Geared for precision
Meet Crown Engineering
The team at the forefront of engineering for more than 100 years
The Crown Engineering name is one that’s become synonymous with precision. We’re a leading provider of engineered gears, gearboxes, transmission parts and industrial components here in Australia and across the globe.
It comes back to our workmanship, extensive knowledge, and 100 years of providing precision.
Built on the back of four generations of Suchtings
Established all the way back in 1920, Crown Engineering came onto the market as a team dedicated to quality and precision. Since then, the company has been passed from generation to generation, with each new Suchting driving that quality and innovation a little bit further.
Today, brothers Ray and Ian are at the helm. They’re still driving the company towards that same original vision: world-class engineered products and a cutting-edge approach. It’s that approach that has seen our reputation for precision cemented in the industry.
A rich history of 100 years & counting
Crown Engineering was created by Wilhelm Suchting as a new engineering, iron, and brass foundry business. Wilhelm was Ray and Ian’s (our current directors) great-grandfather. He started the company with his two eldest sons in a Brisbane garage on Tank Street. Sydney was the bookkeeper, and Douglas worked on the factory floor.
Crown Engineering Works Pty Ltd officially begins its
journey on the 25th May, 1920.
After the sudden death of Wilhelm, on his way to work at age 53, Wilhelm's second eldest son, Douglas Suchting, becomes managing director. Sydney Suchting remains the company bookkeeper.
Douglas’ eldest son, John, started his apprenticeship as a fitter and turner.
The Crown Engineering team purchased their first hobbing machine – TOS OF10.
Douglas Suchting retired at the age of 75. Both John and William (Bill) Suchting managed the business with equal authority. John became the workshop manager (director), and William (Bill) took over the managing director’s role.
William (Bill) Suchting retired at age 50. As William had no sons coming into the business, the decision was made to close and de-register Crown Engineering Works Pty Ltd. The Hope Street land and building, including the machinery, were to be sold, and the income was split equally between the brothers.
John Suchting and his eldest son, Raymond Suchting, decided to restart the business together. They purchased new land at 3 Bronze street, Sumner Park and William's share of machinery was then purchased by John Suchting. They registered the business with the new name of Crown Engineering Pty Ltd.
By removing the "Works" from the original company name but retaining Crown Engineering Pty Ltd, they have effectively continued the legacy of the family business.
The new factory at 3 Bronze Street, Sumner Park, was completed. Raymond Suchting becomes managing director, and John Suchting, also a director, remains workshop manager. The first machine to operate in the factory was a newly purchased 520 Est-Ticino manual lathe. All original machinery from Hope street was relocated to the Bronze Street factory.
John’s second son, Ian, started his apprenticeship as a fitter and machinist.
We purchased the Hitachi Seiki 5NE.
John Suchting retired at age 67. A third property was purchased at 567 Boundary Road, Richlands. The first four bays of the new building were purposely built for the assembly of dragline roller circles and larger machinery. However, the main intention of purchasing 15,000 sq/m of land was to eventually locate the entire business onto one parcel of land.
The main building was completed at 567 Boundary Road, Richlands. So as to not disrupt production too much, it was decided to transfer the machinery to the new location with a staged approach.
All CNC machines from Boron Street were relocated to the new building first. Then, the following month, it was the machines from Bronze Street. We started by moving the fabrication and welding machines before the manual machines. Then, in the third month, we moved the gear manufacturing department.
Crown Engineering installed a heat treatment facility, new rebuild facility, fabrication and welding facility and a heavy machining facility over these years.
Purchase of 4,500 sq/m of land at 545 Boundary road, Richlands. Property joins onto 567 Boundary road.
After 38 years in the managing director role, Raymond Suchting stepped aside. Raymond continued as a director of the business and maintains an active role in the estimating and quotation side of the business. Ian Suchting became managing director.
It’s the Crown mission to continue pushing the needle on what precision means in the machining industry. The Crown values help us push that needle.
Continuous improvement
We’re never done – that means our designs, our processes, and the quality of the products we deliver. We’re continually improving.
The why
To continue improving, we need to look at the ‘why’. If a part breaks or a material doesn’t go the distance, we don’t just replace it – we work out why.
Commitment
At Crown Engineering, we keep a team of individuals who share the same commitment to precision and accuracy and pushing what we do into the future.
Quality assurance
To push the quality we provide further, we need to continue assessing and tweaking how we do things. Our stringent quality control and assurance processes push us further.
Geared for precision.
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