Thorite bid to benefit from rail investment

Last month, the Government announced an 8bn programme that will see 600m of investment on the Great Western Line between London and Newbury and a commitment to fund in "its entirety" the cross-London Thameslink scheme.

It is understood some Leeds stations and the East Coast Main line will be improved and there will be investment in light rail in Sheffield.

However, the region's transport chiefs were dismayed that the electrification of the Midland Mainline, connecting South Yorkshire to London, was not even mentioned.

However, Thorite – the Bradford-based compressed air products and processes company – believes it will benefit from the Government's commitment to invest in railways.

Stephen Wright, the company's managing director, told the Yorkshire Post: "Some of our customers are in the sector and, over the term of the proposals, some of the benefits will filter into our supply chain."

Mr Wright also revealed that the company's turnover had returned to the pre-recession level of 10.5m.

He added: "In 2008 and 2009 many customers adopted a 'make do and mend' approach, but they are submitting more orders now.

"A number of our competitors went by the wayside during the recession. This is sad, but it helps those who have survived. A family firm can weather storms a lot better because we can take a longer view."

Thorite can trace its roots back to 1850 when Mr Wright's great-great-grandfather Thomas Wright set up a mill furnishing business, which supplied accessories to the textile trade.

The company – which was then known as Thomas Wright – branched out into motor factoring.

It opened a showroom and workshop in Bradford in 1945.

Thorite was founded in 1960, when Mr Wright's father, Thomas, opened Thorite pneumatics in West Street, Leeds.

Over time, Thorite became synonymous with anything powered by compressed air, including air tools, spray guns, pneumatics and air-driven pumping equip- ment.

Specialist compressors and related products are supplied to dental practices, laboratories and museums.

Now based in Bradford, the company has 97 staff and sales and service centres in Blackburn, Bolton, Doncaster, Huddersfield, Leeds, Rochdale and Sheffield.

The customer base includes large industrial manufacturing, food processing, packaging and pharmaceutical companies, as well as garages, spray shops, tyre fitters and workshops.

Mr Wright said he had never been tempted to float the business on the Alternative Investment Market because he didn't believe increased regulation would help Thorite to grow.

Mr Wright added: "With regard to public spending cuts, in the short to medium term we don't see any huge impact on our business from our first tier customers, as most don't directly serve the public sector.

However, the uncertainty is how it affects our customers' customers."

Mr Wright said he wanted to see "stability" with regard to interest rates and "less doubt" about economic policy.

He added: "We believe the recovery is going to be very gradual."

Mr Wright said the company could design everything from complex electro-pneumatic automated processing systems to energy-efficient compressors for small garages.

Mr Wright also has high hopes about another "arrow in the company's quiver" – its electric drives product range.

According to Thorite, electric actuators are faster and more efficient than pneumatic cylinders.

Thorite has also designed and supplied a specialised vacuum test rig for Hadar Lighting's production plant in Ashington, Northumberland.

The rig is used to carry out breathing tests in hazardous environments such as offshore rigs and petrochemical plants, where gas and dust can lead to explosions.

Making a noise in TV world

Thorite has helped to produce spectacular explosions and special effects on soap operas and TV dramas.

In 2006, the explosion at the King's River Showhouse in the ITV soap Emmerdale was masterminded by Leeds-based special effects company HA & C Rowley. Thorite provided the equipment to create the effects.

Thorite's remote controlled pneumatic rams and other equipment have been used to create, wind, rain, smoke, fire and explosions on programmes like Shameless and Heartbeat.

The company has other links with showbusiness. Kevin Crockford, sales manager at Thorite's Bradford head office, is the soprano cornet player in the Grimethorpe Colliery Band.