Multi-million pound investment to create 100 jobs at defence business

Huddersfield-based David Brown Defence (DB Defence) has secured a significant investment into the business from its parent group.

The exact financial terms of the deal have not been disclosed but, the firm says this is a “multi-million pound investment.”

It adds this will enhance DB Defence’s overall capability and capacity and lead to the creation of 100 new jobs in 2024/25 at the company’s design and manufacturing facility.

It will help ensure vital contracts are completed on time and delivered to future schedules.

DB Defence has developed land and marine gear systems for the defence industry for more than 100 years.

It is the original designer and manufacturer of gear systems for military vehicles such as the Challenger 2 tank, Titan and Trojan and CVR(T), and power transmission systems for maritime vessels such as the Type 26 Global Combat Ship.

The business explains gear systems for these complex military platforms take years to engineer, manufacture, assemble and test and the investment will strengthen its ability to complete that work.

DB Defence currently employs 382 people at its Park Works facility in Huddersfield.

Mike Helme, managing director, said: “The investment comes at a time when defence is crucial to our national security.

“The capital will continue to strengthen our capabilities at the Park Works manufacturing facility to enable us to deliver on our land and marine programmes both now and into the future.”

DB Defence is part of David Brown Santasalo, which is a group of global companies engineering, manufacturing and supporting industrial gearboxes for industries including paper, oil, gas, mining, minerals, marine and port operations and rail.

The business can trace its roots back to the 1860s when it was founded as a pattern making concern, specialising in gearwheel patterns for cast gears.