SME

Originally known as “The Scale Model Equipment Company Limited,” the company began operations in 1946, specializing in the production of scale models and related equipment. The 1950s brought growth for the company as it expanded into the field of precision engineering for the aerospace and industrial sectors. In 1959, Mr. Alastair Robertson-Aikman, the company’s founder and director, constructed an experimental turntable tonearm while searching for a solution for his audio system. The design was very well received within his circle, and “industry insiders” also spoke very highly of the project. Encouraged by this, the inventor began production at a newly opened factory located on Mill Road in Steyning, now operating under the name SME Limited. Initially, production of tonearms stood at 25 units per week, reaching a staggering 1,000 units per week during its peak! In 1989, the first prototype of the SME MODEL 30 turntable was created. Designed in just a few weeks, it proved to be a huge success both in terms of its technical solutions and build quality. Equipped with a soft suspension system, it remains the unrivaled benchmark among designs of this type. To this day, it remains the company’s flagship product. Over the course of more than 40 years in business, SME has become synonymous with exceptional equipment and a benchmark among global manufacturers of tonearms and turntables.There is no other manufacturer in this industry that can compete with SME in terms of the quality and precision of its equipment. The company possesses extensive technological and machining resources, enabling it to provide its customers with equipment that guarantees the highest standards in terms of mechanical performance and sound quality. Currently, SME produces four series of tonearms and three types of turntables. The latest creation from SME’s engineers is the MODEL 20/3 turntable.