| Type | Public |
|---|---|
| Traded as | TYO: 6448 |
| Industry | Printers, Machinery |
| Founded | 1908 (as Yasui Sewing Machine Co.) |
| Founder(s) | Kanekichi Yasui |
| Headquarters | Nagoya, Japan |
| Key people | Yoshihiro Yasui (Chairman) Toshikazu Koike (President) |
| Products | Computer printers Multi-function Centers Fax machines Sewing machines Electronic typewriters Knitting machines Domestic appliances Machine tools |
| Employees | 23,809 (consolidated) 3,125 (non-consolidated) |
| Website | www.brother.com |
Brother Industries, Ltd. (ブラザー工業株式会社 Burazā Kōgyō Kabushiki-gaisha) (TYO: 6448) is a diversified Japanese company that produces or imports a wide variety of products including printers, sewing machines, large machine tools, label printers, and typewriters, fax machines, and other computer-related electronics. It markets its multifunction printers as Multi-Function Centers (MFCs). MFC lines of printers include 5-in-1 models awarded with PC Magazine’s Editor’s Choice Award for best multi-function printers. The MFCs often feature a printer, a scanner, a fax machine, a copier, and a PC fax.[1] Brother distributes its products both under its own name and under OEM agreements with other companies.
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Brother's history began in 1908 when the Yasui Sewing Machine Co. was established in Nagoya, Japan. In 1954, Brother International Corporation (U.S.A.) was established as their first overseas sales affiliate. In 1958 a European regional sales company was established in Dublin. The corporate name was finally changed to Brother Industries, Ltd. in 1962. Brother entered the printer market during its long association with Centronics.
In 1968 the company moved its UK headquarters to Audenshaw, Manchester, after acquiring the Jones Sewing Machine Company, a long established British sewing machine maker
As of 2004, Brother's annual turnover was in excess of 420 billion yen.
In April 2010, the sewing divisions of Brother Industries around Europe were consolidated into one larger company called "Brother Sewing Machines Europe GmbH". With a turnover in excess of €80million, it is the 4th biggest company under the Brother Industries Ltd umbrella. Brother now imports all its sewing machines from China.
Brother launched their first integrated, pan European advertising campaign in Autumn 2010 for their A3 printer range. Titled ‘141%’, referring to the ratio between paper sizes A3 and A4.
Brother sponsored Manchester City Football Club from 1989 until 1999 - one of the longest unbroken sponsorship deals of any English football club.