60 Years of pioneering legacy
1966
Local Electrician Don Broadbridge started a Switchboard business in Bowden SA called DJ Switchboards.
Partnering with South African switchgear manufacturer Heinemann, Don pioneered the modern-day Heinemann switchboard.
1960's
DJ Switchboards operates out of a Bowden premises and continued there for over 50 years until 2019
1974
The Business was purchased by local commercial builder Baulderstone and was Re-named Baulderstone Electrical, headed up by Laurie Pritchard
1974-1980's
Baulderstone Electric wins the contract for Parliament House in Canberra and the business continues its rise as a major supplier to buildings throughout the Adelaide CBD.
1986
Baulderstone divested in self-owned trades and the business was purchased by 7 of its employees.
The Business was then rebranded as BE Switchcraft, keeping the BE as heritage to the Baulderstone Electrical days.
The focus markets were Commercial Light and Power Switchboards.
1986 - 2025
BE Switchcraft continues its involvement in many of the defining projects of South Australia’s development into a vibrant city, including the iconic riverbank precinct and commercial, government and health facilities
2016
After nearly 2 decades of being managed by 4 remaining directors, Nick Rowe, Gilbert Zecchel, Robert Barker and William May, the business was sold to Anthony Spadavecchia in 2016.
2018
BE Integration was developed to service our switchboard clients with Building Automation and Energy Management Systems.
We also launched our BE EMS (Energy Management System) platform to the market.
2019
BE Switchcraft moved to a new 5000m2 premises at Royal Park. At the same time investment was made in all new automated sheet metal and copper processing machinery.
2021
BE Profile Cutting was introduced as a new division to the business which supported our current clients with general sheet metal and parts manufacturing.
A new 3kw Fibre Laser was added to the machinery fleet.
2025
BE Switchcraft was re-branded to the BE Group with new divisions BE Industrial and BE Defence introduced.
The new divisions will operate out of a new 11,000m2 facility in Ottoway and extend our reach into the mining, utility, transmission and defence sectors. The Ottoway facility also adds to our manufacturing arm with additional sheetmetal and electrical workshops.