LEEDS, ENGLAND — Prince Edward, Duke of Kent, visited the 4B Braime Group on May 28 at the company’s headquarters and principle manufacturing factory in Leeds, England.

This year marks the company’s 130^th in business.

Prince Edward, the Duke of Kent, first cousin of Queen Elizabeth, toured the Braime factory, a landmark grade-2 listed building where period features and historic machines can still be seen next to ultra-modern automated production lines.

The factory tour was followed by a presentation of a plaque and buffet in the canteen with 4B’s employees.

“It is a great honor to receive the Duke,” said Nicholas Braime, chairman of the Braime Group.

This is the second royal visit in the company’s 130-year history, the last being a Royal visit in 1917 by Princess Mary to open the first canteen in the country built for female employees.

The company was founded in 1888 by T.F Braime, (later joined by his brother J.H Braime), to manufacture drip and force feed oilcans. Many of the designs were patented and sold worldwide, particularly to the railway industry. Around 1900, the company began to specialize in the new technology of deep drawn steel pressings, manufacturing parts for the consumer, military and automotive industries. The company also began manufacturing pressed seamless steel elevator buckets, issuing its first catalogue in 1908 offering over 350 sizes.

The 1950s also saw the incorporation of the firm into T.F. & J.H. Braime Holdings PLC, which obtained a full quote on the London Stock Exchange. The company is now listed on the London Aim Market but remains family controlled and managed.

The company’s 4B division, which specializes in the provision of components for material handling industries, was founded in the 1970s.  Starting out with mechanical components, such as elevator buckets, belts and bolts, the 4B division soon launched its electronics range specializing in level controls, intelligent sensors and safety control systems that prevent costly downtime and reduce the risk of explosions in hazardous areas.

The 4B Braime Group has since established itself as a worldwide industry leader for material handling and electronic monitoring components. With subsidiaries in the United States, France, Germany, South Africa, Australia, Thailand and China — along with a worldwide network of distributors, 4B can provide practical solutions for any application no matter the location.