Our Journey: The Story of Bordo International’s Growth
A year after retiring from his first venture, Brown and Watson Pty Ltd, Bill Brown found himself seeking purpose in the post-work world. In 1987, at the age of 71, he embarked on a new journey, founding Bordo International Pty Ltd from the confines of his single-car garage, initially selling US-made hole saws.
As the business began to take shape, Bill’s grandsons joined him, contributing to the expansion of the company’s offerings beyond hole saws to include a variety of cutting tools and power tool accessories. This growth necessitated a move to a small warehouse in Box Hill, Melbourne, where the team continued to grow. Eventually, the company acquired land in Knoxfield, where they constructed one of Australia’s first Five Star Green Rated buildings certified by the Green Building Council of Australia.
Entering into the threading and thread repair market facilitated Bordo’s expansion in 2008 into European and American markets. The acquisition of Goliath Threading Tools, a renowned Australian tap and die specialist, in 2017 further solidified Bordo’s presence in the industry.
Subsequent acquisitions, including A.N.D. Wholesalers in 2022 and Long Drills Pty Ltd in 2023, have broadened Bordo’s product range and allowed the company to leverage decades of expertise and excellence.
Today Bordo offers a huge range of power tool accessories, cutting tools, industrial brushware, threading products and more. While Bordo has diversified its product offerings, throughout the years the core values instilled by Bill Brown — service, quality, and a commitment to people — remain at the heart of the company’s operations.
