Thompson manufactures a range of rotary and linear friction welding machines for joining a wide variety of components typically used in automotive, aerospace, construction equipment, oil and gas exploration applications. The company’s machines are used by component makers around the world with more than 90 per cent of equipment exported to Europe, the Americas, Asia and the Pacific Rim. Thompson is part of KUKA Systems UK and is based in Halesowen, England, with offices in China and the United States.