Industrial brush manufacturer Cottam Brush has invested a six-figure sum in advanced manufacturing technology, boosting production capacity and opening up opportunities in new markets.

Founded in Sunderland in 1858, the family-run company, now based in Hebburn, South Tyneside, has installed a state-of-the-art Borghi Gemini industrial brush-making machine as part of its strategy to expand its technical and custom-engineered brush division.

The investment has removed previous restrictions on the size and range of brushes Cottam can manufacture, enabling the company to produce virtually any size of industrial brush in-house.

Previously, larger or more complex orders could require subcontracting, alternative manufacturing methods or, in some cases, turning down work that could not be completed cost-effectively.

The Gemini automates key stages of production, drilling brush bodies and inserting fibres to manufacture a wide range of technical and industrial brushes, including cylinder, disc and flat/table brushes.

As well as increasing productivity, the technology has enabled Cottam to broaden its product range and pursue new opportunities, particularly among original equipment manufacturers (OEMs).

The company can now manufacture products it has not previously produced, including brush tables and replacement brush panels for sheet metal fabrication.

Used in equipment such as laser cutting and punching machines, these brushes allow metal sheets to move across machinery while helping to protect painted, polished or coated surfaces from scratches and damage.

Cottam is targeting both machinery manufacturers and the aftermarket, including operators seeking to retrofit or replace brush panels on existing equipment.

Alan Crook, pictured, Managing Director of Cottam Brush, said: “This is much more than simply adding another machine to our factory. It fundamentally changes what we are capable of manufacturing and the opportunities we can pursue.

“In the past, the size or complexity of some brushes meant we had to subcontract production or find another way of making them, and sometimes we simply couldn't manufacture them cost-effectively. The Gemini removes many of those barriers, allowing us to produce a much wider range of brushes in-house, more efficiently.

“It gives us the confidence to pursue opportunities that previously might not have been open to us and is particularly important to our ambitions within the OEM market.”

A Made in Britain member, Cottam manufactures custom-engineered brushes for sectors including aerospace, defence, subsea, manufacturing, food and beverage, agriculture and logistics.

Applications range from specialist brushes used to remove debris from gear cogs during jet engine manufacture to solutions for cleaning subsea pipelines.

He added: “Cottam has been manufacturing brushes for more than 168 years, but we aren't relying on our heritage. By investing in technology like the Gemini, we can work more closely with manufacturers and engineers to develop solutions for specific applications and pursue opportunities in new markets.”