About us

History

In 1854 Doctor Brown developed a cough medicine which he called "Dr. Brown's Cough Bottle". When in 1914 his thriving company was registered as a limited liability company, he named it B.C.B. Limited.

Original Browns Cough Bottle packaging

Timeline

  1. 1854 - Doctor Brown invented his famous "Dr. Brown's Cough Bottle".
  2. 1870 - Manufacturing of other medical medicaments.
  3. 1914 - Registered as a Limited Company, BCB Ltd.
  4. 1949 - BCB purchased by Deryck P. Howell.
  5. 1952 - Designed and developed the world's first life raft survival equipment.
  6. 1958 - Developed new life saving equipment for the UK Ministry of Defence.
  7. 1964 - The world's first lightweight survival ration designed and manufactured.
  8. 1979 - The International Division established to concentrate on the Marine, Military and Export market by Andrew R. Howell.
  9. 1980 - Outdoor Division established. First Queens Award for Export Achievement awarded.
  10. 1993 - Move to present modern factory site in Cardiff. Awarded second Queens Award for Export Achievement.
  11. 2000 - New offices at Clydesmuir Road.
  12. 2003 - Design of TACCS Situational Awareness software started in collaboration with University.
  13. 2004 - Continued development of the highest quality products, including the Wall Breaching System, Chilly Water Cooler, Mistral Cooling Vest and Crusader Cooking System.
  14. 2010 to present - Continued development of innovative products, including the Blast Boxers.

Legal

BCB is a trading name of BCB International Limited, registered in the UK.

Company Reg. No. 1442485

Registered Office: Clydesmuir Road, Cardiff, UK, CF24 2QS.

What we do

In the jungle, in the middle of a desert, half way up a mountain - wherever you are, you can rely on BCB's dependable, high quality products.

We design and manufacture a wide range of equipment including:

  • Light engineering - hand tools, M.O.E. etc
  • Innovative clothing
  • Creams, powders and liquid formulations
  • Body armour
  • Food and nutritional products
  • Webbing and load carrying

We also pack many types of rations, first aid kits and survival packs. BCB's Continuous and Never Ending Innovation policy, (CANEI for short), has resulted in hundreds of quality innovative products, many of which were, and continue to be developed in partnership with the world's elite forces.

Troops departing helecopter

During the past four decades, BCB has designed and manufactured specialised equipment to enhance the Special Forces soldiers "Survivability" and "Sustainability". These products are now available to Land and Air forces, under Future Soldier Programmes.

Another vital requirement of the Future Soldier is C4i for dismounted infantry. Our TACCS Situational Awareness system, (see TACCS C4i), effectively brings C4i to the front-line. It is robust, proven and available now. It will have a major impact in improving battlefield effectiveness and reducing "Blue-on-Blue" casualties. It is easy for the infantry to use as an aid in the planning, training for and execution of combat missions. It was designed by soldiers for soldiers.

Design

We like to work and develop new unique products, within our core competency. As such, we work closely with Special Forces Units throughout the world; explorers who venture to the extremes and future soldier programmes.

We partner with Universities and Colleges of further education to enhance our design capability. This design, as long as we believe in the product, we normally undertake free of charge.

If you have any suggestions for improvements to existing products please email us.

Production
Textiles

Manufacturing

Our Cardiff headquarters is approx 30, 000 sq. ft / 2,787 sq.m.

We have expertise in the following:

  • Sewn Products
  • Light Engineering
  • Food Preparation
  • Creams, Powder, Liquid Formulation & Production
  • Kit Packaging
BCB Cardiff Headquarters - arial view