1864
Thomas Broadbent establishes his own business as a general engineer and millwright in a modest workshop in Huddersfield, West Yorkshire.
1870
Thomas Broadbent produces its first centrifuge for the extraction of water from washed wool and cloth.
1874
Large Steam engines for driving textile mills.
1875
The Crown grants Thomas a patent for the first ever steam-driven Hydro-Extractor.
1880
Thomas dies, aged 47. His wife, Ellen, successfully runs the business unaided until their sons, William and Horace, are able to take over.
1888 - 1889
Horace Broadbent attends the centennial international exhibition in Melbourne.
1895
The business is officially registered as Thomas Broadbent & Sons Ltd. The company produces the first ever electrically driven centrifugal extractor and sells the first sugar centrifuges.
1901
An innovative new type 4 machine with centrifugal clutches (the forerunner of many driving clutches still in use today) is patented by Horace Broadbent.
1914 - 1945
Broadbent manufactured centrifuges for the production of explosives and chemicals. With a skilled workforce of 500, the company was also commissioned to support the war effort by manufacturing ammunition hoists and submarines.
1930 - 1932
Centrifuges for the laundry and dry cleaning industry first introduced. The UK's first extractor was introduced into the dry cleaning industry - the Bantam 7LB.
1937
Broadbent installs the first under driven centrifuge for the textile industry - The 36" Jelly Belly 39. A new generation of under-driven centrifuges that would improve the efficiency of the textile industry.
1939 - 1945
Broadbent was the main manufacturer of the X-craft small single engine seas going submarines. 4000 black bombard light bomb throwers. 2490 2 pounder MK10 anti tank guns produced per month
1948
First spring suspended, high speed, washer extractor was produced.
1959
Fully automated feeding & ploughing machines.
1960 - 1970
JBW horizontal drum type automatic washing machines installed in most commercial laundries.
1964
Broadbent’s celebrates its centenary, by inviting employees on a Train trip to the east coast.
1980 - 1990
Partnership with carefully chosen manufacturers to offer a complete range of plant and equipment for the laundry sector.
1990
Research and production of Geo-Technical centrifugal beams.
2000's
Sugar batch centrifuges capacities reach up to 60 T/H.
2010 - 2020
Global expansion into USA, Thailand, China, and India.
