80 jobs saved at Black Country plant after owners reject US move
THE jobs of more than 80 workers at a Black Country factory have been saved after the plant’s parent revised plans to relocate the business to the United States.
Workers at engineering firm Thompson in Halesowen have been told the future of the factory is now safe after owner KUKA Systems completed a strategic review of its operations.
The review has seen Peter Lovegrove, previously Thompson’s operations director, appointed interim managing director after chief executive Alan Shilton decided to step down from his post.
Larry Drake, president and CEO of KUKA Systems, said: “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.
“It signals our confidence that the company can tackle the future and that its dedicated workforce is capable of ensuring a successful business.”
The announcement coincides with the news 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.
