SIC code 46140 classifies businesses engaged in agents involved in the sale of machinery, industrial equipment, ships and aircraft. There are 3,473 active companies registered under this code in the UK, forming a substantial sector within the national economy. It falls under Section G (Wholesale and retail trade; repair of motor vehicles) 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 Agents involved in the sale of machinery, industrial equipment, ships and aircraft industry page.
With a 89% survival rate, this sector shows strong business longevity. Only 6 of 3,901 companies registered under this code have dissolved, well below the UK average. The average company age is 14.7 years, indicating an established sector with a mix of long-running businesses and newer entrants. The sector is experiencing strong growth, with 39% of active companies formed since 2020 and 27% during the 2010s. This sustained formation rate points to continued demand for agents involved in the sale of machinery, industrial equipment, ships and aircraft services. Companies are geographically dispersed across the UK, with no single location dominating. The top three locations — LONDON, MANCHESTER, BIRMINGHAM — together account for just 18% of the sector.
SIC code 46140 stands for "Agents involved in the sale of machinery, industrial equipment, ships and aircraft" under the UK Standard Industrial Classification (SIC 2007) system. It belongs to Section G — Wholesale and retail trade; repair of motor vehicles. 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 3,473 active companies registered under SIC code 46140 in the UK, out of 3,901 total registrations. This gives a survival rate of 89%, meaning 11% of companies registered under this code have since dissolved. These figures are based on Companies House data and updated regularly.
The top locations for agents involved in the sale of machinery, industrial equipment, ships and aircraft companies (SIC 46140) are: LONDON (548), MANCHESTER (45), BIRMINGHAM (45), GLASGOW (32), SHEFFIELD (30). Geographic concentration can reflect local economic conditions, industry clusters, or proximity to key markets and supply chains.
The sector is growing: 39% of currently active SIC 46140 companies were formed since 2020, and 27% during the 2010s. This sustained formation rate indicates ongoing demand for agents involved in the sale of machinery, industrial equipment, ships and aircraft services in the UK.
Companies classified under SIC 46140 have an average age of 14.7 years. This suggests a balanced sector with both established players and newer entrants. Notable companies include CLAAS UK LIMITED, KARCHER (U.K.) LIMITED, STILL MATERIALS HANDLING LIMITED.
Related SIC codes within the same division include: 46900 (Non-specialised wholesale trade), 46190 (Agents involved in the sale of a variety of goods), 46420 (Wholesale of clothing and footwear), 46160 (Agents involved in the sale of textiles, clothing, fur, footwear and leather goods). 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 46140 (Agents involved in the sale of machinery, industrial equipment, ships and aircraft) 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 3,473 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.