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 computers, computer peripherals, communications equipment, and similar electronic products, as well as the manufacture of components for such products. Production processes of this division are characterised by the design and use of integrated circuits and the application of highly specialised miniaturisation technologies.
The division also contains the manufacture of consumer electronics, measuring, testing and navigating
equipment, irradiation, electromedical and electrotherapeutic equipment, optical instruments and
equipment, and the manufacture of magnetic and optical media.
26.1 Manufacture of electronic components and boards
26.11 Manufacture of electronic components
This class includes the manufacture of semiconductors and other components for electronic applications.
This class includes:
- manufacture of capacitors, electronic
- manufacture of resistors, electronic
- manufacture of microprocessors
- manufacture of electron tubes
- manufacture of electronic connectors
- manufacture of bare printed circuit boards
- manufacture of integrated circuits (analogue, digital or hybrid)
- manufacture of diodes, transistors, and related discrete devices
- manufacture of inductors (e.g. chokes, coils, transformers), electronic component type
- manufacture of electronic crystals and crystal assemblies
- manufacture of solenoids, switches, and transducers for electronic applications
- manufacture of dice or wafers, semiconductor, finished or semi-finished
- manufacture of display components (plasma, polymer, LCD)
- manufacture of light emitting diodes (LED)
This class also includes:
- manufacture of printer cables, monitor cables, USB cables, connectors etc.
This class excludes:
- printing of smart cards, see 18.12
- manufacture of computer and television displays, see 26.20, 26.40
- manufacture of modems (carrier equipment), see 26.30
- manufacture of X-ray tubes and similar irradiation devices, see 26.60
- manufacture of optical equipment and instruments, see 26.70
- manufacture of similar devices for electrical applications, see division 27
- manufacture of fluorescent ballasts, see 27.11
- manufacture of electrical relays, see 27.12
- manufacture of electrical wiring devices, see 27.33
- manufacture of complete equipment is classified elsewhere based on complete equipment classification
26.12 Manufacture of loaded electronic boards
This class includes:
- manufacture of loaded printed circuit boards
- loading of components onto printed circuit boards
- manufacture of interface cards (e.g. sound, video, controllers, network, modems)
This class excludes:
- printing of smart cards, see 18.12
- manufacture of bare printed circuit boards, see 26.11
26.2 Manufacture of computers and peripheral equipment
26.20 Manufacture of computers and peripheral equipment
This class includes the manufacture and/or assembly of electronic computers, such as mainframes,
desktop computers, laptops and computer servers; and computer peripheral equipment, such as storage
devices and input/output devices (printers, monitors, keyboards). Computers can be analog, digital, or
hybrid. Digital computers, the most common type, are devices that do all of the following: (1) store the
processing programme or programmes and the data immediately necessary for the execution of the programme; (2) can be freely programmed in accordance with the requirements of the user; (3) perform arithmetical computations specified by the user; and (4) execute, without human intervention, a processing programme that requires the computer to modify its execution by logical decision during the processing run. Analog computers are capable of simulating mathematical models and comprise at least analog control and programming elements.
This class includes:
- manufacture of desktop computers
- manufacture of laptop computers
- manufacture of main frame computers
- manufacture of hand-held computers (e.g. PDA)
- manufacture of magnetic disk drives, flash drives and other storage devices
- manufacture of optical (e.g. CD-RW, CD-ROM, DVD-ROM, DVD-RW) disk drives
- manufacture of printers
- manufacture of monitors
- manufacture of keyboards
- manufacture of all types of mice, joysticks, and trackball accessories
- manufacture of dedicated computer terminals
- manufacture of computer servers
- manufacture of scanners, including bar code scanners
- manufacture of smart card readers
- manufacture of virtual reality helmets
- manufacture of computer projectors (video beamers)
This class also includes:
- manufacture of computer terminals, like automatic teller machines (ATMs), point-of-sale (POS)
terminals, not mechanically operated
- manufacture of multi-function office equipment performing two or more of following functions: printing,
scanning, copying, faxing
This class excludes:
- reproduction of recorded media (computer media, sound, video, etc.), see 18.2
- manufacture of electronic components and electronic assemblies used in computers and peripherals,
see 26.1
- manufacture of internal/external computer modems, see 26.12
- manufacture of interface cards, modules and assemblies, see 26.12
- manufacture of loaded electronic boards, see 26.12
- manufacture of modems, carrier equipment, see 26.30
- manufacture of digital communication switches, data communications equipment (e.g. bridges, routers,
gateways), see 26.30
- manufacture of consumer electronic devices, such as CD players and DVD players, see 26.40
- manufacture of television monitors and displays, see 26.40
- manufacture of video game consoles, see 26.40
- manufacture of blank optical and magnetic media for use with computers or other devices, see 26.80
26.3 Manufacture of communication equipment
26.30 Manufacture of communication equipment
26.30/1 Manufacture of telegraph and telephone apparatus and equipment
This subclass includes:
- manufacture of central office switching equipment
- manufacture of cordless telephones
- manufacture of private branch exchange (PBX) equipment
- manufacture of telephone and facsimile equipment, including telephone answering machines
- manufacture of data communications equipment, such as bridges, routers, and gateways
- manufacture of cellular phones
- manufacture of mobile communication equipment
- manufacture of pagers
- manufacture of modems, carrier equipment
- manufacture of burglar and fire alarm systems, sending signals to a control station
- manufacture of communication devices using infrared signal (e.g. remote controls)
This subclass excludes:
- manufacture of electronic components and subassemblies used in communications equipment,
including internal/external computer modems, see 26.1
- manufacture of loaded electronic boards, see 26.12
- manufacture of computers and computer peripheral equipment, see 26.20
- manufacture of consumer audio and video equipment, see 26.40
- manufacture of GPS devices, see 26.51
- manufacture of electronic scoreboards, see 27.90
- manufacture of traffic lights, see 27.90
26.30/9 Manufacture of communication equipment (other than telegraph and telephone apparatus and equipment)
This subclass includes:
- manufacture of transmitting and receiving antenna
- manufacture of cable television equipment
- manufacture of radio and television studio and broadcasting equipment, including television cameras
- manufacture of radio and television transmitters
This subclass excludes:
- manufacture of electronic components and subassemblies used in communications equipment,
including internal/external computer modems, see 26.1
- manufacture of loaded electronic boards, see 26.12
- manufacture of computers and computer peripheral equipment, see 26.20
- manufacture of consumer audio and video equipment, see 26.40
- manufacture of GPS devices, see 26.51
- manufacture of electronic scoreboards, see 27.90
- manufacture of traffic lights, see 27.90
26.4 Manufacture of consumer electronics
26.40 Manufacture of consumer electronics
This class includes the manufacture of electronic audio and video equipment for home entertainment,
motor vehicle, public address systems and musical instrument amplification.
This class includes:
- manufacture of video cassette recorders and duplicating equipment
- manufacture of televisions
- manufacture of television monitors and displays
- manufacture of audio recording and duplicating systems
- manufacture of stereo equipment
- manufacture of radio receivers
- manufacture of speaker systems
- manufacture of household-type video cameras
- manufacture of jukeboxes
- manufacture of amplifiers for musical instruments and public address systems
- manufacture of microphones
- manufacture of CD and DVD players
- manufacture of karaoke machines
- manufacture of headphones (e.g. radio, stereo, computer)
- manufacture of video game consoles
This class excludes:
- reproduction of recorded media (computer media, sound, video, etc.), see 18.2
- manufacture of computer peripheral devices and computer monitors, see 26.20
- manufacture of telephone answering machines, see 26.30
- manufacture of paging equipment, see 26.30
- manufacture of remote control devices (radio and infrared), see 26.30
- manufacture of broadcast studio equipment such as reproduction equipment, transmitting and receiving
antennas, commercial video cameras, see 26.30
- manufacture of antennas, see 26.30
- manufacture of digital cameras, see 26.70
- manufacture of electronic games with fixed (non-replaceable) software, see 32.40
26.5 Manufacture of instruments and appliances for measuring, testing and navigation; watches and clocks
This group includes the manufacture of measuring, testing and navigating equipment for various industrial
and non-industrial purposes, including time-based measuring devices such as watches and clocks and
related devices.
26.51 Manufacture of instruments and appliances for measuring, testing and navigation
This class comprises manufacturing of search, detection, navigation, guidance, aeronautical, and nautical
systems and instruments; automatic controls and regulators for applications, such as heating, air conditioning, refrigeration and appliances; instruments and devices for measuring, displaying, indicating,
recording, transmitting, and controlling temperature, humidity, pressure, vacuum, combustion, flow, level,
viscosity, density, acidity, concentration, and rotation; totalising (i.e., registering) fluid meters and
counting devices; instruments for measuring and testing the characteristics of electricity and electrical
signals; instruments and instrumentation systems for laboratory analysis of the chemical or physical
composition or concentration of samples of solid, fluid, gaseous, or composite material; other measuring
and testing instruments and parts thereof.
The manufacture of non-electric measuring, testing and navigating equipment (except simple mechanical
tools) is included here.
This class includes:
- manufacture of aircraft engine instruments
- manufacture of automotive emissions testing equipment
- manufacture of meteorological instruments
- manufacture of physical properties testing and inspection equipment
- manufacture of polygraph machines
- manufacture of radiation detection and monitoring instruments
- manufacture of surveying instruments
- manufacture of thermometers liquid-in-glass and bimetal types (except medical)
- manufacture of humidistats
- manufacture of hydronic limit controls
- manufacture of flame and burner control
- manufacture of spectrometers
- manufacture of pneumatic gauges
- manufacture of consumption meters (e.g., water, gas, electricity)
- manufacture of flow meters and counting devices
- manufacture of tally counters
- manufacture of mine detectors, pulse (signal) generators; metal detectors
- manufacture of search, detection, navigation, aeronautical, and nautical equipment, including sonobuoys
- manufacture of radar equipment
- manufacture of GPS devices
- manufacture of environmental controls and automatic controls for appliances
- manufacture of measuring and recording equipment (e.g. flight recorders)
- manufacture of motion detectors
- manufacture of laboratory analytical instruments (e.g. blood analysis equipment)
- manufacture of laboratory scales, balances, incubators, and miscellaneous laboratory apparatus for
measuring, testing, etc.
- manufacture of industrial process control equipment
This class excludes:
- manufacture of telephone answering machines, see 26.30
- manufacture of irradiation equipment, see 26.60
- manufacture of optical positioning equipment, see 26.70
- manufacture of dictating machines, see 28.23
- manufacture of weighing devices (other than laboratory balances), levels, tape measures etc., see 28.29
- manufacture of medical thermometers, see 32.50
- installation of industrial process control equipment see 33.20
- manufacture of simple mechanical measuring tools (e.g. measuring tapes, calipers), see manufacturing
class according to main material used
26.51/1 Manufacture of electronic instruments and appliances for measuring, testing, and navigation, except industrial process control equipment
26.51/2 Manufacture of electronic industrial process control equipment
This subclass includes:
manufacture of components for electronic industrial continuous process control systems (also for automated production plants consisting of various machines, handling devices and centralised controlling apparatus)
26.51/3 Manufacture of non-electronic instruments and appliances for measuring, testing and navigation, except industrial process control equipment
26.51/4 Manufacture of non-electronic industrial process control equipment
This subclass includes:
manufacture of components for non-electronic industrial continuous process control systems (also for automated production plants consisting of various machines, handling devices and centralised controlling apparatus)
26.52 Manufacture of watches and clocks
This class includes the manufacture of watches, clocks and timing mechanisms and parts thereof.
This class includes:
- manufacture of watches and clocks of all kinds, including instrument panel clocks
- manufacture of watch and clock cases, including cases of precious metals
- manufacture of time-recording equipment and equipment for measuring, recording and otherwise
displaying intervals of time with a watch or clock movement or with synchronous motor, such as:
• parking meters
• time clocks
• time/date stamps
• process timers
- manufacture of time switches and other releases with a watch or clock movement or with synchronous
motor:
• time locks
- manufacture of components for clocks and watches:
• movements of all kinds for watches and clocks
• springs, jewels, dials, hands, plates, bridges and other parts
• watch and clock cases and housings of all materials
This class excludes:
- manufacture of non-metal watch bands (textile, leather, plastic), see 15.12
- manufacture of watch bands of precious metal, see 32.12
- manufacture of watch bands of non-precious metal, see 32.13
26.6 Manufacture of irradiation, electromedical and electrotherapeutic equipment
26.60 Manufacture of irradiation, electromedical and electrotherapeutic equipment
This class includes:
- manufacture of irradiation apparatus and tubes (e.g. industrial, medical diagnostic, medical therapeutic, research, scientific):
• beta-, gamma, X-ray or other radiation equipment
- manufacture of CT scanners
- manufacture of PET scanners
- manufacture of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) equipment
- manufacture of medical ultrasound equipment
- manufacture of electrocardiographs
- manufacture of electromedical endoscopic equipment
- manufacture of medical laser equipment
- manufacture of pacemakers
- manufacture of hearing aids
This class also includes:
- manufacture of food and milk irradiation equipment
This class excludes:
- manufacture of tanning beds, see 28.99
26.7 Manufacture of optical instruments and photographic equipment
26.70 Manufacture of optical instruments and photographic equipment
This class includes the manufacture of optical instruments and lenses, and the manufacture of photographic equipment
This class excludes:
- manufacture of complete equipment using laser components, see manufacturing class by type of
machinery (e.g. medical laser equipment, see 26.60)
- manufacture of ophthalmic goods, see 32.50
- manufacture of computer projectors, see 26.20
- manufacture of commercial TV and video cameras, see 26.30
- manufacture of household-type video cameras, see 26.40
- manufacture of photocopy machinery, see 28.23
26.70/1 Manufacture of optical precision instruments
This subclass includes the manufacture of optical instruments and lenses, such as binoculars, microscopes (except electron, proton), telescopes, prisms, and lenses (except ophthalmic); the coating or polishing of lenses (except ophthalmic) and the mounting of lenses (except ophthalmic)
This subclass includes:
- manufacture of optical mirrors
- manufacture of optical gun sighting equipment
- manufacture of optical positioning equipment
- manufacture of optical magnifying instruments
- manufacture of optical machinist's precision tools
- manufacture of optical comparators-
- manufacture of optical measuring and checking devices and instruments (e.g. fire control equipment,
range finders)
- manufacture of lenses (except ophthalmic), optical microscopes, binoculars and telescopes
- manufacture of laser assemblies
26.70/2 Manufacture of photographic and cinematographic equipment
This subclass includes the manufacture of photographic equipment such as cameras and light meters.
This subclass includes:
manufacture of cameras (film and digital)
- manufacture of motion picture and slide projectors
- manufacture of overhead transparency projectors
26.8 Manufacture of magnetic and optical media
26.80 Manufacture of magnetic and optical media
This class includes the manufacture of magnetic and optical recording media,
This class includes:
- manufacture of blank magnetic
audio and video tapes
- manufacture of blank magnetic audio and video cassettes
- manufacture of blank diskettes
- manufacture of blank optical discs
- manufacture of hard drive media
This class excludes:
- reproduction of recorded media (computer media, sound, video, etc.), see 18.2
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.