UK SIC 2007 · 28990
Manufacture of other special-purpose machinery n.e.c.
Manufacture of other special-purpose machinery n.e.c. is UK SIC code 28990, part of division 28 (Manufacture of machinery and equipment n.e.c.) in the SIC 2007 classification. As of the July 2026 Companies House register, 3,252 active UK companies list 28990 among their SIC codes, and 2,816 list it as their first code.
As of the July 2026 Companies House register, 3,252 active UK companies list 28990 among their SIC codes (2,816 as their first code).
Companies House data refreshed daily. Page reviewed July 2026.
Division 28: Manufacture of machinery and equipment n.e.c.
This division belongs to companies whose product is a machine: pumps, lifting gear, packaging lines, agricultural and food processing machinery, machine tools and every specialised contraption in between. The most common UK registration is 28990, other special-purpose machinery, reflecting how much of the sector builds bespoke or short-run equipment for a particular industry rather than catalogue products. Typical companies design, fabricate and commission complete machines, which distinguishes them from the component makers and subcontract shops classified under division 25.
Machine builders hire scarce mechanical and controls engineers, so technical recruiters are constant prospectors, moving on any sign of headcount growth or new premises. Component suppliers of drives, bearings, pneumatics and control gear track the same firms, as do export advisers, since UK special-purpose machinery sells worldwide. New incorporations often signal experienced engineers spinning out of a larger builder with a customer in hand, needing design software, insurance and credit lines immediately. Accountants target the division for capital allowances and R&D relief, timed around accounts filing deadlines.
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Where SIC 28990 clusters in the UK
About SIC 28990
How many UK companies use SIC code 28990?
3,252 active UK companies include 28990 (Manufacture of other special-purpose machinery n.e.c.) among their up-to-four registered SIC codes, of which 2,816 list it first. Figures are from the July 2026 Companies House register snapshot, counting active companies only.
How do I choose between division 28 and division 25 for an engineering business?
Division 28 is for finished machines and equipment; division 25 is for fabricated metal products and machined components. A firm building complete packaging lines belongs in 28, while one machining parts for those lines belongs in 25. Businesses doing both can list codes from each division, since Companies House allows up to four codes with no restriction on mixing divisions.
We build one-off machines for different industries. Is 28990 right, or should we pick an industry-specific code?
28990 exists precisely for this situation and is the safest choice when your machines serve varied sectors. The industry-specific codes, such as those for food processing or agricultural machinery, suit firms committed to one market. Nothing stops you switching later: SIC codes are updated through the confirmation statement whenever your focus changes, with no evidence or approval needed.
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