Global leaders with 100 years experience

Warren & Brown Technologies is a company that has been founded on precision and innovation. The company was originally established in 1921 as a tool-making factory in Melbourne, Australia. It joined the large automotive component manufacturer conglomerate REPCO in 1949 and re-emerged as Warren & Brown & Staff in 1986 when five former managers bought the division from REPCO’s new owners. The strategic need to diversify into the technology industry was immediately identified by the new owners. Warren & Brown Technologies is still privately owned by 2 Australian directors.

Nowadays the Company has a well-established track record in product development for domestic and export markets. This has only been made possible through constant industry research worldwide and a team of highly motivated, well-travelled product development engineers. The company prides itself on being one of the most customer responsive product developers in the fibre optic management market.

As well as operating state of the manufacturing facilities in Melbourne, Australia, Warren & Brown Technologies is also able to support the SE Asian and other global markets through its Philippines manufacturing and sales office.

timeline_pre_loader

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After carrying out work in tool making and gear cutting for several years, it was decided to concentrate upon the manufacture of tools to service the motor trade which was then in its very early growth stages.

Right from the outset concentration was placed on the quality of the highest degree, with the result that the trademark “W&B” soon became recognized as representing the best of this class of equipment in Australia.

1930

The partnership was converted into a proprietary company.

Dec 1934

Andy Brown departed on an overseas trip which covered Colombo, Egypt, Europe, Britain, United States, Canada, Honolulu, Pago Pago, Fiji and New Zealand and it took him 257 days to return back to Australia.

Although Andy visited a number of engineering works during this trip, skiing the world’s slopes would no doubt have also been a high priority.

WW2

 

Apart from manufacturing its normal range of tools, the factory took a leading role in the production of equipment, tools and gauges for war purposes and was largely responsible for the more important tooling associated with the .303 ammunition. This time it was Andy’s son Bob Brown who followed in his father’s footsteps when he was requisitioned by the government’s Directorate of Machine Tools and Gauges to develop tools and equipment for the war effort at Warren & Brown.

Post war

With the end of the war came the great demand for equipment of all kinds, with the unprecedented expansion of manufacturing industries, especially the motor industry. In the interval between 1944 and 1947, it was considered that the company could profitably enter business outside the engineering field and, for this reason, Brenco Pty. Ltd was registered as a separate company. The name BRENCO arriving from the first two letters of BROWN and the last two letters of WARREN, along with CO for company.

1939 - 1949

Bob Brown – General Manager

Bob Brown became general manager of Warren & Brown in 1939 and managing director in 1947. In 1949 Bob became the first divisional manager of a group of Repco companies. January 1953 saw him leave Warren & Brown to take on the challenge of steering Repco’s flagship, Russell Manufacturing. He later joined Repco’s board and retired from the company in 1978.

1949 - 1961

Bob Black – General Manager

Bob Black – who has started his Warren & Brown apprenticeship in 1927 – was made general manager in 1949. In 1961 he transferred to one-time Warren & Brown sideline, Brenco. He retired after 46 years of service.

Aug 1948

Signal type torque indicating wrench was patented.

1946

The dual signal torque wrench was first patented in 1946 with US and Canadian patents applied in 1948.

May 1949

 

Warren & Brown Pty Ltd became part of the Repco organisation and with the added resources available, the company’s products expanded into the heavier equipment field, such as clutch rebuilders, testers, boring bars and other machines. Andy retired soon after the company joined Repco Ltd in 1949.

1961 - 1966

Ralph Hewitt – General Manager

Assistant general manager and former production chief Ralph Hewitt was appointed general manager, later becoming divisional manager for Warren & Brown, Repco Power and W & B Dynamics. He continued as a Repco divisional manager for companies including Warren & Brown until 1973.

1966 - 1977

Ron Saggers – General Manager

...

Due to its reputation as a quality tool manufacturer, Warren & Brown was approached by Telecom Australia (Telstra) to develop and produce coax cable stripping tools, which set the company on its journey into the telecommunication industry, with many optical fibre management products to follow over the years.

1988

Warren and Brown was listed in the BRW Top 500 Australian Exporters with our Optical Fibre Raceway Ducting.

1997

 

The company changed its name from Warren and Brown and Staff to Warren and Brown Technologies.

2000

Awarded the Telstra Australia Victorian Small / Medium Enterprise Exporter of the Year 2000 and a National finalist.

2009

The announcement of a homegrown National Broadband Network (NBN) spurred on Warren and Brown to build a $4.1m R&D and distribution facility in Melbourne.

Aug 2009

Warren & Brown opened its R&D and manufacturing expansion to provide cutting edge technology for the Australian and overseas FttX (Fibre-to–the-Home/Buisness,etc) markets. The new facility was officially opened on the 27th August at 9.30 am by Senator, the Honourable Stephen Conroy, Federal Minister for Health & the Ageing Nicola Roxon and Parliamentary Secretary for Industry & Trade Ms Marsha Thomson.

2010

The contractor responsible for the integration of all media services in the Burj Khalifa Tower, Bond Communications, sought out Warren & Brown Technologies to develop a new and innovative method of field termination.

2011

Awarded A$198 million NBNCo. Contracts for High-Density Fibre Optic Frames, Sub racks, Fibre Wall Outlets & Customer Premises Field Installable Optical Connectors.

2013-2014

 

Vietnamese telco Viettel fibre-to-the-home (FTTH) project.

The project began to take shape in May 2013 when a contingent of Viettel executives visited Australia and met with management teams from NBN Co and Telstra. The Viettel team immediately recognised the value of the Australian NBN and entered into negotiations with Warren & Brown to develop a trial network in Vietnam.

The two companies then entered into an agreement in April 2014 for a consultation service to roll out the proposed FTTH network, starting with Warren & Brown working with Viettel in the design of the optical distribution network (ODN) and in establishing which passive optical network (PON) architecture would be best suited to urban and rural areas.

May 2017

Warren & Brown Technologies acquires AC Technologies

Expands connectivity infrastructure offering for the New Zealand telecommunications market.

Warren & Brown Technologies Pty Ltd (WBT), a global leader in telecommunications network and connectivity infrastructure has successfully acquired the Auckland based company AC Technologies Limited.

Under a new company name and ownership, AC-WB Technologies will expand its solution offering, as well as continuing to provide a high level of technical support and customer service.

May 2017

Warren & Brown Technologies Pty Ltd (WBT), was inducted into the Victorian Manufacturing Hall of Fame on Tuesday 9th of May 2017, during the Victorian Manufacturing Hall of Fame Gala Dinner and Awards Ceremony at Melbourne’s exclusive Crown Casino Palladium Ballroom.

The Hall of Fame Awards, which were established in 2001, recognise individuals and companies who embrace new technologies and manufacturing techniques, and excel in business innovation. With the theme of Growing Advanced Manufacturing, this year’s awards highlighted outstanding achievements by local businesses and individuals who uphold a high standard of excellence in Victorian manufacturing.

 

2018

Warren & Brown Technologies Pty Ltd (WBT), a global leader in telecommunication networks and connectivity infrastructure, has expanded its global reach by establishing a new sales office in The Netherlands, Europe. The establishment of WBT Europe BV is a significant step, as it allows the company to provide greater technical support, engagement and increased product development, benefiting network operators throughout the region.

 

Dec 2018

The new online shopping destination for connectivity infrastructure solutions

Warren & Brown Technologies (WBT) is pleased to announce the launch of the new WB Networks e-commerce website: wbnetworks.com.au. The newly designed site has a fresh look and feel, creating a user-friendly browsing and shopping experience for its valued customers and business partners.

May 2019

The new WB Tools eCommerce website is now live!

 

 

 

2021

Celebrating 100-years!

We’re here in Australia, providing local technical support, stock availability, as well as fast production and delivery times since 1921.