Tharsus Group has plans to acquire further premises in the Northumberland area to increase its manufacturing capacity, grow its local workforce and invest in apprenticeships and training to maximise the benefits of operating from the North East.
Blyth-based Tharsus has experienced strong growth in recent years since chief executive, Brian Palmer, took the unprecedented decision to transform its business model in 2009 from a traditional ‘metal-bashing’ fabricator into a company that would pioneer a new product route to market concept.
As a result, Tharsus has become a leading Original Equipment Design and Manufacture (OEDM) specialist, producing a portfolio of electro-mechanical and automated products for some of the UK’s most innovative companies – many of which are exported around the world.
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Tharsus has maintained a steady trajectory of growth under the new business model, but as the company offering evolves it expects further transformations, which will include increasing its facilities and strengthening its workforce.
Tharsus has already doubled its workforce over the past two years to more than 200, and expects to increase its headcount further once it secures additional premises.
Palmer explained: “Having established there is a clear need for a fully-inclusive product realisation service that combines both product development and manufacturing services, we have, to date, very successfully taken products to market in collaboration with innovative companies that see a clear benefit of engaging with our knowledge-led approach.
“I believe we will continue to improve and develop, creating even better products by appreciating and leveraging the relationship between an un-restrained product development function and a process driven manufacturing operation.”
He added: “Of course, these developments bring their own challenges. Our customers often require a game-changing product and so it is vital we have the best facilities and the best people.
“Our existing factory is highly productive, which will be replicated through the acquisition of new premises. In addition, we’ve doubled our workforce to more than 200 in the last two years.
“Thankfully, the North East is able to provide people with great and wide ranging capabilities and so the vast majority of our staff are local. We’re also continuing to invest in apprenticeships and training and hopefully providing a really good place for exceptional talent to grow.”
