CROSS+MORSE

Cross & Morse was established in 1984 through the amalgamation of two long-standing and well-respected companies in the power transmission industry, T D Cross and Morse Chain.

T D Cross & Sons was founded in 1870 in Birmingham, initially focusing on the production of bicycle components under the direction of the Cross family. The company moved to its current factory site in 1950 and expanded into producing a popular range of roller chain sprockets and gearing. Competitive pricing and product quality quickly established the company as a major supplier to both agricultural and industrial markets.

The Morse Chain Company was founded in 1894 in Pennsylvania, USA, also for the manufacture of bicycles. The company later moved into the production of inverted tooth chain drives and established a manufacturing plant in London in 1907, relocating to the new Garden City of Letchworth, Herts, in 1918. The UK product range developed to include roller chain and sprockets, couplings, torque limiters, sprag clutches, and timing belt drives. In the USA, through acquisitions, Morse also included the Denver Gearbox range and Sealmaster Bearing products.

In 1987, Cross & Morse closed the Letchworth plant and centralized all production at the 10,000 square meter factory in Great Barr, Birmingham, where current production includes roller chains, sprockets, gears, timing belt pulleys, torque limiters, sprag clutches, and other specialized power transmission equipment.

In 1996, the company was bought out by its management team and rapidly began expanding its manufacturing capability, particularly in the field of special and adapted standard products.

The company follows a policy of continuous assessment to develop and improve its products and customer service. In pursuit of these objectives, Cross & Morse has been successfully assessed by Lloyds and is registered as an approved manufacturer of power transmission products to BS EN ISO 9001.