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Norbar Torque

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Norbar Torque is a United Kingdom-based manufacturer of torque tightening, measurement, and calibration equipment. Norbar is a British torque-tool brand and manufacturer serving industrial and professional users.

Last updated October 30, 2026

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Overview

Norbar Torque, formally associated with Norbar Torque Tools Ltd, is a specialist engineering brand headquartered in Banbury, United Kingdom. It manufactures and distributes equipment used to apply, measure, test, and calibrate torque in industrial fastening applications. Its portfolio includes manual torque wrenches, pneumatic torque multipliers and multipliers, electronic torque analysers, transducers, torque testers, calibration systems, and related accessories. The products are used where controlled fastener preload is important, including aerospace, automotive, heavy engineering, energy, manufacturing, and maintenance operations. The company originated during the Second World War, when William (Bill) Brodey was selling industrial tools and machinery, including honing equipment. Torque wrenches were sold alongside honing machines because incorrect tightening of engine-cylinder-head fasteners could distort cylinder bores. In 1942, Brodey and Ernest Thornitt sought permission from the United Kingdom Ministry of Supply to manufacture torque wrenches domestically. The application was approved partly because British production could support the manufacture of Rolls-Royce Merlin aero engines while reducing reliance on imported tools and vulnerable wartime shipping routes. The resulting business, The North Bar Tool Company, began manufacturing in North Bar Place in Banbury. The name was later shortened to Norbar. After the war, demand associated with Merlin-engine production declined, and the company temporarily diversified into simple household goods such as tables and trays. As industrial activity recovered, it returned to specialist engineering tools, particularly equipment for aerospace and other demanding manufacturing environments. During the 1950s, the involvement of Brodey's sons Ian and John strengthened the company's engineering and commercial capabilities. Ian introduced more systematic component drawings and helped expand the product range, while John became the company's first full-time salesperson. Norbar's technical development was shaped by industrial fastening problems. A 1953 project for GKN involved tools for the Torshear bolting system, which used a splined bolt and a designed shear point to achieve a predetermined tightening result. Norbar commissioned gearbox designer Henry Edward Merritt to develop air-powered gearboxes for the application. Although Torshear itself did not achieve lasting commercial success, the associated gearboxes were adapted with reaction arms and evolved into the Pneutorque pneumatic range and the manually operated Handtorque range. These product families became important parts of Norbar's subsequent offering. The company also developed a long-running torque-measurement capability. Its early testers used spring balances, followed by hydraulic systems and then electronic strain-gauge transducers. A compact static torque meter based on hydraulic measurement remained in service for many years before electronic instruments superseded it. Norbar's first documented electronic torque analyser dates from 1967. Later systems retained the basic arrangement of a transducer connected to a display while adopting computer-based electronics, colour screens, and touch interfaces. Norbar expanded its manufacturing footprint and international service network over time. It moved from its original Banbury facilities to Swan Close in 1969, then to Beaumont Road in 1984. The Beaumont Road site was enlarged repeatedly, but the business eventually required a larger location. Norbar began relocating its headquarters and manufacturing operations to the Wildmere Road site in 2012 and completed the move in 2016. The company also established overseas distribution, service, and calibration operations beginning with Australia in 1996, followed by the United States, New Zealand, Singapore, China, and India. These facilities support customers with regional sales, technical service, and calibration. Calibration h…

History

Norbar's roots date to 1942, when William Brodey and Ernest Thornitt obtained British government permission to manufacture torque wrenches during the Second World War. Brodey had been selling tools and machinery, including honing machines, and recognized that controlled tightening was important in engine production. The Ministry of Supply supported domestic production because torque wrenches were required in the manufacture of Rolls-Royce Merlin aero engines and local manufacture reduced dependence on imported equipment. The business was established as The North Bar Tool Company in Banbury, taking its original name from North Bar Place. The end of the war sharply reduced demand for tools associated with aero-engine production. North Bar temporarily produced household items, including tables and trays, before returning to specialist industrial tools as manufacturing recovered. In 1952, Brodey's son Ian joined after studying mechanical engineering at Loughborough College of Technology. He formalized the company's engineering documentation and supported product development. His brother John joined in 1957 as the first full-time salesperson. A major technical development followed a 1953 project with GKN. GKN's Torshear fastening system required a tool capable of applying high torque to a specially designed bolt. Norbar engaged gearbox specialist Henry Edward Merritt to create air-powered gearboxes. Torshear did not become a lasting commercial success, but Norbar redesigned the equipment with reaction arms. The resulting air-powered tools were called Pneutorque, while manually operated versions became Handtorque. These designs established product families that continued to influence the company's range. Norbar continued to develop torque-wrench mechanisms and measurement equipment. Merritt designed the Slimline mechanism, launched in 1963, which enclosed the break-back mechanism within the wrench body rather than leaving it externally exposed. Variants of the design remained in production for decades. Norbar also progressed from spring-balance torque testers to hydraulic instruments and then electronic systems. The company's first recorded electronic torque analyser dates to 1967 and used a strain-gauged torque transducer connected to a separate display unit. Later instruments applied computer-based electronics and modern graphical interfaces to the same basic measurement concept. The company changed its official name from The North Bar Tool Company to Norbar in 1969, although Norbar had already been used as a telegraphic address. That year it moved to Swan Close in Banbury. The business subsequently relocated to Beaumont Road in 1984, where extensions increased the site to approximately 52,000 square feet. Continued growth eventually required a much larger facility. Norbar exchanged contracts to acquire the Wildmere Road site in March 2012 and completed its move there in July 2016. Calibration became a significant part of Norbar's technical identity. In November 1989, the company became the first torque-tool manufacturer in the United Kingdom to have a torque laboratory accredited by the National Measurement Accreditation Service. The United Kingdom Accreditation Service later assumed the relevant accreditation function. Norbar's UK laboratory, identified as laboratory 0256, has an accredited scope from 0.005 newton-metres to 108,500 newton-metres. Norbar began establishing international sales and service companies in 1996, starting in Australia. It later expanded into the United States, New Zealand, Singapore, and China, with a wholly owned trading and service company opening in Mumbai, India, on 1 January 2012. Several overseas operations also maintain calibration laboratories accredited by national or regional third-party bodies. This network allows Norbar to combine equipment sales with local technical support and calibration. The business remained controlled and managed by members of the Brodey family and their descendants until Snap-on Incorporated acquired it in May 2017. The reported purchase price was $72 million. Norbar now operates as a specialist torque-tools business within Snap-on's professional-equipment portfolio, retaining its Banbury base and its focus on torque tightening, measurement, calibration, and related industrial applications.

  • 2025

    Neill Brodey retires

    [1]

    Neill Brodey, a descendant of the founder and long-serving director, retired from the company.

  • 2017

    Acquired by Snap-on

    [1]

    Snap-on Incorporated acquired Norbar Torque Tools in May 2017 for a reported $72 million.

  • 2017

    Becomes part of Snap-on Incorporated

  • 2016

    Relocation to Wildmere Road completed

    [1]

    The phased transfer of Norbar's headquarters and manufacturing operations to the Wildmere Road facility was completed.

  • 2012

    Wildmere Road relocation project starts

    [1]

    Norbar contracted to acquire a larger Banbury site and opened its Indian trading and service company in Mumbai.

  • 1996

    International office expansion begins

    [1]

    Norbar established its first overseas company in Australia, beginning a wider sales, service, and calibration network.

  • 1989

    Torque laboratory receives UK accreditation

    [1]

    Norbar's torque laboratory became the first at a UK torque-tool manufacturer to receive accreditation from the National Measurement Accreditation Service.

  • 1984

    Move to Beaumont Road

    [1]

    Norbar moved its operations to Beaumont Road in Banbury, later expanding the site substantially.

  • 1969

    The Norbar name becomes official

    [1]

    The company changed its official name from The North Bar Tool Company to Norbar and moved to Swan Close in Banbury.

  • 1967

    First recorded electronic torque analyser

    [1]

    Norbar documented an electronic analyser using a strain-gauged torque transducer and a separate display unit.

Products and positioning

A specialist, engineering-led torque-control brand focused on accurate fastening, torque measurement, calibration, and industrial service support.

  • Torque wrenches

    Manual torque wrenches

    Norbar's manual torque-wrench range is designed for controlled tightening where the operator must apply a specified torque to a fastener. The range developed from early external break-back mechanisms to enclosed mechanisms such as the Slimline design. These tools serve workshop, manufacturing, maintenance, automotive, and aerospace applications. Tools for applying controlled torque to fasteners.

  • Pneumatic torque tools

    Pneutorque

    Pneutorque is Norbar's family of air-driven torque tools. The range grew out of gearbox work originally undertaken for GKN's Torshear fastening system and was later adapted with reaction arms. Pneumatic torque tools are intended for repeatable, high-torque industrial fastening where manual tools are impractical or too slow.

  • Manual torque multipliers

    Handtorque

    Handtorque refers to manually operated torque-multiplication equipment derived from Norbar's gearbox development for the Torshear project. These tools increase the torque available from an operator while supporting controlled tightening in applications that require more output than a conventional hand wrench can provide.

  • Torque-wrench mechanism · 1963

    Slimline

    The Slimline mechanism was introduced in 1963 as a compact torque-wrench design that placed the break-back mechanism inside the wrench body. Variations of the mechanism remained part of Norbar's product development and continued to underpin some torque-wrench models.

  • Torque measurement · 1967

    Electronic torque analysers

    Norbar's electronic torque analysers combine torque transducers, strain-gauge measurement, and display electronics to assess applied torque. The earliest documented system dates from 1967; later generations adopted computer-based electronics, colour displays, and touch-sensitive interfaces for testing and verification.

  • Calibration services · 1989

    Torque calibration laboratories

    Norbar provides torque calibration through its UK laboratory and several overseas facilities. The UK laboratory is identified as UKAS laboratory 0256 and has an accredited scope from 0.005 newton-metres to 108,500 newton-metres. Regional laboratories support customers with local measurement and service capability.

  • Torque multipliers

    Equipment for multiplying the torque applied during tightening operations.

  • Electronic torque tools and torque testing equipment

    Products for electronic torque applications, testing, and calibration.

Brand decisions

  • 2017

    Acquisition by Snap-onM&A

    Background

    Norbar remained a family-controlled torque-tool specialist until the company was acquired in May 2017.

    Action taken

    Snap-on Incorporated purchased Norbar Torque Tools and incorporated the business into its professional-tools group.

    Aftermath

    Norbar continued operating from Banbury as a specialist torque-equipment business under Snap-on ownership.

    Reported acquisition price. $72 million (May 2017 acquisition)

    Source

  • 2012

    Expansion of manufacturing capacity and international serviceStrategy

    Background

    Norbar had outgrown its expanded Beaumont Road premises and was also building a wider overseas sales and service network.

    Action taken

    The company acquired the Wildmere Road site for a larger headquarters and factory and opened a wholly owned Indian trading and service company in Mumbai.

    Aftermath

    The new site enabled the company to consolidate operations in Banbury, while the international network added regional distribution, service, and calibration capability.

    Source

  • 1989

    Investment in accredited torque calibrationStrategy

    Background

    Accurate torque verification was becoming an important part of industrial fastening and tool-service requirements.

    Action taken

    Norbar established and accredited a dedicated torque laboratory through the UK's national measurement-accreditation system.

    Aftermath

    Calibration became a core part of Norbar's technical proposition, later supported by accredited facilities in selected overseas markets.

    Source

  • 1953

    Development of tooling for the Torshear fastening systemProduct launch

    Background

    GKN required a high-torque air-driven tool for a fastening system that used a splined bolt and a designed shear point.

    Action taken

    Norbar commissioned Henry Edward Merritt to design suitable air-powered gearboxes and subsequently adapted the design with reaction arms.

    Aftermath

    The Torshear system was not commercially successful, but the resulting gearbox technology evolved into the Pneutorque and Handtorque product families.

    Source

Recent events

  • 2025

    Neill Brodey retires from Norbar[1]

    Leadership change

    Neill Brodey, a descendant of founder William Brodey and a long-serving company director, retired from Norbar in 2025.

  • 2017

    Norbar Torque acquired by Snap-on[1]

    M&A

    Snap-on Incorporated acquired Norbar Torque Tools in May 2017, bringing the Banbury-based torque-tool manufacturer into the Snap-on group.

  • 2016

    Norbar completes relocation to larger Banbury facility[1]

    Other

    Norbar completed the phased relocation of its headquarters and manufacturing operations to the larger Wildmere Road site in Banbury.

Sources2 sources

  1. 1Norbar Torqueen.wikipedia.org
  2. 2Norbar official websitenorbar.com

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