Brink is proud of 120 years in business!
Brink was founded as a blacksmith's workshop in Assen, the Netherlands, on 3 September 1903. Over the years, the small workshop developed into an internationally recognised company in the automotive sector and a world-leading provider of towbars.
How Brink conquered the world of towbars
This year marks the 120th anniversary of Brink—a milestone that the company celebrates with great gratitude. Brink was founded in Assen, the Netherlands, on 3 September 1903 by Reint Brink as a blacksmith’s workshop. Over the years, the small workshop grew into an internationally recognised company in the automotive sector and a world-leading provider of towbars.
From its humble beginnings, Brink has come a long way, transforming from a towbar manufacturer into a global player in the automotive sector. Today, the company employs more than 800 dedicated staff at nine sites (Staphorst and Oosterhout in the Netherlands, France, Thailand, South Africa, Denmark, Poland, Italy, and Australia), with high-performance production facilities in the Netherlands, France, Thailand, and South Africa.
From blacksmith to vehicle manufacturer
In September 1903, Reint Brink opened his blacksmith’s workshop in Assen. His son, Roelof Brink, later took over the business and focused on trailer construction. The first trailers were delivered in the early 1930s. To sharpen the company’s focus, a new factory named KAT (for "Kipper, Aanhangwagen en Trailer"—tippers and trailers) was opened in Meppel around 1946. By the late 1950s, the company moved from Meppel to Staphorst, where it started truck production. At that time, Brink was registered in the Netherlands as a “vehicle manufacturer.”
Brink becomes an international player in the towbar market
Years later, Roelof Brink decided to manufacture trailers and towbars. At first, these towbars were made exclusively for trailer owners, but demand was so great that, from the 1960s, towbars began to be sold separately under the name “RBS” (Reint Brink Staphorst). Under the Brink brand, the company became one of the largest providers in the international towbar market. To strengthen this position, Reint Brink opened a brand new factory in Staphorst in 1970, bringing together the development, design, production, and distribution of towbars under one roof.
All under one roof: from design to production and product testing
The multifaceted history of Brink has shaped the company into what it is today. Coen Rooijmans, CEO of the Brink Group, explains: “We still do everything in-house, from the development of towbars through to design and production, and we have our own testing centres to ensure the quality of our products. And we’re incredibly proud of that.”
From fixed to detachable and retractable towbars
In the early years, Brink developed exclusively fixed towbars. In the late 1980s, they introduced their first detachable system: the Brinkmatic 1, a horizontally detachable system. About a decade later, this was further developed into the Brinkmatic 2, which formed the basis for all subsequent horizontal and diagonal systems. In 2001, the detachable system with rotary knob was introduced. And in 2004, the first BMA (Brinkmatic Advanced) was launched, still one of the most user-friendly towbars in Brink's product portfolio. Shortly afterwards, in 2005, Brink developed its first vertical detachable system, the T5, for Land Rover and Discovery 3. Remarkably, this towbar is still being produced. In 2006, the first mechanically retractable system – MX – was added. In 2013, the BMU (vertical detachable towbar) was introduced; two years later, in 2015, the electrically retractable version of the MX, the MXe, was launched for OE customers.
Brink expands into France: acquisition of SFEA (Atlux)
In the 1990s, Brink’s internationalisation drive took further shape with the acquisition of the French towbar manufacturer SFEA, which traded under the name ATLUX. “At the time, SFEA was mainly active in the aftermarket, producing around 100,000 towbars per year,” says Olivier Irdel, Managing Director at Brink Towing Systems SARL. “SFEA was set up in the 1960s by a sole trader who had previously worked at 'le Rapide', a towbar manufacturer later acquired by Bosal. Since joining Brink, SFEA has grown rapidly thanks to a dynamic automotive sector and growing interest in leisure and holidays.” In the years following the takeover, the ATLUX brand was gradually absorbed into Brink. Brink Group's aim was to become a top player in Europe. To achieve this, the company undertook several acquisitions and founded new factories. As France was one of the company’s top three markets in Europe, Brink took the strategic step of setting up a major production facility there. Olivier explains: “It was part of Brink's strategy to centralise production in larger factories.”
Brink France stands out for its flexibility
Initially, Brink France focused on growing sales in its own market, especially with French car manufacturers (OEs). Olivier continues: “To work with OE customers, we created an R&D department.” Later, Brink France also played an increasingly important role in producing aftermarket towbars for the rest of the Brink Group. “Our plant in Reims plays a key role in supplying towing devices to French vehicle manufacturers,” adds Coen Rooijmans. “It stands out thanks to this combination of manufacturing and aftermarket support. The site is particularly flexible and allows us to quickly scale up output when needed.”
According to Olivier, Brink France owes its flexibility to its origins as a purely aftermarket company. He vividly remembers joining Brink in 2002: “It feels like yesterday. In January we began building a new factory and by November, we’d moved the whole company in just two weeks!” After this remarkable achievement, Brink France took on IAM (Independent Aftermarket) orders, which led to significant growth in the years after the move—on average by an impressive 20 percent per year.
Olivier is especially proud of what Brink has achieved in recent years. He recalls: “When I started 20 years ago, there were five towbar manufacturers in France: Bosal, SIARR, Atnor, Boisnier and Brink. But the landscape is changing, and now only a few remain. And Brink is one of them! We’re proud of our market strength! It shows how strong we are in France—a market we haven’t just entered, but still hold a leading position in.”
Brink under Swedish flag—temporary change of ownership
Brink’s international success led to the Swedish Thule Group acquiring Brink in 2006. Following the acquisition, Brink operated under the Thule name until 2014, when it was sold to a Dutch investor. Since then, Brink has traded once again under its original, established name. In 2014, Brink also adopted a new company logo. For its 120th anniversary, a special edition has been created for the anniversary year.
With Brink Thailand, Brink continues international expansion
The push for internationalisation at Brink began years ago, and the company continues to expand. In 2017, Brink opened a production facility in Thailand to further grow as an OEM supplier. Lodewijk Berg, Managing Director of Brink Towing Systems Thailand, explains: “The main motivation for establishing a subsidiary in Thailand was proximity to the Asian market, with a particular focus on the ANZ region (Australia and New Zealand), which holds significant growth potential for Brink.”
Brink built the factory in Thailand from scratch in 2017 and 2018. Official production started in 2021, and the first customers were supplied from Thailand. According to Berg, it was a major challenge to get the project off the ground. He emphasised that it is now crucial to continually meet customer expectations to secure Brink’s future projects. This reflects Brink’s commitment to serving the global market and seizing new growth opportunities.
Coen Rooijmans adds: “Thailand has become a successful site, with a strong focus on quality and a well-developed logistics system. The site also holds all necessary certifications. In 2023, we’re focused on expanding into Australia—a market with huge potential that we can serve efficiently from our base in Thailand.” “We’ve just received IATF certification, an important milestone for OEM/OES supply,” adds Berg.
He shares details of their collaboration with a major customer: “In 2022 we began supplying towbars to a key client—and we now deliver daily. That has led us to switch to two-shift operation. Our team has also grown significantly—from 8 full-time employees at production launch in 2021 to about 55 staff now.”
Brink Thailand’s growth continues. Berg is currently developing business plans for a comprehensive expansion of the plant beyond what’s been achieved over the past two and a half years. “We expect to open a new, larger facility within the next three years, to house our growing assets and continue to meet our customers’ requirements.” This underscores Brink's commitment to strengthening its presence and capacity in the region.
Brink Towing Systems South Africa is ready for more growth
The branch of Brink Towing Systems South Africa is also making great progress. It’s been part of the Brink family for some time. It was founded in 2006 as a joint venture between the Brink Group and Ramsay Engineering. Mark Gutridge, Managing Director of Brink Towing Systems South Africa, explains: “Back then, we started out with just three employees. The market collapsed completely and we barely survived. But now we have grown into a strong player with about 100 employees.”
Brink South Africa began by producing for export to the Netherlands and small OEM suppliers. “While we worked hard to establish ourselves in South Africa, Brink secured larger OEM/OES contracts,” Gutridge continues. Brink Towing Systems also began to expand its presence in the aftermarket through Concept Stores, independent installers, and distributors. “In 2009, we landed a major OEM (Original Equipment Manufacturer) order for 53,000 towbars per year. In 2010, we moved into our new premises and bought our first robot! Today, we are expanding our production every year and currently have eight dual robot cells producing 140,000 towbars annually. That’s a far cry from 2006 when we started with just three people!” says Gutridge.
Additional challenges for Brink South Africa
The infrastructure in South Africa sometimes presents special demands, including power outages. Load shedding occurs when there isn’t enough electricity available to meet customer demand, forcing power providers to cut supply to certain areas on a rotating basis. “Sometimes our power is off for up to 12 hours a day. That’s an extra challenge when processing large orders and meeting customer requirements. There are also general security concerns in South Africa. Our flexible and innovative approach has enabled us to win major contracts and grow in the OEM, OES, and IAM (Independent Aftermarket) markets despite these unique challenges.”
Awards for Manufacturing Company of the Year
“The site in South Africa has already won the ‘Manufacturing Company of the Year’ award several times in the region—a milestone we are proud of!” says Coen Rooijmans. Gutridge adds: “We owe this to our consistency in quality, growth, and delivery performance—something we are incredibly proud of and that is only possible thanks to our fantastic team. That’s the real key to our success! Most employees have been with us for over ten years, and some from the very beginning of Brink’s involvement in South Africa. Thanks to their loyalty and commitment, we are where we are today and look forward to a very promising future!”
Shaped by people
The importance of our staff as our key to success is not limited to South Africa—it is evident at all our locations. “We have been here for 120 years because we listen to our customers and deliver high-quality products. We have long been a reliable partner to our clients, and we want to remain so for a long time to come. We are well aware that we can only exist thanks to our capable and motivated employees. That’s why we want to show our appreciation to our team!” Rooijmans concludes. Their commitment, expertise, and trust in Brink have enabled us to reach this milestone. To show our gratitude for their hard work and dedication, Brink honours its staff with special gestures. Everyone received a lovely beach towel as a memento of our 120th anniversary and at the start of September an informal barbecue was held, bringing everyone together to reminisce.
Rooijmans continues: “Brink is a great company and that’s down to our employees. Their loyalty and commitment make Brink so unique. They combine so much knowledge and experience, and that is simply inspiring!” The loyalty of our teams is reflected in how many have been with us for so many years. Brink is not only celebrating a company anniversary, but many employees are also celebrating their own milestones at Brink. For example, Jan Hofstede at the Staphorst site will reach the impressive milestone of 50 years with the company in 2024.
Jan Hofstede: almost 50 years with Brink
Jan shares his experiences at Brink: “I’ve worked for Brink for 49 years! Over the years, I've taken on a variety of roles, mainly in the development of new towbars. I currently work in Brink’s workshop, where I focus on adapting towing devices so that they perfectly fit various vehicle models.” Working for the same employer for 49 years brings a lot of experiences. Hofstede enthusiastically recounts the different product developments he has seen during his time at Brink. In the early days, Brink only made fixed towbars, but later introduced detachable and electrically operated towbars.
“I’ve witnessed a lot of changes in the company,” Hofstede says. “The expansion into other countries, significant periods of growth, such as the increase in the number of colleagues, and key product developments—these are memories that will stay with me.” These product developments are not only different types of towbars, but also reflect the continuous adaptation to ever-increasing market demands for the delivery of high-quality products.
Brink has always strived to deliver top-quality products, supported by unwavering belief in craftsmanship and innovation. “Continuous innovation and improvement have certainly contributed to our success over the past 120 years. A business can only survive this long if it delivers good products, delivers reliably, and takes good care of its people,” says Rooijmans.
Hofstede remains a passionate colleague and explains: “The great variety in the work and the freedom the company gives me mean I still enjoy working here! I’ve always been fortunate to work independently, which I really value. In the past, I’ve also had the opportunity to travel extensively and visit dealers and customers—that was a very special experience for me. The last 49 years have been an adventure. I’m currently working on the development of a new electric towbar, the ‘Brink Lightweight Electric (BLE)’.”
Brink Lightweight Electric (BLE) – Brink’s latest innovation
The BLE mentioned by Hofstede is Brink’s latest innovation. “When retracted, you can’t see the BLE at all, so the car looks even better. It contains a lot of technology—for example, a towbar that communicates with the car,” says Rooijmans. “The BLE is a stylish, fully electric towbar, which we have developed with the support of several suppliers. In our industry, only those with a network of capable, reliable, and high-quality suppliers can succeed,” Rooijmans explains. “You can work together on improvements and the next generation of products. That’s exactly how we did it with the BLE. We have already secured several contracts for the production of the BLE for different vehicle manufacturers, which is something we are very proud of!”
Brink has become one of the most significant players in the market for fixed and detachable towbars. Around 25 million vehicles are equipped with a Brink towbar. “It’s very exciting to see how electrification is advancing,” says Rooijmans. “How quickly will customers switch from fixed and detachable towing devices to fully electric towbars? That’s one of the big challenges for Brink in the coming years.” Rooijmans remains optimistic about the future of Brink: “I am convinced that in five years we’ll be celebrating our 125th anniversary with new milestones achieved!”
You’ll find lots of additional information on the company blog!
