When you’ve been engineering for more than 50 years, change doesn’t happen for the sake of it. It happens because you’ve earned the right to evolve.
That’s where we found ourselves this year, ready to reintroduce a name many engineers already knew, and perhaps wondered what had happened to.
The truth is, we never stopped. We’ve been quietly designing, assembling, and supporting gearboxes that keep critical machinery running, from water treatment plants to conveyors, quarries, and even the Thames Barrier. But after two decades out of the marketing spotlight, it was time to step forward again.
A new name for a new era
Founded in 1972 by John Brown, the business has always been rooted in British engineering know-how. His daughter, Nichola Adshead, now Sales Director, has helped lead the next chapter evolving Brown Europe into Brown GearTech.
“We wanted to capture our heritage, while showing the dynamism and innovation that’s always defined us,” says Nichola.
“The new name makes it clear what we do and who we serve, it’s a modern take on a family legacy.”
More than a logo
Over the past six months, every detail of the rebrand has been shaped by the people behind the business.
From a new GearTech Purple palette, bold, modern and unmistakably ours, to the compact ‘b’ gear icon symbolising precision and movement, the brand captures both history and momentum.
“We wanted a fresh take on our traditional colours,” says Nichola.
“GearTech Purple, Burnt Purple and True Purple give us strength and impact, while new tones like GearTech Brown and Sandtone bring warmth and depth.”
Built by engineers, powered by people
Spend five minutes in our workshop and you’ll see what really drives Brown GearTech. Our Workshop Manager has been with us for more than 40 years. Some of the gearboxes he helped assemble in the 1980s are still in operation today. That’s sustainability in its purest form, engineering that endures.
“We’re like a startup with 50 years of experience,” says Frank Harris, Managing Director. “We have the legacy knowledge, but we’re thinking and acting like the next generation.”
That next generation includes Joe White, who joined in October 2025 as Engineering Design Manager. With experience spanning mechanical and electrical engineering, from wind turbines to chemical treatment plants, Joe brings deep CAD design expertise to support bespoke OEM projects across sectors.
The rebrand has brought everyone together. As Operations Director Paul Smith puts it,
“When the new uniforms arrived, it suddenly felt real. You could sense the pride across the workshop.”
A brand built for our customers
Every page of the new website has been designed with engineers in mind, from detailed icons and interactive animations to a growing resource library of case studies, technical blogs, and a customer newsletter, From the Workshop.
We’ve also introduced our Customer Charter and an extended five-year industry warranty, reinforcing our commitment to long-term reliability. And you’ll notice our new strapline,
“Built in Britain. Built to last.”
It’s more than a slogan, it’s been stamped on the back of our nameplates for decades. Now, we’re making it front and centre, a proud statement of what we stand for.
Because while the brand may look different, our mission hasn’t changed: to deliver robust, high-performance gearboxes and motors that keep critical systems running, year after year.
After half a century, we’re just getting started.
Explore what’s next for Brown GearTech.
Discover our latest case studies, technical guides, and OEM support resources.
