What Twiflex does

Twiflex Ltd designs, manufactures, and supplies advanced industrial braking technologies and power-transmission components from its headquarters in Bedford, United Kingdom. The company offers the world's largest range of pneumatically-, hydraulically-, and mechanically-applied industrial disc brake calipers, with notable proprietary lines including the MR series (in production since 1954), the VMS spring-applied mine-hoist safety brake, patented controlled-release hydraulics for real-time torque adjustment, the MXEA electrically-released spring brake, and the integrated TLB (Turning, Locking, Braking) system for marine propulsion shafts. Complementary products include clutch couplings, Layrub and multi-point flexible couplings, locking devices, hydraulic power units, and IP67 brake monitoring sensors.

The company operates a B2B model selling engineered hardware (calipers, couplings, clutches, integrated packages) and aftermarket service/refurbishment, with prices on standard catalog items (e.g., MS calipers at $648-$835) supplemented by quote-based pricing for custom OEM packages. Go-to-market combines direct regional sales offices in the UK, USA (Wichita Falls, TX), and Germany (Heidelberg), a global distributor network of nearly 30 agents, and a 2023-launched direct e-store with free shipping in the UK/Europe/USA. Customer segments are vertical-industrial: Metals & Mining, Energy (wind/tidal), Marine (naval and commercial), Elevators & Escalators, and Entertainment/theme parks.

Twiflex is a wholly owned subsidiary of Regal Rexnord (NYSE: RRX), operating within the Altra Industrial Motion Couplings, Clutches & Brakes Division. The organization employs approximately 75 full-time staff, including 25 qualified engineers, and is ISO 9001:2015 certified by Lloyd's Register. It was founded in 1946 as Compression Ignition Ltd by Charles W. Chapman and A. V. Nicolle.

Name

Twiflex

Legal name

Twiflex Ltd

Website

https://twiflex.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1946

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Twiflex designs and manufactures industrial disc brake calipers, clutch couplings, flexible couplings, and integrated braking systems for marine, metals/mining, energy, elevator, and entertainment OEMs, operating globally as a wholly owned subsidiary of Regal Rexnord (via Altra Industrial Motion).

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Industrial Braking Systems

NAICS

Speed Changer, Industrial High-Speed Drive, and Gear Manufacturing (333612)

akta.pro primary industry

Brakes, Clutches & Couplings (Electromagnetic Brakes, Torque Limiters) (IMAGACAK)

akta.pro secondary industry

Linear Motion & Mechanical Power Transmission (Ball/roller screws, linear guides, bearings, couplings) (IMAHAGAM)

Keywords

• Industrial disc brakes
• Brake calipers
• Clutch couplings
• Flexible couplings
• Industrial braking systems

Headquarters

HQ city

Twickenham

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Supply Chain, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Industrial disc brake calipers and systems: Sale of pneumatically, hydraulically, and mechanically applied industrial disc brake calipers - the core product line. Includes direct acting and spring applied calipers in various series (MR, MS, MU, MX, GMR, GMX, VCS, VKSD, VMS, VS, T2, T20, T35, T40, VH, VKHD, VMH).
2. Brake accessories and spares: Disc and hub assemblies, electro hydraulic power units, monitoring units, and spare parts sold through e-store.
3. Complete brake packages: Compact hydraulic brake packages combining Twiflex spring applied, hydraulically released calipers with LCS hydraulic power unit on customer-specific mounting base.
4. Service, repair and refurbishment: Return-to-base refurbishment, on-site audit and surveys, strip and repair services for power transmission products including paint to marine/C5M level.
5. Flexible couplings and shafts: Layrub couplings, multi-point couplings, shaft arrangements, and clutch couplings for power transmission applications.
6. TLB Turning, Locking and Braking systems: Integrated systems combining turning drive, locking device, and shaft brake for marine propulsion applications.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Twiflex designs, manufactures, and supplies industrial disc brake calipers and complete braking systems, offering the world's largest range of pneumatically-, hydraulically-, and mechanically-applied disc brake calipers. Its product portfolio also includes clutch couplings, flexible couplings and shafts, locking devices, and integrated Turning, Locking, and Braking (TLB) systems for industries such as metals, mining, energy, elevators, entertainment, and marine.

Product overview

Twiflex is an industrial power transmission company offering the world's largest range of pneumatically-, hydraulically-, and mechanically-applied industrial disc brake calipers, along with a comprehensive portfolio of clutches, couplings, and integrated braking solutions. The product portfolio centers on disc brake systems (featuring multiple caliper series including GMR, GMX, MR, MS, MU, MX, T-series, VH, VKHD, VMH, VCS, VKSD, VMS, and VS) available in direct-acting and spring-applied configurations, complemented by brake accessories (disc and hub assemblies, electro hydraulic power units, monitoring units) and complete hydraulic brake packages. Additional product lines include clutch couplings (Air-Start Clutch, FlexiClutch, Link Clutch), flexible couplings and shafts (Layrub Couplings, Multi-Point Couplings, Shaft Arrangements), locking devices for shaft maintenance safety, and the TLB integrated Turning Locking Braking system for marine propulsion. The company operates an e-commerce store for direct product purchasing and provides global distribution through approximately 30 distributors worldwide.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• MR Series Disc Brake Calipers Original Twiflex disc brake caliper in continuous production since 1954, designed for disc thicknesses of 12.7mm or 25.4mm with minimum disc diameter of 250mm (460mm for MR2). For industrial stop, hold, and tension control applications.
• MS Series Disc Brake Calipers Industrial disc brake calipers for use with brake disc thickness of 12.7mm and minimum disc diameter of 250mm, available in direct-acting and spring-applied configurations. For industrial braking applications.
• MU Series Disc Brake Calipers The smallest Twiflex disc brake caliper designed for light-duty stop and hold functions, compatible with disc thickness of 8mm (or 12.7mm with adapted actuator) with minimum disc diameter of 150mm.
• MX Series Disc Brake Calipers Industrial disc brake calipers available in MX13, MX25, MX30, and MX40 variants for disc thicknesses of 12.7mm, 25.4mm, 30mm, and 40mm respectively, with minimum disc diameter of 300mm.
• GMR Series Disc Brake Calipers Industrial disc brake calipers available in both direct-acting and spring-applied configurations, for use with brake disc thicknesses of 25.4mm or 40mm with a minimum disc diameter of 610mm.
• GMX Series Disc Brake Calipers Industrial disc brake calipers similar to the MX type with larger brake pad area, available in GMX25, GMX30, and GMX40 variants for disc thicknesses of 25.4mm, 30mm, and 40mm with a minimum disc diameter of 610mm.
• T2 Series Disc Brake Calipers Two-piece disc brake caliper designed for minimum disc thickness of 5mm with minimum disc diameter of 120mm.
• T20 Series Disc Brake Calipers Two-piece disc brake caliper designed for minimum disc thickness of 12.7mm (optionally 8mm) with minimum disc diameter of 300mm.
• T35 Top Drive Caliper Brake Top drive disc brake caliper designed for specific industrial applications requiring top-mounted drive mechanisms.
• T40 Series Disc Brake Calipers Two-piece disc brake caliper designed for minimum disc thickness of 20mm with minimum disc diameter of 300mm.
• VH Series Disc Brake Calipers Industrial disc brake caliper consisting of two modules connected by U-shaped mounting plates, designed for disc thicknesses from 38mm to 50mm with minimum disc diameter of 1000mm.
• VKHD Series Disc Brake Calipers Two-piece hydraulic disc brake caliper designed for minimum disc thickness of 20mm with minimum disc diameter of 1000mm.
• VMH Series Disc Brake Calipers Industrial disc brake caliper consisting of two modules with central mounting plate, designed for minimum disc thickness of 38mm with minimum disc diameter of 1500mm.
• VCS Series Spring-Applied Disc Brake Calipers Spring-applied disc brake calipers available as VCS-Mk4 (two-piece design for minimum disc thickness of 20mm) and VCS-FL (single floating spring module for limited space or axial disc movement of ±6mm).
• VKSD Series Spring-Applied Disc Brake Calipers Spring-applied disc brake calipers consisting of two spring modules for minimum disc thickness of 20mm with minimum disc diameter of 1000mm. Available in VKSD-FL floating caliper configuration.
• VMS Series Spring-Applied Safety Brake Calipers World's most powerful spring-applied safety brake for mine hoist applications; available in VMS3-SPS (improved braking force), VMS2 (two-module design), and VMSDP (floating caliper for axial disc movement of ±10mm).
• VS Series Spring-Applied Disc Brake Calipers Spring-applied disc brake calipers consisting of two modules connected by U-shaped mounting plates; originally developed for the mining industry.
• Disc and Hub Assemblies Standard brake discs and associated hubs produced in various configurations, available pre-drilled or finished to specific mounting or drive shaft arrangements.
• Electro Hydraulic Power Units (LCS and MP Series) Power units for operating hydraulic disc brakes, including the LCS series (independent units for simple on/off control) and MP series (modular design for advanced brake control applications).
• Brake Monitoring Units Monitoring options for brake calipers including IP67 inductive and analog proximity sensors for brake status and pad condition, and electromechanical switches for single or multiple function units.
• Hydraulic Brake Packages Complete brake packages combining Twiflex spring-applied, hydraulically-released caliper brakes with LCS hydraulic power units on custom mounting bases, providing single-source convenience with braking forces from 6.8 kN to 119 kN.
• Air-Start Clutch Air-start clutch coupling where the drum mounts on the drive machine and the hub with flexible friction shoes forms the output side; air pressure moves the shoes outward against the rotating drum to engage.
• FlexiClutch Combination of a soft flexible coupling and a centrifugal clutch with balanced friction shoes carried by flexible cylindrical blocks in a central hub, providing torsional flexibility and damping.
• Link Clutch Shift clutch with separate drive and output parts completely disconnected at standstill; output drum connected to hub via link pairs and rubber bushes with adjustable engagement speed control.
• Locking Devices Manual shaft locking devices for safe maintenance operations, available as axial locking (using holes in disc face) or radial locking (using tapered pawl engaging slots in disc periphery), with forces up to 500 kN.
• Layrub Couplings Long-standing coupling design based on twelve standard blocks covering low to medium power ranges with torques up to 64 kNm; blocks can be used in parallel for high-speed operation or in series for torsional softness.
• Multi-Point Couplings Flexible couplings using preloaded rubber buffers from the Layrub series in machined steel housings, with 8, 9, 10, or 12 buffers per flange; standard series covers torques up to 64 kNm.
• Shaft Arrangements Coupling-shaft-coupling configurations including coupling-disc-coupling (closed-coupled assembly), coupling-fixed shaft-coupling, coupling-wedge shaft-coupling, and universal joint configurations.
• TLB Turning, Locking and Braking System Integrated Turning, Locking and Braking system combining turning drive, locking device, and shaft brake with power unit and control panel; available as continuous rotation or index system for marine propulsion applications, with torques up to 454 kNm and turning speeds up to 2.6 RPM.
• Service, Repair and Refurbishment Return-to-base refurbishment services including in-house strip, survey, repair, and paint to marine/C5M level, plus on-site audits and surveys for power transmission products such as disc brakes, couplings, and locking devices.
• MXEA Electrically Released Brake Electrically released, spring-applied brake with patented automatic wear adjustment maintaining constant air gap and brake torque; features 175W disc motor and control unit suitable for any AC voltage, configured on the MX caliper platform.

Quantifiable outcome

• Standard brake packages range from 6.8kN to 119kN braking force
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers6 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature8 records

Partnerships

Four partnerships are on record, tiered core and flagship.

• Intertech b.v.coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 1 January 2020Local distribution partner for Twiflex in the Netherlands, supplying brakes to major offshore winch manufacturers for ship-to-ship towing winch applications.
• Stieber GmbHcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 1 January 2016Stieber GmbH, a specialist for overrunning clutches, brakes, and couplings and a company of the Altra Industrial Motion Group, offers the complete industrial brakes range of the globally leading Twiflex brand in Germany.
• Regal RexnordflagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerTwiflex is a wholly owned subsidiary of Regal Rexnord (Altra Industrial Motion). Part of Altra Couplings, Clutches & Brakes Division. The parent company provides global corporate infrastructure and brand positioning for the marine power transmission solutions.
• Altra Industrial MotionflagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerTwiflex is part of Altra Industrial Motion, a leading global designer and producer of mechanical power transmission and motion control components. Part of Altra Couplings, Clutches & Brakes Division.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Dellner Bubenzer: Industrial disc and drum brake manufacturer serving cranes, port equipment, mining, and wind energy. Closest direct competitor to Twiflex in industrial disc brake calipers with overlapping product architecture (spring-applied, hydraulic, pneumatic) and target verticals.
• Bibby Turboflex: Sister company under Altra Industrial Motion making flexible couplings and power transmission products. Directly comparable in flexible coupling technology (Layrub range) and marine/industrial applications.
• Coremo Ocmea: Italian manufacturer of industrial brakes and clutches for cranes, marine, and heavy industry. Comparable in pneumatic, hydraulic, and spring-applied caliper offerings serving similar safety-critical industrial applications.
• Stieber GmbH: German specialist for overrunning clutches, brakes, and couplings, part of Altra Industrial Motion. Distributes Twiflex brakes in Germany and offers competing brake and coupling products in the same industrial niche.
• Sibre: German specialist in industrial disc brakes and drum brakes for cranes, wind turbines, and mining. Directly competes with Twiflex in spring-applied caliper technology and shares similar German industrial customer base.
• Wichita Clutch: Sister company under Altra Industrial Motion within Regal Rexnord, manufacturing industrial clutches and brakes. Closely related product lines (pneumatic clutches, industrial brakes) and shared parent company make this an inherent internal peer.
• Hindon Industries: Industrial disc brake specialist serving crane, mining, and steel mill applications. Comparable product range and target market in heavy-duty industrial braking with overlapping safety-critical use cases.
• Pintsch Bubenzer: German manufacturer of industrial disc brakes for cranes, rail, and heavy machinery with a similar caliper-based product range. Comparable in terms of legacy industrial braking technology and target applications in mining, ports, and rail.

Broad incumbents

• Bosch Rexroth: Global leader in industrial motion control and hydraulics. Competes broadly in industrial braking and drive systems as part of its factory automation portfolio, offering integrated solutions to OEMs in mining, marine, and heavy industry.
• Eaton Corporation: Diversified industrial manufacturer offering motion control products including industrial clutches and brakes. Serves similar heavy industry verticals (mining, metals, energy) as Twiflex but with broader product portfolio.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/twiflexbrakes
• Facebookfacebook.com/Twiflex-102979358335809
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/twiflex

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Twiflex