Cutlery instance. Plastic cutlery is also commonly used at fast-food or take-away outlets and provided with airline meals in economy class. Plastic is also used for children's cutlery. It is often thicker and more durable than disposable plastic cutlery. Wooden disposable cutlery is also available as a biodegradable alternative. Cutlery has been made in many places. In Britain, the industry became concentrated by the late 16th century in and around Birmingham and Sheffield. However, the Birmingham industry increasingly concentrated on swords, made by "long cutlers", and on other edged tools, whereas the Sheffield industry concentrated on knives. At Sheffield the trade
Messer Group held two third of the company shares. Around 1997 to 2004 the gas and welding related sections were bought back by the Messer Family building the current Messer Group GmbH. The company subsidiaries for Germany, UK and the US were sold to Air Liquide, including a four-year Non-compete clause for the Messer Group. After the expiration of the non-compete clause in 2008 the Messer Group GmbH is selling gases for industrial use again. Messer Tehnogas AD have production sites in seven cities in Serbia - Belgrade, Novi Sad, Bor, Niš, Pančevo, Smederevo and Kraljevo Messer Group The Messer Group GmbH