Industrial brush manufacturer Cottam Brush has been shortlisted for a national manufacturing innovation award following a £10,000 investment in a patent-pending roller brush system designed to dramatically reduce maintenance costs and downtime.

The family-run company, based in Hebburn, South Tyneside, is a finalist in the Innovation of the Year category at the Made in Britain Impact Awards 2026 for SPLITGRIP™, its innovative modular split-body roller brush system.

Developed over 12 months, SPLITGRIP™ enables worn brush sections to be replaced individually without removing shafts, bearings, motors or surrounding equipment, potentially reducing maintenance time from days to hours.

The concept emerged after Cottam was approached by a company seeking to reduce the maintenance costs and production downtime associated with replacing conventional roller brushes. Although the original project did not progress, Cottam recognised its potential and continued developing the system.

Its split-body design allows brush sections to be fitted directly onto an existing shaft, eliminating the need for extensive dismantling. Individual worn sections can then be replaced without changing the entire brush assembly, reducing both costs and material waste.

Nick Palfreyman, Head of Product and Design at Cottam Brush, said: “The real cost of replacing an industrial brush isn't necessarily the brush itself, but the downtime and engineering time involved.

“SPLITGRIP™ makes maintenance quicker and simpler, getting equipment back into production sooner, while allowing individual worn sections to be replaced rather than the complete assembly.

“To see it shortlisted for Innovation of the Year is fantastic recognition for the team and the work that has gone into developing it.”

Designed for retrofit applications, SPLITGRIP™ can be engineered to accommodate round, square and hexagonal shafts, with potential applications across conveyor and bulk handling systems, recycling, quarrying, food processing, manufacturing and OEM equipment.

Managing Director Alan Crook added: “We believe it will open significant opportunities for Cottam in the UK and overseas, so being shortlisted for a Made in Britain Impact Award is a real endorsement of what we are trying to achieve.

“We have more than 168 years of manufacturing heritage, but our future depends on continuing to innovate and develop products that solve real problems for industry.”

Cottam Brush is shortlisted alongside eight other businesses in the Innovation of the Year category.

Founded in Sunderland in 1858, Cottam Brush is a Made in Britain member and sixth-generation family business specialising in the design and manufacture of industrial and custom-engineered brushes for sectors including defence, manufacturing, logistics and aerospace.