Shaping a Greener Future: SM Thompson Powers Up with Major Solar Installation
For over 75 years, we’ve built a reputation as one of the leading steel profiling and processing specialists. As a third-generation family business, we’ve combined traditional values with continual investment in innovation, ensuring we remain at the forefront of the industry while delivering exceptional quality and service to customers across the North East and throughout the UK.
That commitment to investing in the future continues with our most significant sustainability investment to date: a large-scale solar PV installation comprising 234 solar panels across the roof of our 100-metre-long Middlesbrough manufacturing facility.
Spanning the full length of the factory building, the renewable energy project marks an important milestone in our journey towards Net Zero, enabling us to generate clean electricity on-site while significantly reducing our environmental impact.
Powering Manufacturing Operations
Steel processing is an energy-intensive industry. By transforming the roof of our manufacturing facility into a renewable energy source, we’re significantly reducing our reliance on grid electricity while helping to power a comprehensive range of steel processing and bending services, including:
• Laser, plasma and flame cutting
• Plate and section rolling
• Press braking
• Drilling, tapping and countersinking
A 4-Week Installation Delivered by Mackay Electrical
The installation was successfully completed in just four weeks by the team at Mackay Electrical.
Careful planning and expert project management ensured the solar PV system was installed safely and efficiently, with no disruption to our busy manufacturing operations.
Supporting Our Journey to Net Zero
With more than seven decades of manufacturing heritage, we understand that long-term success means investing not only in technology but also in sustainability. As a third-generation family business, we make decisions with future generations in mind, ensuring we continue to evolve while remaining true to the values the business was built upon.
By generating renewable electricity on-site, we’re reducing the carbon footprint of our own operations while also helping customers lower their Scope 3 emissions. Every steel component processed by SM Thompson is now supported by a cleaner, more sustainable manufacturing process.
This latest investment reinforces our commitment to responsible manufacturing, ensuring we continue to deliver the high-quality service our customers expect while contributing to a more sustainable supply chain.
We’d like to extend our sincere thanks to the team at Mackey Electrical for their expertise, professionalism and hard work in delivering the installation safely, efficiently and to the highest standard.
Why Choose SM Thompson?
As we continue to invest in innovation and sustainability, this latest project marks another important milestone in building on our proud heritage while helping create a greener future for UK manufacturing.
The investment in renewable energy is just one example of our ongoing commitment to providing customers with a modern, efficient and dependable steel processing service.
From steel stock and profiling through to bending and a wide range of secondary operations, we offer a complete in-house solution. Every stage of the process is managed by our experienced team using advanced manufacturing technology, ensuring consistently high standards of quality, accuracy and reliability.
By bringing extensive steel stock, state-of-the-art processing equipment and value-added services together under one roof, we help simplify supply chains, reduce lead times and deliver the flexibility our customers need.
As we continue to invest in cutting-edge technology and sustainable manufacturing, our customers can be confident they’re partnering with a business that is committed to engineering excellence, responsible manufacturing and continuous innovation—helping to shape a greener future for the UK.
