In this month’s Face to Face we speak with Alistair Eaton, Commercial Manager at Electrium, to hear about the evolution of the Crabtree brand.
- When was Crabtree founded and how has its product offering evolved over the years?
Crabtree was founded in 1919 by John Ashworth Crabtree in Walsall, UK, originally as J.A. Crabtree & Co. Ltd. Starting with light switches, the company quickly expanded into sockets, plugs, and power accessories, becoming a pioneer in electrical engineering. It introduced several industry firsts, including the “Quick Make & Break” switch and the UK’s first earth leakage circuit breaker. Over time, Crabtree diversified into switchgear, fusegear, motor control gear, and panelboards. The launch of Starbreaker in 1979 marked a major advancement in domestic circuit protection, followed by Polestar and Loadstar for commercial use. Since joining the Siemens-owned Electrium Group in 2006, Crabtree has continued to evolve, offering solutions across the residential and commercial sector, while maintaining its legacy of innovation, quality, and trusted performance.
- What are Crabtree’s core product ranges?
Crabtree offers a comprehensive range of circuit protection and power distribution products, spanning from 100A single-phase consumer units to 630A panelboards. At the heart of its domestic offering is the innovative Starbreaker range, known for its safety, compliance, and ease of installation. For commercial and light industrial applications, Loadstar and Polestar provide versatile three-phase distribution board solutions tailored to different installation needs. Fusestar delivers reliable fuse switch disconnection, while Powerstar completes the portfolio with robust panelboards designed for high-capacity installations up to 630A. Together, these ranges reflect Crabtree’s commitment to quality, innovation, and trusted performance across all sectors of the electrical industry.
- Does Crabtree still manufacture in the UK?
Crabtree is proud to still maintain a significant manufacturing footprint in the UK at our site at Hindley Green. We manufacture all our three phase distribution boards at the site alongside our Wylex and Siemens offering. We see manufacturing in the UK as hugely important to not only us but also to all our stakeholders, whether they be suppliers, distributors, specifiers or contractors. Our UK manufacturing facility empowers us to deliver exceptional quality, faster lead times, and a more resilient supply chain as well as supporting local employment, driving innovation, and supporting our sustainability goals.
- Since its launch in 1979 the Starbreaker brand has remained popular with installers and wholesalers – what makes it stand out in a crowded marketplace?
Starbreaker is Crabtree’s innovative circuit protection range, offering unmatched safety, reliability, and installation efficiency. Its unique plug-in busbar design reduces connections by 25%, lowering the risk of loose terminals and ensuring secure, consistent device fitting. The fully shrouded busbar provides insulation, preventing accidental contact, arcing, and incorrect device installation—key benefits for social housing and safety-focused projects. Designed for flexibility, Starbreaker supports both bespoke configurations and pre-assembled units, streamlining installation and saving time on site. It’s ideal for new builds and retrofits, with support for easy upgrades using the latest safety technologies such as surge protection, bidirectional AFDDs, and RCBOs. Built for longevity and compliance, Starbreaker continues to meet the evolving demands of modern electrical installations without compromising on performance.
- What does the future hold for the Crabtree brand?
Crabtree is synonymous with quality, innovation, and trusted performance and will continue to enhance its circuit protection portfolio with exciting new products, ensuring it remains the preferred choice for professionals seeking reliability, safety, and forward-thinking design.
Find out more about Crabtree UK here
Catch up on previous ‘Face to Face’ articles here
