About Us

Beard & Fitch Ltd was established in Clerkenwell, London in 1851. Until 1914 the company manufactured clock gears, but the First World War changed the emphasis to heavier and industrial gearing. A proud moment in our history was when we had the prestige of manufacturing the entire transmission for Malcolm Campbell’s world record-breaking car, Blue Bird, which in 1927 and 1928 achieved new world land speed records – travelling at 174.88mph!

In the Second World War, we manufactured solely for the War Office, manufacturing gears for armaments of all descriptions but in particular, the manufacture of gears for torpedoes. After the Second World War, we reverted to supplying industrial applications and continued to prosper and invest in new machines to keep pace with contemporary technological advances.

In 1961, Beard & Fitch Ltd, along with most of our employees, relocated to Harlow, Essex, where jobs came with new housing under the New Towns Commission. However, by 1967, rising labour costs and outdated facilities took away our competitive edge. The 1979 recession ultimately left us unable to compete.

On 13th April 1981, Acral Gears Ltd, owned by the Archer family, purchased Beard & Fitch Ltd’s total shareholding. A strategic investment plan was implemented to update not only the plant but also, and more importantly, the working practices. By 1994 the company needed a more modern facility and funding was made available for the move to the current 18000 sq ft (1672 sq m) factory. Our beloved company has since developed into more diverse market sectors.

Currently, Beard & Fitch Ltd employs over 40 staff encompassing the full manufacturing processes from raw material to the finished product. Our services include manufacturing, drawing, and reverse engineering from customer samples to part machining free-issued components. We provide full inspection and advice and back all our products up with total quality assurance systems. Beard & Fitch Ltd follow a continuous investment programme, with more planned over the coming years.

We offer a range of comprehensive manufacturing facilities that enable us to manufacture transmission gears for a whole range of applications including:

Spur Gears/Straight Cut Gears | Helical Gears | Sprockets | Pulleys | Gearbox & Assemblies

Racks & Pinions | Worms & Wheels | Hubs | Drive Shafts | And More!

We are dynamic gear manufacturers and suppliers with many years of experience in manufacturing gears and other transmission products for the following market sectors:

Camera Support Equipment | Food Processing | Packaging Machinery | Power Transmissions

Medical Equipment | Industrial Cleaning Machines | General Engines | Aerospace | Automotive

Agricultural Machinery | Pumps & Blowers | Material Handling | Power Generation | Defence

Machine Tools | Utilities | And More!

If you have questions regarding our gear supplies, please contact the Beard & Fitch team today at +44 (0) 1279 425358. Alternatively, you can request a quote through our website by providing your information. We’re here and we’re ready to help in any way that we can.

At Beard & Fitch Ltd, our mission is clear – to continue to deliver innovation in gear manufacturing and transmission components, building on our expansive heritage since 1851. We are dedicated to serving a range of industries both nationally and internationally, providing high-quality solutions that meet the unique needs of our clients. Our dedication to continuous improvement, investment in cutting-edge technologies, and adherence to exacting quality standards ensure that we remain at the forefront of the industry. We strive to uphold our reputation for reliability, precision, and exceptional customer service, to create long-lasting value for our clients and partners worldwide.