Beginning in 1953, BWI has gone from strength to strength and there’s no sign of slowing

This year marks 70 years since the Australian owned and operated Brown and Watson International (BWI) was founded.
Today, the company offers several innovative and market-leading brands operating within the automotive electrical and portable power management spaces.
BWI remained privately owned until 2015, when former Chief Executive Officer and majority stakeholder, Steve Waterham, retired and handed the reins over to GUD Holdings Limited – an ASX200 listed group comprising of a number of dynamic product companies based in Australia and New Zealand, including Ryco, Wesfil, Davey, Goss, DBA, IMGroup, Griffith’s Equipment, AA Gaskets and NZ Gaskets.
Under GUD’s leadership, BWI’s brands have continued to flourish in their respective marketplaces and achieve record growth for the company.
With offices and representation across all states of Australia and New Zealand, Brown and Watson is headquartered at a 17,000sqm facility located in Knoxfield, Melbourne.
Incorporating an automated, paperless warehouse and production facility, its extensive range of products are assembled, packed and processed to service the needs of customers in the aftermarket and OEM distribution chains.
The company’s high-tech research and development center includes electronic testing laboratories, specialised quality and stress testing chambers, a high-tech photometric light testing laboratory, CAD and 3D printing capabilities and more.
BWI says these facilities provide the ISO 9001:2015 certified company with a means to design, engineer, test and distribute products that not only hold their own on the world stage, but in many instances lead the way.
BWI has received many supply awards and says it really enjoys providing innovative solutions to customers, while forming enduring relationships with suppliers and stakeholders along the path to providing buyers with the best products and services possible.
BWI says it defines innovation as “change that adds value,” and whether it is Narva equipping you with ‘The Vision To Go Further’ or Projecta helping you be ‘More Switched On,’ BWI says innovation is the tenor behind its comprehensive product ranges.
Not limited to product development, the company says this mantra flows through its entire BWI organisation – from logistics efficacy to strong marketing support, frequently praised customer service and a very capable sales force.
Amongst BWI’s stable of established industry names are Narva, Projecta, Philips Automotive, OSRAM, Big Red Gear and Maxi-Lite.

Narva
Today more than 5,000 individual part numbers make up the Narva range.
Through innovation and market development, BWI says Narva is a market leader in the field of automotive lighting and electrical equipment, servicing original equipment and aftermarket markets as diverse as automotive, light and heavy transport, 4WD, recreational and emergency vehicles, agriculture, mining and marine.
The company says ‘The Vision to Go Further’ motto represents Narva’s passion to deliver the world’s highest quality vehicle lighting products that meet and exceed customer expectations.

Projecta
Projecta was acquired by BWI in 2002 and from small beginnings the brand has grown to today be recognised as one of Australasia’s leaders in high quality battery maintenance and battery power products.
Its products include battery chargers, solar panels and controllers, power management, jump starters, inverters, booster cables, battery terminals and cables and battery maintenance products.
‘More Switched On’ is strongly promoted to ensure Projecta products live up to customers’ expectations of better products at great prices.

Big Red Gear
BWI says that Big Red Gear, one of Australia’s latest ranges in LED driving lights, light bars, work lamps and globes, is making a big impact in the Australasian market.
Attractively priced, powerful and efficient using free form reflector technology coupled with the latest high wattage XML Cree LEDs, BWI says Big Red Gear products are ideally suited to the 4WD, SUV and transport markets.
Big Red Gear LED lamps are robust in construction with precision cast aluminium bodies, “virtually unbreakable” polycarbonate lenses, stainless steel mounting hardware and a lens protector.

KT Cables
Through a process of constant monitoring and evaluation, BWI says KT Cables continues to grow and expand its operations – not only as a supplier but also in offering customised solutions for companies requiring fastening and terminal products.

Philips
For over 100 years, Philips-branded lighting solutions have been at the forefront of automotive lighting technology.
According to BWI, unrivalled design innovation and rigorous production standards ensure that when a customer buys Philips, they buy quality.

Other Brands
The BWI portfolio also includes MaxiLite, OSRAM, Twisted Throttle, Denali Electronics, Griffiths Equipment, Boab and Vision X. Additionally, BWI is a trusted supplier to many leading OEM brands in the commercial vehicle industry, recreational sector and for emergency service equipment manufacturers.

For more from Brown and Watson, visit www.brownwatson.com.au