Allen Brothers Enters Third Generation of Family Ownership

Allen Brothers (Fittings) Ltd has entered its third generation of family ownership, with Richard Allen taking over as Managing Director.

Richard’s mother, Lindsay Allen, will remain with the company as Director, continuing to support the business as it moves into its next chapter.

The change follows the retirement of Liz Adams, who has stepped down as Managing Director after many years leading the company. Liz, Tony Allen’s daughter, took over the running of Allen Brothers and played an important role in developing the company into the international business it is today.

Graham Adams, who has also been with the company for many years as International Sales Manager, has retired from Allen Brothers.

Allen Brothers would like to thank Liz and Graham for their contribution to the company over the years. Their work has played an important role in shaping the business and building the foundations for the next generation.

A Behind-the-Scenes Factory Tour with Yachts & Yachting

We recently had the pleasure of welcoming Mark Jardine from Yachts & Yachting Online to our factory here in Essex. Mark came to take a look behind the scenes at how we design, manufacture, and assemble our products — all under one roof.

During the visit, we gave Mark a full tour of our facilities, starting with our design and engineering departments, where every new product begins its journey. From there, he saw how our components are CNC-machined, assembled, and quality checked, before heading over to our spar workshop to watch our team taper and heat-treat masts.

Allen Factory to Flotilla Fiesta

We are thrilled to share the highlights of our recent corporate day, “Allen Factory to Flotilla Fiesta,” held on the 26th of June. This event was designed to give our valued customers an inside look at our state-of-the-art manufacturing facilities in Essex, UK, and provide a memorable sailing experience on the River Crouch.

Our day began with an exclusive tour of our warehouse and factory units. Our guests were able to see firsthand the intricate processes involved in producing our top-of-the-line sailing hardware. The tour included a visit to our designers’ resources, where all Allen products are conceived and developed. We showcased our advanced product load testing equipment and offered detailed explanations of how each piece of hardware is meticulously crafted to meet the highest standards.

Allen Brothers Sets Sail for Boot Dusseldorf, Showcasing Innovation and Excellence in Marine Equipment

Allen Brothers, a leading name in the marine equipment industry, is thrilled to announce its participation in the upcoming Boot Dusseldorf Trade Show. This prestigious event is scheduled to take place from the 20^th to the 28^th of January at the Messe Dusseldorf Exhibition Centre, bringing together industry leaders, enthusiasts, and professionals from around the globe.

Known for its commitment to innovation, quality, and performance, Allen Brothers has been a trusted name in the marine industry for over 60 years. The company specialises in designing and manufacturing high-performance sailing hardware, including blocks, cleats, and other essential equipment for both recreational and competitive yachts and dinghies.

At the Boot Dusseldorf Trade Show, Allen Brothers will showcase its latest products, highlighting advancements in material and design which cater to the evolving needs of sailors worldwide. Visitors to the Allen Brothers booth can expect to experience firsthand the precision and durability that have become synonymous with the brand.

Allen Brothers Welcomes Simon Potts to the Sales Team

Allen Brothers proudly announces the newest addition to its dynamic sales force, Simon Potts, who joins as part of the UK sales team.  

With over 25 years of sales experience and an extensive sailing career, Simon brings a wealth of expertise and knowledge to the technical sales team at Allen Brothers. 

“I’m excited to be back in the business I never thought I’d leave. To be involved 10 years later is quite something. Over the past few years, Allen has been able to extend its offer outside the dinghy and small keelboat sector due to significant investment and growth. The team have a very open and honest philosophy which makes working great fun. I’m looking forward to helping grow the business further, utilising the vast engineering capability offered in-house – watch this space…” – Simon Potts, Allen Sales Team, Allen Brothers.  

Allen Brothers Welcomes XPO as Exclusive Distributor in France

Allen Brothers, a leading manufacturer of high-quality products for the performance sailboat market, is pleased to announce a strategic partnership with XPO, a prominent distribution company, to serve as our exclusive distributor in France. This collaboration marks a significant milestone in our global expansion and reaffirms our commitment to providing top-tier products and services to customers in France.

The partnership with XPO is a reflection of our dedication to delivering unparalleled value and excellence to our customers. XPO, known for its expertise in the marine industry, brings an extensive network, unparalleled market knowledge, and a customer-centric approach to the table. Together, Allen Brothers and XPO aim to enhance accessibility to our premium products while ensuring exceptional customer service throughout France.

METS 2022 – Stand 03-530

METSTRADE, Europe’s biggest marine equipment trade show, is taking place over the days of 15th – 16th – 17th of November at Amsterdam’s RAI convention centre. Allen are extremely pleased to be exhibiting this year at the first “normal” METSTRADE trade show since the Covid pandemic. You’ll find the Allen team on stand 03-530.

At the Allen stand you will be welcomed by a friendly technical team ready to discuss a selection of new and existing products as well as advise on product selection, installation, stocking and custom hardware.

Allen 2022 new products which will be on display include the following.

Reduce, Reuse, Recycle

COP26 is taking over news headlines around the World as countries are pledging to reduce carbon emissions and do more to reduce, reuse and recycle. So, what are we doing here at Allen to reduce our impact on the planet? 

In mid 2019 we introduced our first eco-friendly block range – The plain bearing block range.

Development of new mast tapering process

We are pleased to announce we have been working on some big projects for the marine industry over the past 12 months, one of which is production of 11-meter tapered masts.

The project to create a new tapered mast for the Dragon fleet came about after sailors and boat builders had started to notice the bend characteristics differed between each mast produced. Meaning, if you broke a mast and replaced it with a new one all the tuning and set up and measurements would no longer be valid. This also affected the continuity within the fleet, as each boat would require their own settings to get the most from their specific mast section.

Mast tapers are needed to get the best shape and performance from a sail. The basic technique to create a tapered mast requires the manufacturer to remove a “v” section from the mast, once removed the section needs to be closed – usually done with an internal mandrel, hammer, or clamp. Once closed it is held together with a weld. Straight forward it would seem, but it proves very difficult to achieve a consistent result. Each process has a possibility for small variation which will result in slightly different bend characteristics.

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YS Cast Aluminium Range Discontinued

We have taken the difficult decision to close our foundry, resulting in the discontinuation of our YS range of fittings.

Whilst the YS range has been tremendously successful for many decades, sales have fallen recently as boat builders switched to a more modern alternative. We have also recently received the disappointing news that the company that completed the polishing and anodising of the fittings has fallen victim to Covid-19 and despite an extensive search, we have been unable to source a new supplier who can meet our quality criteria. The investment required in the foundry, anodising and polishing could not be justified for a shrinking demand. Sadly, we have therefore had to make the decision to discontinue this range.

We still have some stock of the YS range; you can find out what we have by contacting us. 

However, some of the YS items will now begin a new life with new manufacturing methods and modern looks. The new AY range will be manufactured using our state-of-the-art VMC machines which will produce more accurate and reliable products. We also have the in-house design and machining capability of producing bespoke designs to a customer’s specification.

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