Dr S.A. Leader, a dental surgeon, founded Portland Plastics in 1940 (during the height of the London blitz) to commercialize his experiments with plastics. In 1957, Portland Plastics was acquired by Smiths Industries (itself founded as a family-owned clock- and watch-making business back in 1851). A long series of acquisitions later, Smiths Medical now makes anesthesia delivery systems, epidural components, safety lancets, pulse monitors and in vitro fertilization products. The company, a subsidiary of technology giant Smiths Group, employs about 7,500, with manufacturing focused in the U.S., U.K. and Italy.