Company Report: Thamesteel Ltd
Men of steel Thamesteel is committed to becoming a prominent steel supplier to the markets of the UK, Northern Europe and globally

Billet machine

Curved billets

Coils load

If you visit the main offices of Thamesteel Ltd, you will find yourself surrounded by history. The company works out of what used to be a Naval Hospital, servicing the Sheerness Naval Dockyard that was founded by Charles II in 1665. The Garrison Town of Sheerness and its Dockyard played an important role in establishing the supremacy of the British Navy from the 17th century through to the modern age. Thamesteel and its employees consider themselves a part of that proud history of industry.

Thamesteel’s story starts in January 1972, when the Sheerness Iron and Steel Company, in collaboration with Canada’s Co-Steel International, established the UK’s first mini-mill. Since then, the company has undergone a great many changes, including a change of name, but one thing that hasn’t changed is the key elements of the company’s strategy. With a combination of professional training, technical innovation, controlled attention to quality and a healthy dose of enthusiasm and commitment, Thamesteel continues to push the boundaries of mini-mill technology.

The company has grown from just producing reinforcing steels, to a product range that encompasses forging steels for automotive components, high carbon and micro-alloyed steels for high speed wire drawing and a range of structural sections.

Eventually, in 2002, the company was acquired by the Al-Tuwairqi Group, one of the leading business concerns in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. From humble beginnings when the company started in 1977, the holding company has exploded over the last few decades to become a well-known name in Saudi Arabia due to its monolithic steel manufacturing activities. Al Tuwairqi Holding recently became the 26th positioned holding company among the top hundred companies of the Kingdom with the rating of second fastest growing group. And its success isn’t bound to Saudi Arabia either, with its success spreading through areas of the Middle East, South Asia and Europe, where it came to own Thamesteel Ltd.

RINGING IN THE CHANGES
Since then the plant has gone from strength to strength. Al-Tuwairqi went on to invest heavily in the company’s manufacturing capability, bringing in state of the art technology. Much of the plant’s highly trained and experienced former workforce returned, bringing with them their enthusiasm and pride in their work, this time supported by the economic strength and expertise of the Al-Tuwairqi Group.

From here, the company’s ambition was nothing less than to regain its position as a prominent supplier to the markets of the UK, Northern Europe and further afield.

Of course, it hasn’t all been plain sailing, and the global recession last year affected Thamesteel just like everyone else.

“Everyone in the steel plant business was affected by the economic crisis, and Thamesteel was no exception,” a source within the company told us.

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