Engineering firm Thompson has announced its future is secure now
that plans to move its UK manufacturing plant to North America have
been revised.
The decision to retain its headquarters in Halesowen, West
Midlands, and safeguard the jobs of over 80 staff follows the
completion of a strategic review of its operations by owner KUKA
Systems.
Peter Lovegrove, previously Thompson's operations director, has
been appointed interim managing director after Alan Shilton decided
to step down from his chief executive role.
"After a thorough review of our automation and mechanical
engineering businesses and consideration of a number of options, it
has been decided to maintain Thompson's manufacturing facility in
the UK," said Larry Drake, president and CEO of parent company,
KUKA Systems.
"It signals our confidence that the company can tackle the
future and that its dedicated workforce is capable of ensuring a
successful business," he added.
The announcement coincides with the news that the award-winning
friction welding machine manufacturer has secured a bumper crop of
new orders.
The contracts won by Thompson's sales team, headed by global
sales manager Nick Edge, include a trio of multiple machine orders
for customers in Europe, Asia and the Americas.
The machines will be used to join a wide variety of components
for car and truck makers, construction vehicle manufacturers as
well as producers of mineral and gas exploration equipment
Thompson, holder of a Queen's Award for Enterprise, designs and
manufactures a range of rotary and linear friction welding
machines. It also operates one of Europe's largest sub-contract
friction welding facilities, which offers a flexible supply option
for small, medium and large batch sizes.