A long-established Crewe engineering company has closed its doors after more than five decades in business, bringing an end to a remarkable chapter in the town's industrial history.

Newbrook Engineering (Crewe) Ltd, Quakers Coppice, ceased trading in June 2026 after 53 years, with managing director Kevin Williams citing a series of financial challenges that made the business unsustainable.

Mr Williams said the company was hit hard when Middlewich-based contractor Pochin went into administration owing Newbrook Engineering more than £42,000.

The impact was compounded by the effects of the Covid-19 pandemic, rising taxes and a decline in customers.

The company was founded in 1973 by Gerald Newbrook, who left his job at Manweb to establish his own engineering business.

Newbrook Engineering (Crewe), Quakers Coppice, ceased trading in June 2026 after 53 years, with managing director Kevin Williams citing a series of financial challenges that made the business unsustainable (Photo: Jonathan White).

Initially producing domestic gates and small trailers, the firm achieved early success through the invention of its Pathtidy Container system – mini skips designed for utility companies and local authorities carrying out roadworks.

The innovative product proved popular across the country, with major customers including the South Eastern Gas Board, Sheffield City Council and several local authorities in southern England.

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A new factory was built on Crewe Gates Farm Industrial Estate in 1980, allowing the business to expand and create local jobs.

One of the company's most influential figures was Bill Herriman, who joined after the closure of Samuel Jackson Engineering in Wistaston and later became a director when the business incorporated in 1983.

Following Mr Newbrook's retirement as managing director in 2000, Mr Herriman led the company until his death from cancer in 2013. His passing was deeply felt by colleagues and customers alike.

Kevin Williams, who joined the company straight from school in 1982, subsequently took over as managing director, supported by his sister Jane Williams, a qualified accountant and company director.

Under Kevin's leadership, Newbrook Engineering continued to attract customers and maintain its reputation for quality workmanship. However, despite efforts to secure a buyer ahead of his retirement, no successor could be found.

Reflecting on the closure, Mr Newbrook said the company had provided steady employment for generations of local workers, with staffing levels reaching 11 employees at its peak during the 1990s.

Over the years, thousands of tonnes of steel passed through the factory, being transformed into products ranging from small fabrications to structural steelwork for major industrial buildings.

The closure marks the loss of another traditional engineering business in the Crewe area, where many similar firms that once formed the backbone of the local economy have disappeared over recent decades.

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For Newbrook Engineering, June 2026 marks the end of a proud 53-year legacy built on innovation, craftsmanship and service to customers across the UK.

READ MORE: Crewe restaurant site closes paving way for new Wetherspoon pub.

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