Overseas demand is huge boost for firm

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A flourishing engineering firm is looking to recruit 10 new staff including four apprentices thanks to huge demand for its machines from overseas manufacturers.

Halesowen-based Thompson needs to urgently fill the vacancies after securing a string of new orders for its range of friction welding equipment from Europe, the Americas and the Far East.

Apprenticeships are available in the mechanical and electrical design departments while there are openings for engineers experienced in automation sales, test and service, robot programming and mechanical design.

"We're looking for people who are not only committed and hard-working, but also keen to work for a progressive, hi-tech company offering extremely good career prospects," said sales director Nick Edge.

The company has been finding it particularly difficult to fill vacancies for robot programmers as it is competing with the large recruitment drive of car makers in the region.

"Even though Thompson is not involved in the automotive industry, it is having an effect on the resources available in the local area," he added.

Mr Edge said the company had also retained the services of two skilled engineers in their 70s to make sure it had the capacity to handle its bulging order book.

Thompson machines join components used in aeroplanes, commercial vehicles, construction and mining machines and oil and gas exploration tools. The company currently employs 80 staff, has a turnover of around £25 million and holds the Queen's Award for Enterprise (International Trade).

One of Thompson's target markets for new business is the aerospace industry and its range of linear friction welding machines are designed to improve productivity and lower costs for aircraft component makers. Their latest model will be promoted at Farnborough International Air Show in July.

Thompson Friction Welding, which can trace its origins to the historic John Thompson boiler making business established in Bilston in the 1830s, is thriving under the guidance of a new management team.

It briefly faced an uncertain future until plans to move its manufacturing facility abroad were scrapped by parent company, KUKA Systems, last autumn.

Mr Edge still recalls joining the original John Thompson business in Ettingshall in 1986. When he returned in 2005 Thompson Friction Welding had been sold to new owners Kuka Systems and moved to Halesowen.

He said:?"We are still proud of our Black Country roots, as part of that engineering business started by John Thompson back in 1834, and it was what we tell all our customers about.

"It is part of our tradition of skilled, quality manufacturing and one of the reasons why we win a lot of repeat work from existing customers. The very first machine we built, 40 years ago, is still in service today. We are proud that we make equipment that lasts four decades and keeps working."