Most people know Letchworth as the world’s first Garden City.
Fewer know that for decades it was also home to a remarkable concentration of engineering expertise, helping supply the automotive and industrial sectors with the components that kept machinery moving, vehicles running and production lines operating.
For over 40 years, FB Chain has been part of that engineering tradition. While industries, markets and technologies have evolved, the knowledge developed in Letchworth’s manufacturing community continues to influence how we support customers in the lifting and mechanical handling sectors today.
More Than a Garden City
Letchworth’s appeal to manufacturers was no accident.
The town was designed with industry in mind. Unlike many manufacturing centres that developed around crowded city streets, Letchworth offered purpose-built industrial areas, strong transport links and room for businesses to grow. These qualities attracted engineering and manufacturing companies throughout the twentieth century.
Among the businesses that helped shape the town’s industrial identity was Morse Chain, which established manufacturing operations in Letchworth and became a major producer of industrial roller chains and automotive timing chains. Later, Borg Warner expanded its presence in the town, opening a major transmission manufacturing facility.
Together, these businesses helped establish Letchworth as an important centre of power transmission engineering.
The Rise of Chain Manufacturing in Letchworth
Chain manufacturing has deep roots in the town.
Morse Chain operated from 26-31 The Chaineries, manufacturing both roller chains and inverted tooth timing chains before later expanding into larger facilities.
At a time when Britain’s automotive sector was growing rapidly, timing chains became critical components within vehicle engines. Industrial chains were equally important, transmitting power across factories, processing plants and production lines around the world.
While these products often operated out of sight, they played an essential role in keeping equipment running safely and efficiently.
The Two Sides of Works Road
One of the most fascinating chapters in Letchworth’s industrial history emerged during the 1960s.
On one side of Works Road stood the Borg Warner factory, manufacturing gearboxes and transmission components. On the opposite side stood Morse Chain, producing chains for automotive and industrial applications.
In effect, two critical elements of the automotive powertrain were being manufactured within a few hundred metres of one another.
This was more than coincidence. It reflected the depth of engineering expertise that existed within the town. Letchworth had become a hub for businesses focused on transmitting power, motion and performance through mechanical systems.
Components manufactured here found their way into vehicles, industrial machinery and equipment used throughout the UK and overseas.
Industrial Change and Uncertain Times
Like much of British manufacturing, the sector faced significant challenges during the 1980s.
Changing market conditions, increased international competition and shifts in automotive demand led to factory closures, restructures and ownership changes. Borg Warner eventually closed its Letchworth operation, while Morse Flexon entered receivership before the factory itself closed.
For many industrial towns, this would have marked the end of the story.
Instead, something arguably more valuable remained.
The knowledge.
How FB Chain Became Part of the Legacy
Industrial heritage is not defined by buildings alone. It is shaped by the people who carry expertise forward and apply it to new challenges.
In 1984, a group of former Morse Flexon employees established Penta Drive Systems in Letchworth. Starting with just seven people, the business was built on decades of accumulated engineering experience and application knowledge.
A year later, FB Chain was established, creating a dedicated route to market for leaf chain and mechanical handling solutions.
What could have been the end of one chapter in Letchworth’s engineering history instead became the beginning of another.
The industries served were different. The applications evolved. But the foundation remained the same: understanding how chains perform in demanding environments and helping customers specify the right solution for the job.
From Heritage to Innovation
While our roots are important, customers are interested in what expertise means in practice.
Over the last four decades, FB Chain has focused on supporting lifting and mechanical handling applications where reliability, safety and accurate specification matter.
By working closely with manufacturers, distributors, service providers and maintenance teams, the business has evolved from a chain supplier into a specialist provider of leaf chain assemblies, wear monitoring solutions and application-specific products designed around the realities of modern lifting equipment.
That progression reflects the same practical engineering mindset that helped build Letchworth’s reputation in the first place: understanding the application, solving problems and continuously improving.
Still Proudly Based in Letchworth
In 2019, FB Chain established its facility on Works Road, opposite the former Morse Chain site. For a company whose origins can be traced directly to Letchworth’s industrial heritage, it was a fitting homecoming.
Today, FB Chain serves customers throughout the UK and internationally while remaining rooted in the town that helped shape its expertise.
A Legacy That Continues
Letchworth’s industrial history is more than a collection of historic factory buildings and company names.
It is a story of specialist knowledge, practical engineering and the ability to adapt as industries change.
The challenges facing manufacturers today may look different to those of previous generations, but the fundamentals remain the same. Reliability matters. Safety matters. Performance matters. Expertise matters.
For 40 years, FB Chain has built upon the engineering heritage developed in Letchworth, applying that knowledge to lifting and mechanical handling applications across the UK and beyond.
That is a legacy we are proud to be part of, and one we continue to build every day.
