Celebrating 40 Years of Electromagnetic Design

>The company was founded in 1972 by Dennis and Carol Stephenson. Despite its large company back up since being acquired by British Engines Ltd. in 2000, Stephenson Gobin Ltd. still stands by its successful small company ethos.   

>Using its core product stream of electromagnetic clutches and brakes, the company quickly evolved into a diversified supplier of fire security products and complete power transmission solutions. Forty years on, Stephenson Gobin Ltd. now boasts a substantial customer base, supplying OEMs, distributors and end users all over the World with its high quality products.

>The business has seen 115% growth in the past two years and is now planning a move to a new site with 2.5 times the capacity of the current premises, simply to cope with booming demand. Growth has arisen from new and exciting opportunities in all product areas, but particularly remarkable sales have been achieved by its power transmission brand, SG Transmission. Working with global partners, the company has supplied its electromagnetic clutches and brakes for various applications, ranging from supermarket entry gates to state-of-the-art exoskeletons and sports cars.

>David Wilson, Managing Director, said: "We are a SME [Small to medium-sized enterprise] that has the belief in itself to go out onto the World stage and compete with the big boys. I hope this will demonstrate to other small manufacturers what can be achieved if you don't take 'no' for an answer. "As a SME you have to play to your strengths. We have the flexibility that larger firms lack, so we can compete with huge Far Eastern companies."

>As a result of its determination, the company's efforts were recognised last year when it won the EEF North-East award for business growth and it was also recently nominated for an export award in association with HSBC.

>Stephenson Gobin Ltd. adds value to companies worldwide through its design team's technical expertise and its ability to react quickly. Unlike some of its larger competitors its flexibility as a supplier and partner gives its customers an advantage over their competitors.

>Design Manager Paul Short said "Engineering has changed dramatically in the past 25 years. Generally the bigger companies have disappeared and been replaced by a wide variety of smaller, locally based enterprises. To succeed and grow, you have to be much more proactive in seeking new opportunities at home and abroad."

>Alongside efficient, reliable products to ensure optimum safety, Stephenson Gobin Ltd. knows that precision engineering also requires suppliers to provide a top quality service. As the "engineer's engineers", it works with its customers for as long as required to design a bespoke solution for any application, whether existing or new - no matter how unique!