- Thor Hammer produces soft-faced hammers, proudly exporting for sectors in 80 countries including automotive, aerospace, industrial engineering, mining, marine engineering, railways and many more.
- “Thor Hammer is one of the few remaining tool manufacturers in Britain with worldwide trade,” said Dr Neil Shastri-Hurst MP.
Despite being established in the early 1920s, Thor Hammer is a surprising example of a forward-facing workforce bringing legacy craftsmanship into the trade market, supporting British exports on a global scale.
In the 2000s, Thor Hammer became one of the first British companies to invest in a four-day workweek. Initially, as a reaction to the widely-felt economic downturn at the time, the workforce quickly realised it appreciated this more labour-intensive schedule which allowed its engineers to prioritise time on its own terms, which solidified it as the norm.
Clearly, this flexibility and supportive stance is one that its team of highly-skilled craftspeople value deeply - which is reflected in the fact that over half of them have at least 10 years’ service under their belts.
Earlier this month, the company welcomed Solihull West & Shirley MP into its West Midlands HQ to showcase how it has proudly been crafting soft-faced hammers and mallets for worldwide industry for over 100 years.
The legacy brand, which had initially made flexible drive belts, was tasked with sending soft-faced hammers across the globe to support the war effort during World War II. The company’s dual copper and hide-faced design allowed bridges and other vital infrastructure to be built in relative silence - which set Thor Hammer on the road to its global export journey.
Steve Mason, MD of Thor Hammer, said: “We’re not simply creating a product, we are passing on over a century of finely-honed skills and expertise to the next generation of craftsmen. We’re incredibly proud of our heritage and that’s why we’re thrilled to display our Made in Britain mark. It carries an awful lot of gravitas in the global market - which accounts for almost half (44% in 2024) of our trade.”
Made in Britain CEO, John Pearce, said: “Forged in Britain, wielded worldwide - our manufacturers, like Thor Hammer, showcase the strength of British craftsmanship. With every expertly made product, they reinforce the reputation of ‘Made in Britain’ as a mark of quality, skill and innovation on the global stage. I’m pleased to highlight their ongoing journey and congratulate the team on its growing success in the global export market.”
Dr Neil Shastri-Hurst MP, said: “It was excellent to meet Steve and his team at Thor Hammer in Shirley. Their products are world renowned and I am delighted they are crafted in the local economic hub of the Cranmore Business Park.
“During the visit, I was taken through the production process and saw the precision engineering involved in producing the range of hammers on offer, all of which proudly carry the ‘Made In Britain’ trademark. I even had the opportunity to have a go at building my own hammer. We had a wide-ranging discussion on the challenges facing businesses as they seek to navigate the global market conditions.”
By Made in Britain 1 week ago | By Made in Britain