Brink proudly celebrates 120 years of business!
Brink was founded on 3 September 1903 in Assen, the Netherlands, as a blacksmith’s. Over time, the small company became an internationally recognised business in the automotive industry 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 is celebrating with great gratitude. Brink was founded as a blacksmith’s by Reint Brink in Assen, the Netherlands, on 3 September 1903. Over the years, the small firm has evolved into an internationally recognised company in the automotive industry and is now a world-leading provider of towbars.
From humble beginnings, Brink has taken an extraordinary journey – transforming from a towbar manufacturer into a global player in the automotive sector. Today, the company employs more than 800 dedicated staff at nine locations (Staphorst and Oosterhout in the Netherlands, France, Thailand, South Africa, Denmark, Poland, Italy and Australia) with high-performance production sites in the Netherlands, France, Thailand and South Africa.
From blacksmith to vehicle manufacturer
In September 1903, Reint Brink opened his blacksmith’s in Assen. Later on, his son Roelof Brink took over the business and focused on manufacturing trailers. The first trailers were delivered in the early 1930s. To give the company a more defined direction, a new factory under the brand name KAT (Factory for ‘Kipper, Aanhangwagen en Trailer’ – dumper trucks and trailers) was opened in Meppel around 1946. By the end of the 1950s, the company moved from Meppel to Staphorst, where it began manufacturing trucks. At this 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 produce trailers and towbars. At first, these towbars were made exclusively for trailer owners, but demand was so high that from the 1960s onwards, towbars were sold as a stand-alone product under the name ‘RBS’ (Reint Brink Staphorst). Under the Brink brand, the company became one of the largest providers on the international towbar market. To further strengthen this position, Reint Brink opened a brand new factory in Staphorst in 1970. Here, development, design, production and sales of towbars all took place under one roof.
Everything under one roof: from design, production to product testing
The multi-faceted history of Brink has made the company what it is today. Coen Rooijmans, CEO of the Brink Group, explains: “We still do everything in-house, from developing towbars and design through to production, and we have our own test centres to ensure the quality of our products – something we are incredibly proud of.”
From fixed to detachable and retractable towbars
In the early years, Brink developed fixed towbars only. At the end of the 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, forming the basis for all further horizontal and diagonal systems. In 2001, the detachable system with rotary knob was launched, and in 2004, the first BMA (Brinkmatic Advanced) was brought to market, which is still one of the most user-friendly towbars in Brink’s product range. Shortly afterwards, in 2005, Brink developed its first vertically detachable system, the T5, for Land Rover and Discovery 3 – a towbar that remarkably is still produced today. In 2006, the first mechanical retractable system, MX, was added. In 2013 the BMU (vertically detachable towbar) was introduced. Two years later, in 2015, the electrically retractable version of the MX, the MXe, was introduced for OE customers.
Brink’s expansion in France: acquisition of SFEA (Atlux)
The internationalisation strategy continued to take shape in the 1990s, when Brink acquired SFEA, the French towbar manufacturer trading under the name ATLUX. “At that time SFEA was mainly active in the aftermarket, manufacturing about 100,000 towbars annually,” explains Olivier Irdel, Managing Director at Brink Towing Systems SARL. “SFEA was founded in the 1960s by a sole entrepreneur who previously worked for ‘le Rapide’, another towbar manufacturer, which was later acquired by Bosal. Following the integration, SFEA enjoyed rapid growth, driven by a dynamic automotive sector and a rising interest in leisure and travel. In the years after the acquisition, the Atlux brand gradually became absorbed into Brink. The goal of the Brink Group was to become a top player in Europe. To achieve this, there were various acquisitions and new factories were set up. As France was one of the company’s three top markets in Europe, Brink took the central strategic step of building a unified production facility. Olivier explains: “It was part of Brink's strategy to centralise production in larger plants.”
Brink France shines with flexibility
Brink France initially focused on increasing sales within its own market, especially with French automotive manufacturers (OEs). Olivier continues: “To work with OE customers, we set up an R&D department.” Later on, Brink France also became an increasingly important production site for aftermarket towbars for the wider Brink Group. “Our plant in Reims plays a key role in supplying towing devices to French automotive manufacturers,” adds Coen Rooijmans. “The combination of manufacturing and aftermarket support is a major advantage. The site stands out for its flexibility and enables us to scale up quickly whenever needed.”
According to Olivier, Brink France owes its flexibility to its origins as a pure aftermarket business. He vividly recalls his early days at Brink in 2002, saying: “I still remember when I started at Brink in 2002, as if it were yesterday. In January, we started building a new plant, and by November, we’d moved the whole company in just two weeks!” After this remarkable feat, Brink France took on IAM (Independent Aftermarket) orders, which led to significant growth in the subsequent years – averaging an impressive 20% per year.
Olivier is particularly proud of what Brink has achieved in recent years. He remembers: “When I started 20 years ago, there were still five manufacturers of towing devices in France: Bosal, SIARR, Atnor, Boisnier and Brink. The landscape has changed, however, and now only a handful of manufacturers remain – and Brink is one of them! We’re proud of our strength in the market, which speaks for our high level of presence in the French market – a market that we haven’t just conquered but where we continue to succeed.”
Brink briefly flying the Swedish flag
Brink’s international success led to Swedish Thule Group acquiring the company in 2006. Following this, from 2006 to 2014 Brink operated under the Thule name. The company was then sold to a Dutch investment group and has been trading under its established Brink brand name ever since. In 2014, Brink adopted a new company logo, and to mark its 120th anniversary, a special edition has been created for the anniversary year.
With Brink Thailand, Brink continues to expand globally
Brink’s internationalisation efforts began years ago, and the company continues to expand today. In 2017, Brink opened a production facility in Thailand as part of its growth as an original equipment supplier. Lodewijk Berg, Managing Director of Brink Towing Systems Thailand, explains: “The main motivation to establish the site in Thailand was proximity to the Asian market, with a particular focus on the ANZ (Australia and New Zealand) market, which offers great growth potential for Brink.”
Brink built the plant in Thailand from scratch in 2017 and 2018. Official production started in 2021, with the first customers supplied from Thailand. According to Berg, getting the project off the ground was a major challenge, but he stressed that it is crucial to keep meeting customer expectations in order to secure Brink’s future projects. This underlines Brink’s commitment to serving the global market and seizing new growth opportunities.
Rooijmans reports: “Thailand has developed into a successful site, focusing on high quality and a well-developed logistics system. The site also holds all the necessary certifications. In 2023 our focus is on expansion into Australia – a market with significant potential, which we can serve efficiently from our Thai branch.” “Not long ago we received IATF certification – an important milestone for supplying OEM/OES”, adds Berg.
He explains details of their cooperation with one of their main clients: “In 2022, we began supplying an important customer with towbars – and we now deliver every day. We also switched to a two-shift operation. Our team has grown considerably – from 8 full-time employees at the start of production in 2021 to about 55 staff today.”
The growth of Brink Thailand is ongoing. Berg is currently working on business plans for a comprehensive expansion of the plant beyond what has already been achieved in the past two and a half years. “We expect to open a new, larger factory within the next three years to accommodate our growing facilities and continue to meet our customers’ requirements.” This illustrates Brink’s determination to further strengthen its presence and capabilities in the region.
Brink Towing Systems South Africa is ready for further growth
Brink Towing Systems South Africa is also making great strides. The branch has been a 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 only just survived. But now we have developed into a strong player with about 100 employees.”
Brink South Africa began producing for export to the Netherlands and for small OEM suppliers. “While we worked hard to establish ourselves in South Africa, Brink secured major OEM/OES contracts,” Gutridge continues. Brink Towing Systems also expanded its presence in the aftermarket through Concept Stores, independent fitters and distributors. “In 2009 we were awarded an important OEM (Original Equipment Manufacturer) contract for 53,000 towbars per year, and in 2010 we moved into our new premises and purchased our first robot! Today, our production expands every year and we currently have eight dual-robot cells, producing 140,000 towbars annually. That’s a far cry from our three-employee start in 2006!” says Gutridge.
Additional challenges for Brink South Africa
Infrastructure in South Africa can sometimes pose special challenges, including power outages. Load shedding occurs when there is not enough electricity available to meet all customers’ needs and power suppliers temporarily switch off the supply to certain areas. “Sometimes we’re without power for up to 12 hours a day. That’s an extra challenge when processing large orders and meeting customer requirements. In addition, there are general safety concerns in South Africa. Thanks to our flexible and innovative approach, we have managed to secure significant orders and continued growth in the OEM, OES and IAM (Independent Aftermarket) markets – in spite of these very specific challenges.”
Awards for Manufacturing Company of the Year
“Our site in South Africa has already won the ‘Manufacturing Company of the Year’ award several times in the region – a milestone that we are rightly 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 really is the key to our success! Most of our employees have been with us for over ten years, and some since the very beginnings of Brink's commitment in South Africa. Thanks to their loyalty and commitment we are where we are today, looking forward to a promising future!”
Shaped by the people
The importance of our staff as the key to our success is not limited to South Africa – it’s visible at all our locations. “We’ve been around for 120 years because we listen to our customers and deliver high-quality products. We have long been a reliable partner to our customers and we intend to remain so for a long time to come. We know very well that our existence is entirely thanks to our skilled and dedicated staff. That’s why we want to show our appreciation for our team!” Rooijmans concludes. It is their dedication, expertise and trust in Brink that has allowed us to reach this milestone. To show our appreciation for our employees’ hard work and commitment, Brink honours them with special gestures. Everyone receives a beautiful beach towel as a memento of our 120th anniversary and at the beginning of September a relaxed barbecue was held where staff could come together and reminisce.
Rooijmans continues: “Brink is a great company and that is thanks to our people. Their loyalty and dedication make Brink so unique. They bring together so much expertise and experience, and that’s truly inspiring!” The loyalty of our teams is reflected in the fact that so many of them have been on board for many years. Brink is not just celebrating a company anniversary – many employees also celebrate their own long service at Brink. For example, Jan Hofstede from Staphorst will reach the impressive milestone of 50 years with the company in 2024.
Jan Hofstede: almost 50 years with Brink
Jan shares his experience at Brink: “I’ve worked for Brink for 49 years! Over the years I have held various roles, primarily in the development of new towbars. Currently, I work in the Brink workshop, where I focus on adapting towing devices to perfectly fit different vehicle models.” Working for the same employer for 49 years brings lots of experiences. Hofstede enthusiastically recalls the various product developments he has witnessed during his time at Brink. In the early days, Brink only produced fixed towbars, but later also introduced detachable and electrically operated towbars.
“I’ve seen a lot of changes in the company first hand,” says Hofstede. “The expansion into other countries, significant growth stages such as the increase in the number of colleagues, and important product developments are memories that will stay with me.” These product developments mean not only different types of towbars, but also the ongoing adaptation to ever higher market demands for quality products.
Brink has always aimed to deliver high-quality products, backed by an unwavering belief in craftsmanship and innovation. “Continuous innovation and improvement have definitely contributed to our success over the last 120 years. A company can only last this long if it delivers good products, does so reliably, and looks after its employees,” says Rooijmans.
Hofstede remains an enthusiastic colleague and declares: “The huge variety in work and the freedom that the company gives me still mean that I enjoy working here! I’ve always been lucky enough to work independently, which I really value. I also had the opportunity in the past to travel extensively and visit dealers and customers, which were very special experiences for me. The last 49 years have been an adventure. At the moment I am 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 the latest innovation from Brink. “When it’s retracted, you can’t see the BLE at all – it simply makes the car look better. There’s a lot of technology in it – for instance, it’s a towbar that communicates with the car,” explains Rooijmans. “The BLE is a stylish, fully electric towbar, which we developed with the support of several suppliers. In our industry, only those with a network of competent, reliable and high-quality suppliers can succeed,” Rooijmans continues. “That way you can work together on improvements and the next generation of products. And that’s exactly how we developed the BLE. We have already secured several contracts for the production of the BLE for various vehicle manufacturers, which we are very pleased about!”
Brink has become one of the most important players on the market for fixed and detachable towbars. Around 25 million vehicles are equipped with a Brink towbar. “It’s very exciting to see electrification gathering pace,” says Rooijmans. “How quickly will customers switch from fixed and detachable towing devices to fully electric towbars? That’s one of the major challenges for Brink in the coming years.” Rooijmans looks forward to Brink’s future with optimism: “I am convinced that in five years’ time we’ll be celebrating our 125th anniversary and have achieved new milestones!”
You’ll find plenty of extra information on the company blog!
