We study brane splitting on the orbifold S_1/Z_2. In our model a real scalar field φ subject to the potential V (φ) = aφ^2 − bφ^4 + cφ^6 represents a thick Minkowski brane. We study splitting of the brane within this model. It is found that the separation of the brane is proportional to the size of the extra dimension. For a particular configuration we obtain the mass spectrum of the fermions confined by this brane.