Firm lays claim to oldest working machine

A Halesowen engineering firm believes it may be the home of the world’s oldest working friction welding machines.

Thompson said the Midland-made machine, which is used for producing oil drill pipes, was still in use more than 40 years after being installed.

The discovery came to light when the workers prepared to fulfil an order from Indian drill pipe manufacturer Oil Country Tubular for a new friction welder for its factory in Hyderabad.

Oil Country Tubular already has one Thompson machine but now needs the additional equipment to boost productivity as a result of the global boom in oil and mineral exploration.

Simon Jones, Thompson’s Asia sales manager, said: “The longevity of this machine is a tremendous acknowledgement of the engineering skills and quality of workmanship that are still the hallmarks of Thompson friction welding machines today.”

Thompson machines are specially engineered to produce drill rods or heavy-duty oil pipes as they feature extended back stops and special forge clamps for friction welding an unlimited range of pipe sizes and lengths.

As part of a crop of repeat orders, Thompson has supplied its third friction welder to a Korean manufacturer of drive axles. The company still operates its existing machines purchased 30 and 14 years ago respectively.

Sales of Thompson friction welding machines, which are used to produce a wide variety of axles, are still flourishing with strong demand from commercial vehicle makers in Europe and the Far East.