Get In Touch
Get In Touch
Get In Touch
R&I Instrument and Gear CoAbout Us

Australian-made, high-accuracy components for aerospace, defence, medical and advanced engineering applications.

About R&I InstrumentsWho we are

R&I Instrument & Gear Co is a specialist manufacturer of fine pitch gears and precision components for critical applications.
Working with OEMs across aerospace, defence, medical and scientific sectors, we support systems where even the smallest component directly influences performance. Our capability is built around delivering consistent accuracy, tight tolerances and repeatability in precision-critical environments.

More about R&I

Our commitment

Quality is embedded across every stage of our manufacturing process, supported by certified systems aligned to ISO 9001:2015 and AS9100D.

These frameworks ensure rigorous control over production, inspection and traceability — critical for aerospace, defence and other high-specification applications. Advanced metrology and inspection processes verify that every component meets exacting performance requirements.

We also work closely with customers to support additional regulatory and material compliance standards where required.

For further detail, view our Quality Policy.

More about R&I
ri gear about our commitment 960x1080
ri gear about our origins 960x1080

Our origins

R&I Instrument & Gear Co traces its origins back to 1948, with a long-standing focus on precision gear manufacturing in Australia.

Since 1999, the business has operated under the Hardman family as part of the Hardman Group, alongside Hardman Bros. This structure brings together complementary capabilities – R&I specialising in fine pitch and high-precision gear work, while Hardman Bros supports larger-scale power transmission, gear cutting and precision machining.

Ongoing investment in advanced manufacturing equipment, facilities and skilled personnel ensures the business continues to support niche, high-specification areas of Australian manufacturing – both now and into the future.

More about R&I

Our history so far

1948

R & I Instrument & Gear Co. Pty Ltd was a family owned partnership originally established in 1948 by Robert Brown and his wife Irene. The business initially started out in the garage at home and over time grew and progressed to the point when they relocated into the premises at 355 Neerim Rd Carnegie where it continued to grow for over 40 years.

ri gear about our history 1948s neerim rd 960x640
ri gear about our history 1970s breakup 960x640
1960-1970

R&I become involved in the manufacture of automotive instrument parts and fine pitch gears and was a prime supplier to both OEM’s and also the Automotive instrument repair industry both in Australia and New Zealand. Through the late 1960’s and 1970’s R&I found its way into the infancy of the development of Medical and Scientific machines in Australia.

1978

Jeff Rowell and his wife Joyce took over the business in 1978. Jeff previously had dealings with the Company dating back to 1958 when he first started ARGOSY Instruments after leaving the RAAF where he had become a well trained and highly regarded Instrument maker. Under his guidance R & I continued to make their mark on the industry as a well regarded manufacturers’s of both small precision components and fine pitch gears for the growing Medical and Scientific Instrument sectors.

ri gear about our history 1978 jeff and joyce 960x640
ri gear about our history 1993 Andrew Rowell 960x640
1993

In 1993 Andrew Rowell took over as the Operations Manager, as the start of a succession plan for Jeff and Joyce to step back from the business and retire. Andrew was familiar with the Company as he had first worked for R & I in 1976 during his summer school holidays (with Bob Brown).

1999

R&I had a short stint at Rowville starting in late 1993 as the next growth phase first started however by 1999 it was obvious that considerable expenditure to update machining capabilities and computerise our Resource Planning and Job Management capabilities was needed to move into the 21st Century. Discussions exploring various options were held and eventually a deal was done with the Hardman family in late September 1999 to take over the business and relocate it into a new building being built at that time on the existing Hardman Bros site in Lower Dandenong Road, Dingley Village.

ri gear about our history 1999 Rowville 960x640
ri gear about our history 2019 Growth 960x640
ri gear about factory 1080x720
2019

With Hardman Bros business acumen and Andrew Rowell’s attentive leadership R&I have gone from strength to strength due to their exceptional business ethics, Customer Service and consistently superior outputs meeting and exceeding Customer demands. R & I has great appreciation and understanding of the value of Customer Service and the need to meet varying KPI’s required by a diverse customer base. The Company has adapted to KANBAN agreements; RoHS considerations and also able to meet demands of Customers to satisfy requirements of both the US FDA and also AS9100 managed by our M1 ERP Software and guided by our own Internal Quality System currently established to AS9001 (and we are now working towards and very close to achieving AS9100)

We understand that every customer may have slightly different expectations and requirements however this does not diminish our philosophy to produce high quality components that meet or exceed our customer’s expectations with Delivery in Full on Time and the Target of zero-defects.

Our pro-active approach to establishing and building Value Managed Relationships has enabled us to have long standing relationships with many Companies supplying parts that are used in Medical & Scientific equipment as well as Aerospace and Defence applications to all parts of the globe.

Under the astute guidance and investment by the Hardman family the business continues to expand and cement its place in a niche market where it is still highly regarded as a quality supplier to many leading manufacture’s of Medical & Scientific instruments, Industrial users, Public utilities, Universities, R&D and is also engaged in both Aerospace and Defence Industries.

Our history so far

1948

Founded in Melbourne

Established by Robert and Irene Brown, starting in a home garage before relocating to Carnegie.

ri gear about our history 1948s neerim rd 960x640
ri gear about our history 1970s breakup 960x640
1960-1970

Automotive to Instrumentation

Expanded into automotive instruments and fine pitch gears, supplying OEMs and emerging medical and scientific sectors.

1978

New Leadership, Industry Growth

Jeff and Joyce Rowell acquired the business, strengthening its reputation in precision components and instrumentation markets.

ri gear about our history 1978 jeff and joyce 960x640
ri gear about our history 1993 Andrew Rowell 960x640
1993

Succession begins

Andrew Rowell appointed Operations Manager, beginning a planned leadership transition and continued operational development.

1999

Hardman Group integration

Business acquired by Hardman family, relocating to Dingley Village and investing in modern manufacturing and systems.

ri gear about our history 1999 Rowville 960x640
ri gear about our history 2019 Growth 2 960x640
2019

Strengthened capability and compliance

Expanded capabilities, systems and compliance to support global customers across medical, aerospace, defence and industrial sectors.

The R&I difference

Consistency
Reliable processes and disciplined execution ensure repeatable outcomes across every project.
Accountability

End-to-end ownership across manufacturing and inspection stages ensures components meet specification.

Experience

A skilled, long-tenured workforce with deep expertise in precision manufacturing and gear production.

Capability

Advanced equipment and continual investment support complex, high-accuracy manufacturing requirements.

Accreditation

AS9100D
Certification

Operating to the global standard for aerospace and defence manufacturing, ensuring disciplined processes and high-integrity production.

ISO 9001
Quality Systems

Structured quality management supporting consistent, controlled manufacturing and reliable outcomes.

Defence Industry
Security Program

Recognised participant in Australia’s defence supply chain, meeting required security and compliance standards.

Traceability
& Process Control

Integrated systems for planning, tracking and verification, supporting full transparency across production.

Years of manufacturing
0
Projects completed
0 +
Satisfied clients
0 k+