Timeline
With roots stretching back to the time of the Industrial Revolution, Yorkshire‐ based Centrifuge Specialist Thomas Broadbent & Sons Ltd. has evolved through 160 years of engineering excellence and sustained growth to emerge as a world leader in 21st century centrifuge technology.
2024
Broadbent celebrates 160 years
2022
Broadbent India Founded
Broadbent India founded in Pune, Maharashtra
2013
Broadbent Thailand Founded
Broadbent Thailand founded in the Chon Buri District
2008
Broadbent China Founded
Broadbent China founded in Yangzhou, China, providing industrial centrifuge manufacturing, assembly, and testing.
2000's
Capacities up to 60 T/H
Sugar batch centrifuges capacities reach up to 60 T/H.
1990
Geo-Tech
Research and production of Geo-Technical centrifugal beams.
1980-1990
Manufacturer Partnerships
Partnership with carefully chosen manufacturers to offer a complete range of plant and equipment for the laundry sector.
1971
Broadbent Incorporated Founded
Broadbent Incorporated Founded in Fort Worth, Texas.
1964
Broadbent celebrates its Centenary
Broadbent’s celebrates its centenary, by inviting employees on a train trip to the east coast.
1960-1970
JBW washer range becomes UK market leader
JBW horizontal drum type automatic washing machines installed in most commercial laundries.
1948
Mobile trailer mounted laundries
First spring suspended, high speed, washer extractor was produced.
1939-1945
The main manufacturer of the X-Craft
Broadbent was the main manufacturer of the X-craft small single engine seas going submarines. 4000 black bombard light bomb throwers, and 2490 2 pounder MK10 anti tank guns were produced per month.
1937
A new under-driven centrifuge
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.
1930-1932
Centrifuges for the laundry industry
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.
1914-1918
Supporting the WWI Effort
Broadbent continued to manufacture its standard range of centrifuges for the production of explosives and chemicals as well as ammunition hoists for many of Britain’s battleships.
1901
A New Type 4 Machine
An innovative new type 4 machine with centrifugal clutches (the forerunner of many driving clutches still in use today) is patented by Horace Broadbent.
1895
Thomas Broadbent & Sons Ltd
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.
1888-1889
Melbourne Exhibition
Horace Broadbent attends the centennial international exhibition in Melbourne.
1880
Thomas Broadbent Dies
Thomas dies, aged 47. His wife, Ellen, successfully runs the business unaided until their sons, William and Horace, are able to take over.
1875
1st Steam-Driven Hydro-Extractor.
The Crown grants Thomas a patent for the first ever steam-driven Hydro-Extractor.
1874
Steam Engine
Large Steam engines for driving textile mills.
1870
First Centrifuge
Thomas Broadbent produces its first centrifuge for the extraction of water from washed wool and cloth.
1864
Company Founded by Thomas Broadbent
Aged 31 Thomas Broadbent establishes his own business as a general engineer and millwright in a modest workshop in Huddersfield, West Yorkshire.
