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The printer humming in your office and the sewing machine in a hobbyist’s home can share a maker: Brother. Founded in 1908 to make sewing machines, this Nagoya company reinvented itself into a global office-equipment maker — a textbook case of a Japanese manufacturer evolving across a century without losing its roots.
From thread to toner
Brother began in 1908 repairing and then making sewing machines, and it remains one of the world’s leading sewing-machine makers. But its largest business today is printing: Brother is a major global maker of printers and multifunction devices (MFPs), especially strong in the small-office and home-office segment where reliability and running cost matter most. It is also well known for its P-touch label printers.
A diversified machine maker
Beyond printers and sewing machines, Brother makes compact machine tools (precision CNC machines used in manufacturing), industrial and garment-printing systems, and more. The common thread is precision mechatronics — combining mechanics, electronics, and software — applied to very different markets. That diversification has helped Brother stay resilient as office printing matures, by leaning into industrial, labeling, and emerging digital businesses.
Why it matters for global partners and investors
- Investors get a diversified, cash-generative manufacturer with a strong office-equipment franchise plus machine-tool and industrial exposure.
- Businesses and distributors rely on Brother for dependable, cost-effective printing — a sticky base of consumables and devices.
- The watch item is the long-term decline in office printing, against which Brother is diversifying into industrial and digital-print markets.
Frequently asked questions
What does Brother make?
Brother is a Japanese maker of printers and multifunction devices, sewing machines, P-touch label printers, and compact machine tools, along with industrial and garment-printing equipment.
Did Brother really start with sewing machines?
Yes. Founded in 1908, Brother began in sewing machines and remains a leading maker, while growing its largest business in office printing — a century-long reinvention.
Why does Brother matter?
It is a dependable, diversified precision-machine maker with a strong position in small-office printing and labeling, plus machine tools and industrial printing.
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