Textron revamps David Brown gear operation

David Brown`s Penistone site in South Yorkshire has been designated a "centre of excellence" for the production of standard helical gear products, under a reorganisation announced by its parent, Textron Power Transmission. In another change, production of light-duty worm gears is being transferred from David Brown`s Huddersfield plant to its Swedish sister operation, Benzlers.

The Penistone site, which already produces the Series G bevel/helical gearboxes, will now also manufacture, distribute and service standard helical products.

In future, the Huddersfield site will design and manufacture custom-engineered products for marine, transport, defence and large-scale industrial applications.

These changes, along with a consolidation of the sales operation, are intended to make the business more responsive to customers needs. According to Textron Power Transmission president Anton Elsberg, the company is "developing high efficiency manufacturing centres, a global sourcing strategy and an intensive product development programme to meet the cost challenges of the power transmission industry".