This document provides a history of Thomas Broadbent & Sons Ltd., a family-owned company that has been pioneering centrifuge technology since 1864. It details how the company was founded by Thomas Broadbent and evolved from general engineering to focus on centrifuge design and manufacturing. Over 150 years, the Broadbent family ensured stable management as the company innovated centrifuges driven by steam, electricity, and adapted technologies to support wartime efforts. Thomas Broadbent & Sons Ltd. emerged as a global leader in centrifuge technology through continuous engineering excellence and growth.

1. PIONEERS OF
ENGINEERING
EXCELLENCE
IN CENTRIFUGE
TECHNOLOGY

2. THOMAS
BROADBENT
& SONS LTD
A FAMILY FIRM
CELEBRATING
150 YEARS OF
EXCELLENCE
IN CENTRIFUGE
TECHNOLOGY

3. PIONEERS OF ENGINEERING EXCELLENCE IN CENTRIFUGE TECHNOLOGY
1864 to 2014

4. From those early days, until the present time,
Thomas Broadbent & Sons Ltd. has remained
a family firm, operating on the original site
where the founder, Thomas Broadbent,
commenced business as a millwright in 1864.
1864 - 2014
This patent was granted to Thomas
Broadbent on 30th March, 1875 for
the first hydro-extractor directly
driven by a steam engine.

5. Thomas Broadbent & Sons Ltd. the Yorkshire based company and
centrifuge specialist, with its roots stretching back to the time of the
industrial revolution has evolved through 150 years of engineering
excellence and sustained growth to emerge as a world leader in
21st century centrifuge technology.
Over this extensive period of evolution and continuous
technological development, subsequent generations of
the Broadbent family have ensured stable management
of Broadbent, combining sound engineering principles
and innovation with financial stability. Whilst, in the early
days and during the war years, Broadbent’s responded
to the demand for a variety of heavy-duty engineered
products. The main thrust of its business activity moved
progressively to the provision of cutting-edge centrifuge
technology.
As growth in the early textile, chemicals, minerals, sugar,
laundry and other process industries began to develop
and expand, the demand for centrifuges increased
dramatically, encouraging other enterprising engineering
companies to enter the market. But in the last half
century, due to a substantial number of international
mergers and takeovers, the number of competitors has
reduced considerably. Today, Broadbent leads the field
in the design, manufacture and maintenance of advanced
centrifuges and centrifugal decanters, ranking highly on
international lists of process industry suppliers.

6. The Early Days
Employing three men and three boys, early
work for the Broadbent factory consisted
mainly of general engineering projects, iron
founding and the maintenance and repair of
textile machinery and steam engines, at a time
when many of the large mills were being built in
the river valleys of West Yorkshire.
As an enterprising 31 year old, technically
qualified engineer, Thomas quickly established
an enviable reputation for his natural
inventiveness, high standard of workmanship
and detailed knowledge of the latest process
techniques and production machinery. He
was a keen advocate of engineering education
and maintained an active interest in the local
Mechanics Institute – an early forerunner of
what is now the University of Huddersfield.
Having repaired and refurbished a substantial
number of centrifugal extractors, installed as
dryers in the textile industry, Thomas began
to see great potential for applications in other
industries which had a need for dewatering and
solids/liquids separation.
In the late 19th century, whilst examining a
hydro-extractor, brought in for repair from a
local mill, Thomas considered the practicalities
of centrifuge manufacture at the Huddersfield
factory. His company had all the necessary skills,
machine tools and manufacturing facilities for
this type of production and he is reputed to
have said, “If I could only make one of these,
every two weeks, I should be alright.”
Before the introduction of the hydro-extractor,
various methods of applying centrifugal force
had been in use - the earliest being an apparatus
used in the textile trade to dry cops of wet
yarn. Wet yarn was placed in a perforated
container, slung by chains from a bar, one end
of which was pivoted in a recess in the wall
of the building. The bar, manipulated by hand,
enabled the container to be swung around
faster and faster until it was actually revolving at
considerable speed around the axis of the bar,
a process which caused liquor to be discharged
centrifugally through the perforations in the wall
of the container.
In 1870 Broadbent produced its first centrifugal
extractor for the speedy removal of water from
washed wool and cloth. The machine proved
to be so effective and reliable that Broadbent
was awash with orders from all the mills in
the valleys of West Yorkshire. It is evident that
Thomas had no claim to being the inventor
of the hydro-extractor, using the principle of
centrifugal force for extracting liquids from
solids, but he was decidedly a pioneer in
extending and exploiting its practical application
– firstly in the textile mills and then in the
chemicals, process, laundry and sugar industries.
Towards the end of the 19th century, most
centrifugal extractors were driven by steam
engines or iron line shafting. Broadbent saw
the need for small steam engines, designed
specifically to drive centrifuges but able to serve
as dual purpose machines when required to
power other machinery. As a spin-off from this,
Broadbent produced a range of small, high-
speed, vertical steam engines, installed on bed
plates, specifically designed to drive centrifuges
in the sugar industry. These machines
incorporated a new and innovative lubrication
system, which automatically lubricated all
moving parts. A good example of this type of
machine is exhibited at the Tolson Museum in
Huddersfield.
On the 30th March 1875, the Crown granted
Thomas a patent for the first hydro-extractor,
directly driven by a steam engine.
The following is an extract from the “Industries
of Yorkshire 1890” journal.
“At these works, Messrs Broadbent carry on
upon an extensive scale a general iron founding
and engineering trade, and here they devote
a large share of attention to the manufacture
of the notable speciality by which they have
become so widely famous during recent
years. We allude of course to Broadbent’s
steam driven hydro-extractor. These excellent
machines are admittedly unsurpassed by any
apparatus of their kind, now before the notice
of the industrial world. They are adapted for
textile manufacturers, dye-houses, laundries,
chemical works, sugar refineries, etc. etc.,
and are driven direct by a small steam engine,
which, from its peculiar construction and
accuracy of balance, can be run at a very high
velocity without any liability to get out of
order.”
Unfortunately, Thomas died in 1880 at the early
age of 47, without having seen the end results
of his many innovative designs and inventions.
He was a member of the Institution of
Mechanical Engineers and its journal recorded
that “ he was an architect and engineer for the
winding gear which hauled the clay wagons
of the Huddersfield Water Works Reservoir
Project at Wessenden Head and that “he was
frequently consulted in other engineering works
in the town of Huddersfield.”
Thomas’s wife Helen stepped in and ran the
business, unaided, for the next five or six years
until their sons William and Horace were able
to take over - a remarkable achievement for
a woman at that time. In 1895 the business
was registered as a Limited Liability Company,
trading for the first time as Thomas Broadbent
& Sons Ltd.
On taking over the business, William and
Horace saw the need to rationalise the product
range, which was now mainly concentrated on
the design and manufacture of centrifuges. The
brothers saw great opportunities to capture
and expand their share of world markets and
carried out a special study of centrifuge types
being produced in Huddersfield, combining this
with a market survey – detailed research, which
included countries as far apart as Canada and
Australia.
It is interesting to note that, at this time,
Horace had formed a close friendship with
Frank Brown, the enterprising son of David
Brown, who in the early days had worked for
Broadbent as a pattern maker, before setting up
his own business. Horace and Frank considered
the merger of their two businesses but due to
stubbornness both remained independent and
became internationally well known for their
individual products.
Following an engineering apprenticeship
and a brief partnership with a friend and
fellow engineer, making hydraulic pumps,
presses and steam engines, Thomas
Broadbent founded his own business
as a general engineer and millwright in
a modest two storey workshop in the
town of Huddersfield. Over the next 100
years, however, this small business was to
increase considerably in size to become a
20,000 m2
production facility.
Early Centrifuges

7. Towards the turn of the 19th century, the
introduction of electricity and the use of
electric motors began to revolutionise process
and manufacturing activities in most of the
industrialised world. Broadbent was quick
to take advantage and move forward in
this direction, designing and manufacturing
centrifuges driven by DC electric motors.
The very first electrically-driven centrifugal
extractor was produced by Broadbent in 1895.
This incorporated a basket attached to the
motor shaft, which carried the armature of the
DC motor. The design was quickly accepted by
industry and easily adapted to AC current when
this became available.
The introduction of AC, electrically driven
centrifuges also stimulated innovation in other
aspects of centrifuge design. For instance,
the new type 4 machines were installed with
centrifugal clutches between the motor sleeve
and the spindle carrying the basket, allowing
the basket to accelerate to full speed without
using excessive starting current . This design
was patented by Horace Broadbent in 1901 and
was the first centrifuge of its type in the world.
The type 4 machine incorporated what was
decidedly the forerunner of an extensive range
of driving clutches still in use today.
The advent of electricity and rapid progress
in the development and manufacture of
electrically-driven centrifuges, became the
motivation for setting up a new Electrical
Department within Broadbent, ensuring
the future progress of direct driven electric
extractors and the production of special high
starting torque motors, which were integral
with other mechanical mechanisms. Further to
this, the department was quickly charged with
the production of control gear and progressing
the design, development and manufacture of a
series of interchangeable 50 – 75 horsepower
electric motors to drive line shafting in various
works departments. These motors soon
replaced the old steam and gas engines as a
more economic and reliable means of driving
power.
With the introduction of ball bearings in 1910,
machines designed to incorporate these were
developed and were initially introduced into the
sugar, laundry and chemical industries.
Significant in the development of centrifuges at
this time was a prototype horizontal machine,
installed for continuous duty in the chemical
industry. This new centrifuge, which was well
ahead of its time, consisted of two cylinders
running at different speeds. The inner drum
incorporated an internal scroll - a feature that
pushed the solids along the entire length of the
rotating outer cylinder, continuously processing
and discharging them. This machine was
unsuccessful, but as a new concept, was well
ahead of its time and provided the design basis
for future product developments.
Both the over-driven and under-driven
centrifuges used in the chemical industries were
proving to be inefficient when processing large
quantities of liquor and small percentages of
solids. To address this, Broadbent developed
a new concept in centrifuge design, whereby
the in-feed and the discharge of solids could
be operated at full speed. This was known as
the inclined spindle ploughing centrifuge, in
which the spindle, carrying an inclined basket
is a 30 degree angle to the horizontal. The
slurry, or mother liquor is fed continuously from
overhead tanks into the revolving basket and
separation is achieved when sufficient solids
have accumulated against the basket wall. The
inlet pipe is then closed and a manual or power-
operated plough is introduced to remove the
solids, which are then discharged through a
chute onto a conveyor or into a container.
Experimental work continued on the under-
driven centrifuge for the textile industry
and a new concept, rapidly improved the
effectiveness of this design, which also
incorporated tension springs to support both
the rotating and non-rotating oscillating parts of
the centrifuge. These machines, first installed
in 1937, proved to be highly successful. The
first production model was known as the 36”
JB (39), where the initials JB stood for “Jelly
Belly” – a term which became obvious when
the machine was observed with its outer case
removed.
Whilst many of these significant product design
changes and innovative modifications were
often associated with the specific requirements
of a particular product or industry, many
were readily incorporated in centrifuge types
traditionally installed in other areas, including
the textile, chemical, laundry and process
industries.
The Age of Steam
In those early days, when steam power was the
main driving force for most industrial activity,
the business became more closely involved
in producing and installing steam engines. By
1893, Broadbent had progressed further in this
direction and introduced the first of a series of
large steam engines, designed and constructed
to power textile machinery. One of the first
of these machines, supplied to a textile mill in
the Colne Valley, proved to be so successful
that many more followed, ranging from 100
to 260 horsepower. Most of these engines
were horizontal tandem compound types with
Corliss valve gear on the high pressure cylinder,
whilst other machines constructed towards
the turn of the century, were built to a vertical
configuration. Some of these engines were
known to have operated for periods of between
50 to 70 years.
1864 - 2014
Centrifuge Development
and Electrification

8. Horace Broadbent attended the Centennial International Exhibition, Melbourne,
1888-9. Exports have always been important to Broadbent’s.

9. Thomas Broadbent & Sons Ltd. known all over the world
as ‘Broadbent’ relentlessly adapting to a constantly evolving
industrial world.

10. At the outbreak of WW1, Broadbent continued to manufacture
its standard range of centrifuges for the production of explosives
and chemicals. Heavy plant for steelworks, cranes and lifting gear,
motorised capstans for hauling railway rolling stock and an endless
number of 112lb cast-steel aerial bombs were ordered by the War
Ministry. Many of Britain’s battleships including HMS Thunderer,
Conqueror, Monarch and Lion, which were involved in the Battle Of
Jutland, were also equipped with ammunition hoists produced in the
Huddersfield factory.
This photograph would have been an official secret during the war years when
Broadbent built 4 of these “X-craft” midget submarines in conditions of total
secrecy. These were destined to play a major part in the war effort and their crews
were decorated with 4 Victoria Cross Medals, and a great many other awards.
1914 - 1918
1939 - 1945

11. Helping the War Effort
An unusual project at that time was an electrified travelling
underhung job crane, designed to handle 3 tonnes of
molten metal in a foundry on board the repair ship RFA
Reliance. This had to undergo severe testing by the
Admiralty to ensure that the crane and load were safe
whilst the vessel was out at sea.
In 1916, Francis Broadbent, formerly a lecturer at the
University of Bristol and youngest son of Thomas, was
appointed to the Board of Directors and in 1918, following
the disruptive activities brought on by the war, Broadbent
was decontrolled and reverted back to normal operations.
Due to the fact that large quantities of disposal plant came
onto the market, causing a severe slump in the heavy
engineering industry, business was slow. The demand
for Broadbent cranes and steelworks plant disappeared
completely but, fortunately the chemical industry began
to expand rapidly, producing considerable demand for
centrifuges.
At the start of WW2, Broadbent employed 500 people
with a turnover exceeding £200,000 (£11million in today’s
money). Broadbent was immediately put at the disposal of
various Government departments to support the war effort
and the first munitions contract produced up to 4000 Black
Bombard Light Bomb Throwers.
Immediately after Dunkirk, the Ministry Of Supply pressed
Broadbent to manufacture complete 2 Pounder Mk 10
anti-tank guns at a rate of 40 guns per month – a target
which was eventually upgraded to reach 2,490 guns per
month. Almost all the gun cotton used throughout the war
was produced using Broadbent’s newly developed inclined
spindle ploughing centrifuges.
Mobile trailer mounted laundries were required for troops
on the move in many parts of the world and special purpose
hydros were supplied as part of complete trailer mounted
laundry systems.
Perhaps the most noteworthy project for Broadbent in
the whole of the war years was the production of small
single engine seagoing submarines, designed to catch the
enemy on its own ground. These small vessels, called
X-craft, weighed 35 tonnes without their armaments, which
consisted of 7 tonnes of high explosive, attached to the
outside of the hull and released from the inside. They were
equipped with diesel engines as well as large batteries and
motors, with a cruising range of 500 miles.
Around 20 submarines were produced by three firms,
including Broadbent. Broadbent became the lead company,
however, charged with organising the whole project and
arranging for all the components to be delivered on time
for each firm to assemble complete vessels. Secrecy
arrangements were extremely stringent and each craft left
the works disguised as a large motor boat.
1864 - 2014

13. BROADBENT
AT WORK
For the last 150 years Broadbent has been
conducting business in many areas and
continues to do so to the present day in
the following industries:
SUGAR
LAUNDRY
CHEMICAL
PHARMACEUTICAL
PROCESS INDUSTRIES
MINING & MINERALS
PETRO-CHEMICAL
GEOTECHNICAL & SOIL MECHANICS
WATER & EFFLUENT INDUSTRIES
FLUE GAS DESULPHURIZATION
Broadbent continues to work with many well-known
international manufacturing industries and engineering
contractors.

14. Sugar Division
The sugar industries, in various parts of the world, developed rapidly throughout the 19th
century and Broadbent was quick to respond to the high demand for centrifuges used in the
production processes.
The earliest over-driven centrifuges used in the production of sugar were somewhat primitive
in design, using an opening in the base through which sugar was discharged by a man with
a wooden spade. One of the first major developments by Broadbent in 1921 was the
introduction of the very first hand-operated mechanical discharger.
In India at this time there was rapid expansion in sugar production and Broadbent reacted to
this with sales to all the major producers. The Indian sugar industry had been mainly confined
to the village community trade for which Broadbent had already supplied a large number of
hand-powered machines and a small number of pug mills – in which the lumpy massecuite
was reduced by means of intermeshing knives. The hand-powered centrifuges, mostly 18” in
diameter, required a high degree of manpower and physical exertion to provide the rate of
acceleration necessary to attain very high speeds. Because of this, Broadbent had designed
and developed centrifuges driven by bullocks which walked around the centrifuge in a large
circle. Optimum speed was attained by gearing.
In addition to the under-driven range of Broadbent centrifuges, a number of over-driven
machines were being manufactured for sugar refineries in the Hawaiian Islands. These
machines consisted of a rotating basket with the spindle suspended from above on an elastic
bearing, which allowed the centrifuge to self-centre. The bottom of the basket was left
clear so that, by raising a valve, the processed product could be discharged onto a conveyor
through openings in the bottom of the basket.
At this time, two kinds of centrifuge were being produced for the sugar industry. One had a
steel frame and used a direct drive, either from an electric motor or a water-driven pelton
wheel motor. The other had a cast iron frame and endless belt drive from a large pulley at
floor level. The pulley could be driven by a special electric motor, a steam engine or line
shafting. These machines were in great demand for use in both the sugar and chemical
industries.
In later years, development work on Broadbent’s successful 42” dia 500 rpm centrifuges
incorporated significant advances in sugar machines. A new high duty electric motor was
introduced, that increased the number of starts per hour from 12 to 24, with increased
power efficiency. In addition to this, a new automatically operated bottom discharge valve
was developed to replace the old manually operated type. The very first installation,
incorporating an automated valve and other user benefits, was installed at a The British Sugar
Corporation Factory near York.
Following the success of the modified 42”dia 500rpm centrifuge, trials were carried out on
this machine using a new type of trailing discharge plough. The first installation proved to be
inherently safe and operationally effective and was an immediate success. Broadbent’s design
concept has subsequently been in use to this present day.
Another innovative concept for sugar centrifuges, developed for the 42”dia 500rpm
centrifuge, was a new type of feeding slide valve, which allowed the discharge of massecuite
into a slowly rotating basket in 10 seconds flat – an extremely fast feed at that time. These
developments made a positive impact on the centrifugation of massecuite and orders for the
new machines started to come in from sugar producers in many parts of the world, including
sales to South Johnson Factory in Australia and Puttershoek Sugar Factory in Holland.
In line with the substantial growth in sugar production in various regions of the world, new
markets began to emerge. This stimulated the demand for new specialised processes, plant
and equipment, consequently influencing research, development and design of specialised
machines.
In 1956, a new, more efficient three speed electric motor, introduced as an option, resulted in
a considerable increase in orders. These flooded in from South Africa, Mauritius and Australia
and in 1959 a very large order was received from Taiwan Sugar Corporation (Formosa) for 60
machines at a total cost of £300,000. A year later, a similar sized order was received through
Vickers & Bookers for two batteries of sugar centrifuges for Russia. The Sugar Division had
taken off as the demand for Broadbent Centrifuges was at an all time high.
At this time, research and development work on sugar machines progressed rapidly. Feeding
and ploughing operations were now fully automatic and a further major advance was a tacho/
reactor control system, introduced to provide stable but adjustable speeds for the ploughing
discharge and feeding operations. In addition to this, three speeds were provided by an
efficient single electric motor. The new tacho/reactor control system eliminated the need for
a separate frequency changer, previously supplied to provide operation at low speed.
In 1963, the USA stopped all imports of Cuban sugar supplies and American sugar production
was increased to compensate. Almost immediately, large orders for the latest machines began
to arrive from the sugar mills in Louisiana.

15. Broadbent’s latest machines, including innovative process and
control technology are designed to operate automatically on 24/7
duties with minimal operator attention. Each machine is capable
of handling 60 tonnes of massecuite per hour. The cost of each
one is no more than the cost of a battery of centrifuges, previously
installed throughout the 1950s for the same loading.
1864 - 2014

17. Although the components of sugar may not have changed
over the years, Broadbent’s sugar processing has, along with
changes in technology, our products have become more
hygienic, sophisticated and innovative.

18. Laundry & Dry Cleaning
From the, early days Broadbent centrifuges played an
essential part in the textile industry, drying wool and cloth
before it passed to other processes for further treatment.
Centrifuges were also sold to developing commercial
laundry businesses. It was not until the 1930s that
Broadbent decided to explore the laundry and emerging
dry cleaning industry more thoroughly.
It is more than 80 years since Broadbent supplied its
first hydro-extractor to the laundry industry. This first
machine, which ran on a rubber buffer pivot, presented
a number of problems but a major breakthrough came in
1939 with the launch of the world’s first hydro- extractor
with spring suspension. This was completely jigged up for
quantity production and became Broadbent’s bestselling
36” hydro-extractor. More than 10,000 of these machines
have been sold to laundries locally and in many parts of the
developing world.
In 1932, the UK’s first washer extractor was supplied
by Broadbent for dry-cleaning garments in the non-flam
solvents produced by ICI. Up to this time, white spirit
had been used for dry-cleaning, although some machines
had been designed to operate with carbon tetrachloride
until it was made illegal, due to its toxicity. A new solvent,
trichloroethylene, was produced and the first washer
extractor with a 7lb capacity was introduced, but garments
had to be dried further by hanging in a drying cabinet
These machines were improved considerably over time
and a more efficient unit with a capacity of 45lb was
developed. With ancillary equipment such as tumblers,
filters, stills, pumps etc, incorporated - offering what was
to be the first laundry package available in the UK.
As result of a series of discussions with the Initial Towel
Supply Company of London in 1954, Broadbent developed
a machine for folding towels – the basis of many designs
for automatic folders produced by Broadbent for the
laundry and textile industries. All these machines use
electronic controls to provide accuracy and quality.
Over the years, a number of extremely successful laundry
machines were introduced, including the JBW horizontal
drum type range of automatic washing machines – very
much like huge industrial versions of domestic washing
machines. In the 1960s and 1970s, the JBW range of
washers was a bestseller and could be seen installed in
1864 - 2014

19. Throughout the 1980s and 1990’s, it became clear that suppliers
to the laundry sector must be capable of offering a complete range
of plant and equipment, if they were to remain competitive. In
addition, the demand for a “turnkey” approach required much
lighter laundry equipment. As the industry moved forwards, “total
capability” became a requirement and Broadbent quickly adapted
to changing market needs by replacing its heavily engineered
products of the 1950s and 1960s with those of carefully chosen
trading partners.
most commercial laundries throughout the UK. To
complement these washers, a range of automatic folding
machines was introduced, enjoying similar success.
As the automation of commercial laundries expanded
throughout the 1970s, the demand for Broadbent
washers also increased and laundry businesses began
to consolidate their activities into larger, centralised
units, producing several tonnes of linen per hour. At
the same time, competition from innovative suppliers
strengthened and a new breed of continuous washing
machines was introduced by the German Voss Company.
Following this, the automatic laundry concept took off
fairly rapidly, prompting Broadbent to sign an agreement
with Voss to sell its Archimedia washer in tandem with
their own range of washers and ancillary products. Each
of these large, continuous washing machines was capable
of processing more than 1500kg of clothing per hour. It
was common to see many laundries installed with several
Archimedia machines as part of automated systems.
Throughout the 1980s and 1990’s, it became clear
that suppliers to the laundry sector must be capable of
offering a complete range of plant and equipment, if they
were to remain competitive. In addition, the demand
for a “turnkey” approach required much lighter laundry
equipment. As the industry moved forwards, “total
capability” became a requirement and Broadbent quickly
adapted to changing market needs by replacing its
heavily engineered products of the 1950s and 1960s with
those of carefully chosen trading partners.
Today, Broadbent is a specialist in the design and
installation of a complete range of automated laundry
systems throughout the UK and Ireland, providing total
project management services, spare parts and customer
support services under the trading name Vega Systems
UK. Unlike many former UK suppliers to the laundry
industry, which failed to satisfy continuous changing
demand, Broadbent adopted a strict and unrelenting
marketing approach and has become a key player in the
industry.

20. Geotechnical
A recent departure from traditional centrifuge
technologies within the Industrial Process Division
at Broadbent has seen the design and development
of highly specialised modular or combined platform,
beam and drum centrifuges, used for physical modelling
at geotechnical research establishments and civil
engineering departments at universities around the
world.
As an example, typically five years soil settlement,
associated with large-scale construction projects, can
be modelled in less than four hours at 100g. Broadbent
machines are installed and operating successfully in the
UK, Japan, Russia, America, Canada, Brazil, Australia and
Switzerland.
1864 - 2014
Using these highly specialised centrifuges, 1/g scaled
modelling techniques in a high gravity environment allows
researchers to model complex civil engineering problems
associated with soil/structure interaction.
Four layer reinforcement

22. Process Industries
Since the early days, when centrifugal hydro-extractors were used
mainly in textile drying plants, Broadbent has supplied a variety
of machines to the chemical and process industries - producing a
broad range of machines that are individually designed to meet the
requirements of specific processes. Machines with clean-in-place
(CIP) facilities and stainless steel construction, to reduce cross
contamination have become commonplace.
Broadbent machines can now be found installed to process potash
in Canada, producing pharmaceutical ingredients in Hungary,
dewatering calcium carbonate in India and China and removing
salt from North Sea Gas in Norway, Russia and China. Broadbent
has also supplied centrifuges for processing PVC and HDPE, for
which the world’s largest decanter was supplied and installed in
Hungary.
In various parts of the Far East, Broadbent has had considerable
success in supplying centrifugal decanters to dewater Pure
Terepthalic Acid (PTA) - a basic chemical ingredient used in the
production of polyester fibres. These machines are currently
operating in India, Taiwan, Thailand and many parts of mainland
China. They are amongst the largest centrifuges available.
In recent years, a number of UK and European coal-fired power
stations have been installed with multiple batches of Broadbent
basket type centrifuges to dewater and wash large quantities
of highly contaminated gypsum produced by a limestone-based
scrubbing medium discharged from Flue-Gas Desulphurisation
(FGD) plants. The dewatering of gypsum provides a number of
cost-saving and environmental benefits for the user, including
compliance with the strict environmental regulations imposed
on all power generation plants. To recover part of the cost of
environmental control, these large quantities of gypsum can be
sold on for the production of wall board.
Thomas Broadbent & Sons Ltd. design and manufacture a
broad range of centrifuges and decanters for specific duties,
including batch filtering machines, peelers, continuous
decanters and disc bowl centrifuges, depending on customer
requirements. Many are designed and manufactured as
bespoke units which fully integrate with new and existing
processes.

24. In various parts of the Far East, Broadbent has
had considerable success in supplying centrifugal
decanters to dewater Pure Terepthalic Acid
(PTA) - a basic chemical ingredient used in the
production of polyester fibres. These machines
are currently operating in India, Taiwan, Thailand
and many parts of mainland China. They are
amongst the largest centrifuges available.

25. Process Lab
Broadbent has always operated an in-house laboratory
and testing facility, providing a service to all the divisions
in the company when new research and development
projects are required, or the performance and durability
of new and established products needs to be proven.
Over the years, these facilities have been invaluable in
the development of a variety of new products, keeping
Broadbent technology abreast of new, innovative
process designs, Improving reliability and contributing to
a reduction in downtime and maintenance for the user.
The facilities enable Broadbent to give firm assurances to
its customers on a product’s suitability for a specific duty,
its fitness for purpose and life expectation.

26. QUALITY
PRODUCTS,
INDUSTRY
KNOWLEDGE,
SERVICE AND
SUPPORT FOR
150 YEARS

27. It is our mission and vision to provide a world-class
international support network and service for our clients.

28. Service and Support
The SSR division has a dedicated team of highly skilled
personnel with an excellent Administration Team. Using
our sophisticated management systems we aim to deliver
outstanding service providing out clients with what they
want when they want it. We provide a 24 hour service
7 days a week so whichever continent you are on or
whichever time zone your are in, Broadbent SSR provides
a round the clock support service worldwide.
SSR is an independent division within Broadbents focused
exclusively on supporting Broadbent and other clients. We
provide a presales service as well as an after-sales service
throughout the lifetime of the product. Our excellent
service includes spare parts, installation, commissioning,
servicing, overhaul and upgrade.
When customers find that the purchase of new equipment,
though desirable, may not be feasible due to capital
restrictions, the purchase of a refurbishment or second-
user equipment can often provide a viable alternative. In
the Broadbent refurbishment facility, existing centrifuges
undergo a complete overhaul, allowing customers to
purchase a second-user machine at a lower cost. These
machines are also upgraded to comply with modern
process requirements and operational standards, even
those of competitive manufacture.
Before refurbishment. After refurbishment.

29. Broadbent One company-many skills
International recognition as pioneers of engineering
excellence in centrifuge technology.
1864 - 2014
Simon Broadbent 2014 - Courtesy of the Huddersfield Examiner

30. Onwards and Upwards
Over the past 150 years, Thomas Broadbent & Sons Limited
has continued to expand and strengthen it’s network of
company owned sales offices and representation in most
parts of the industrialised world including the UK, Ireland,
USA, Canada, South and Central America, Europe, Middle
East, Africa, China and Thailand. In the UK Broadbent’s
subsidiary, Vega Systems UK, is one of the leading suppliers
of large scale industrial laundry systems. In many countries
Broadbent is now firmly established as a leader in the supply
of centrifuge technology, which provides substantial customer
benefits such as reliability, energy-savings, advanced controls
and automation, leading to minimum operator attention,
increased production and high performance.
This year marks Broadbent’s 150th Anniversary of
Thomas Broadbent taking the first steps towards founding
a successful business which has continued to flourish and
expand in many ways right up to the present time. Over
this period, Broadbent has grown and prospered through
innovative developments, flexibility and a focus on customer
service, not to mention good old-fashioned hard work. This
recipe for success continues to guide the board of directors
focussing on product development and enhancements as
well as improving our international customer relationship
management to ensure the continued success of Broadbent’s
well into the next century.
Being at the hub of the early UK textile industry, the town
of Huddersfield produced many family-owned engineering
businesses that continued to flourish long after the industry
fell into decline. Unlike many of these small to medium-sized
businesses, which totally disappeared from the scene, went
into liquidation or were taken over and moved away, Thomas
Broadbent & Sons Limited remained intact, becoming the
largest family business to survive until the present time - still
employing local people at the original site.
Simon Broadbent 2014 -
Courtesy of the
Huddersfield Examiner

31. Thomas Broadbent & Sons Ltd. has continued to expand
over the last 150 years and is now firmly established as
international leader in the supply of centrifuge technology.
Broadbent have a global network of company owned sales
offices, manufacturing plants and representation.
Broadbent clients have the satisfaction of knowing they
can be assured of best in class quality products and service,
with the added benefits of reliability.
In the present day, with the world becoming much smaller
in terms of technological advances in communication and
business, most companies cannot compete with the legacy
of Thomas Broadbent & Sons Ltd. sustainable economic
footprint. Broadbent have been and still are contributing to
the sustainability of local and global economies providing
employment and apprenticeships, working ethically and
co-operatively with SME’s and corporate businesses alike,
promoting a value chain in the manufacturing industry.
150 years is a massive testament to Broadbent, its people
and the manufacturing industry.
1864 - 2014

32. Facing the future with research, design and
technology - providing engineering solutions.
120
110
100
90
80
70
60
50
40
30
20
10
0
von Mises (N/mm^2 (MPa))
Large capacity pertrochemical decanter.
Decanter casing and hoppers.
Decanter screw conveyor.

33. Research and Technology
The research and technology facility at Broadbent includes a full range of
in-house engineering and design skills covering process design, mechanical,
electrical and control engineering. From this research Broadbent has
enjoyed several successful patents, leading to exclusivity and protection
of our designs. All the major parts of our solids liquid separation and
geotechnical equipment are made in our own manuf acturing facility.
Broadbents are an ISO9001:2008 Certified Company.
Using the latest Finite Element Software also ensures that with the
demand from the Processing Industries for larger, higher speed and higher
capacity centrifuges for the future, our designs can be verified prior to the
development of equipment for commercial production. Leading the way
to the next generation of centrifuges and ensuring celebrating our next
milestone after our 150th Anniversary.
300
275
250
225
200
175
150
125
100
75
50
25
0
von Mises (N/mm^2 (MPa))
Yield strength: 402
1.00
0.92
0.83
0.75
0.67
0.58
0.50
0.42
0.33
0.25
0.17
0.08
0.00
AMPRES
Batch sugar centrifugal.
Sugar centrifugal basket.
Batch sugar centrifugal.

34. PIONEERS OF ENGINEERING EXCELLENCE IN CENTRIFUGE TECHNOLOGY
1864 to 2014

35. BROADBENT
PROUD TO
LEAD THE
WAY NOW
AND INTO
THE FUTURE

36. WWW.BROADBENT.CO.UK
Thomas Broadbent & Sons Ltd.
Queen Street South,
Huddersfield, HD1 3EA, England
Tel: +44 1484 477200
Fax: +44 1484 516142
e-mail: tbs@broadbent.co.uk
Web: www.broadbent.co.uk
Broadbent Incorporated
P.O. Box 185249, 2509 Gravel Drive,
Fort Worth, Texas 76118. USA.
Tel: +1 (817) 595 2411
Fax: +1 (817) 595 0415
e-mail: broadbent.inc@att.net
Broadbent (Thailand) Ltd.
88 Moo 5 T. Muang A. Muangchonburi
Chonburi 20130, Thailand
Tel: +66 38 399340-1
Fax: +66 38 399342
e-mail: bthai@broadbent-asia.com
Broadbent Yangzhou (China)
Banqiao Road, Guangling Industrial Park,
Yangzhou, Jiangsu,
China, 225004
Tel: +86 514 87871962
Fax: +86 514 87242655
e-mail: bchina@broadbent-asia.com
Industrial Process Division
Tel: +44 1484 477260
Fax: +44 1484 428041
e-mail: ipd@broadbent.co.uk
Web: www.broadbent.co.uk
Laundry Systems Division
Tel: +44 1484 477243
Fax: +44 1484 516142
e-mail: bls@broadbent.co.uk
Web: www.broadbent.co.uk
Sugar & Sweeteners Division
Tel: +44 1484 477230
Fax: +44 1484 423159
e-mail: sugar@broadbent.co.uk
Web: www.broadbent.co.uk
Service & Spares Division
Tel: +44 1484 477200
24hour: +44 1484 477350
Fax: +44 1484 431821
e-mail: bcsl@broadbent.co.uk
Web: www.broadbent.co.uk