operated, or for machine
tools: drills, punches, milling cutters etc.
- manufacture of press tools
- manufacture of blacksmiths' tools: forges, anvils etc.
- manufacture of moulding boxes and moulds (except ingot moulds)
- manufacture of vices, clamps
This class excludes:
- manufacture of power-driven hand tools, see 28.24
- manufacture of ingot moulds, see 28.91
25.9 Manufacture of other fabricated metal products
This group includes the manufacture of a variety of metal products, such as cans and buckets; nails, bolts and nuts; metal household articles; metal fixtures; ships propellers and anchors; assembled railway track fixtures etc. for a variety of household and industrial uses.
25.91 Manufacture of steel drums and similar containers
This class includes:
- manufacture of pails, cans, drums, buckets, boxes
This class excludes:
- manufacture of tanks and reservoirs, see 25.2
25.92 Manufacture of light metal packaging
This class includes:
- manufacture of tins and cans for food products, collapsible tubes and boxes
- manufacture of metallic closures
25.93 Manufacture of wire products, chain and springs
This class includes:
- manufacture of metal cable, plaited bands and similar articles
- manufacture of uninsulated metal cable or insulated cable not capable of being used as a conductor of electricity
- manufacture of coated or cored wire
- manufacture of articles made of wire: barbed wire, wire fencing, grill, netting, cloth etc.
- coated electrodes for electric arc-welding
- manufacture of nails and pins
- manufacture of springs (except watch springs):
• leaf springs, helical springs, torsion bar springs
• leaves for springs
- manufacture of chain, except power transmission chain
This class excludes:
- manufacture of clock or watch springs, see 26.52
- manufacture of wire and cable for electricity transmission, see 27.32
- manufacture of power transmission chain, see 28.15
25.94 Manufacture of fasteners and screw machine products
This class includes:
- manufacture of rivets, washers and similar non-threaded products
- manufacture of screw machine products
- manufacture of bolts, screws, nuts and similar threaded products
25.99 Manufacture of other fabricated metal products n.e.c.
This class includes:
- manufacture of metal household articles:
• flatware: plates, saucers etc.
• hollowware: pots, kettles etc.
• dinnerware: bowls, platters etc.
• saucepans, frying pans and other non-electrical utensils for use at the table or in the kitchen
• small hand-operated kitchen appliances and accessories
• metal scouring pads
- manufacture of building components of zinc: gutters, roof capping, baths, sinks, washbasins and similar articles
- manufacture of metal goods for office use, except furniture
- manufacture of safes, strongboxes, armoured doors etc.
- manufacture of various metal articles:
• ship propellers and blades thereof
• anchors
• bells
• assembled railway track fixtures
• clasps, buckles, hooks
• metal ladder
• metal signs, including road signs
- manufacture of foil bags
- manufacture of permanent metallic magnets
- manufacture of metal vacuum jugs and bottles
- manufacture of metal badges and metal military insignia
- manufacture of metal hair curlers, metal umbrella handles and frames, combs
This class excludes:
- manufacture of swords, bayonets, see 25.71
- manufacture of shopping carts, see 30.99
- manufacture of metal furniture, see 31.01, 31.02, 31.09
- manufacture of sports goods, see 32.30
- manufacture of games and toys, see 32.40
For all queries related to this Chapter or any other aspect of SIC Codes, please contact the Office of National Statistics on 01329 444970 or email classifications.helpdesk@ons.gov.uk.