Thermal Hire Ltd

What Thermal Hire Ltd does

Thermal Hire Ltd is a UK-based private limited company headquartered in Wigan, Lancashire, that manufactures and supplies refractory anchor products alongside thermal services to industrial customers. Its core product range comprises refractory anchors in multiple geometries — including V-type, Y-type, and wave-formed variants — used to secure refractory linings in high-temperature furnaces and kilns. The company's principal customers are refractory installers and furnace manufacturers, with the business positioned to serve a worldwide market from its single UK manufacturing site.

Operationally, Thermal Hire runs its own manufacturing facility at the Wigan site, recently expanded with a new workshop and equipped with a Numalliance Robomac 216 CNC bending machine capable of processing wire diameters from 4mm to 16mm. This in-house production capability supports direct-to-customer supply of standardized and likely custom anchor geometries. Following its acquisition of Sutton Refractory Services Ltd, the company has integrated refractory services into its offering, effectively bundling anchor manufacturing with installation-adjacent thermal services for furnace operators.

The business model is B2B direct manufacturing-to-customer, with sales driven via a dedicated web presence (refractoryanchors.co) and direct contact channels. Revenue mechanics are not disclosed, but the model is consistent with project-based and repeat-order supply of consumable industrial components to furnace builders and refractory contractors. No pricing structure, distribution partners, or named customer accounts are disclosed in the available data.

Name

Thermal Hire Ltd

Legal name

Thermal Hire Ltd

Website

https://refractoryanchors.co

Company type

Private

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Thermal Hire Ltd is a UK-based manufacturer and supplier of refractory anchors (V-type, Y-type, wave-formed) and thermal services, serving refractory installers and furnace manufacturers worldwide from its Wigan, Lancashire facility.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Refractory Products and Thermal Services

NAICS

Industrial Process Furnace and Oven Manufacturing (333994), Power Boiler and Heat Exchanger Manufacturing (332410)

SIC

Industrial Process Furnaces & Ovens (3567)

akta.pro primary industry

Boilers, Furnaces & Process Heating Equipment (IMAHAKAD)

Keywords

• Refractory anchors
• Thermal services
• Furnace manufacturing supplies
• Industrial refractory products
• Refractory anchor manufacturer

Headquarters

HQ city

Wigan

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Supply Chain, Operations, Personnel, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Refractory Anchor Products Sales: Direct sales of manufactured refractory anchor products (V-type, Y-type, and custom wave-formed anchors) to refractory installers and furnace manufacturers. Products are sold directly to B2B customers globally.
2. Thermal Services: Established thermal services provision to refractory installers and furnace manufacturers, building on the company's original service offerings before expanding into manufacturing.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels2 records

Core offering

Thermal Hire Ltd manufactures and supplies refractory anchor products in standard formations such as V-type and Y-type, plus custom wave-formed configurations, used to hold installed refractory products to the shells of lined furnaces and equipment. The company also provides established thermal services to refractory installers and furnace manufacturers worldwide, with manufacturing supported by a Numalliance Robomac 216 CNC machine alongside retained traditional presses, lathes, saws, and tooling.

Product overview

Thermal Hire Ltd operates as a manufacturer and supplier of refractory anchor products and thermal services to refractory installers and furnace manufacturers worldwide. Following the acquisition of Sutton Refractory Services Ltd, the company expanded into refractory anchor manufacturing, offering products in various standard formations (V-type, Y-type, and wave-formed configurations) suitable for different castable types and installation requirements. The product portfolio is supported by state-of-the-art CNC machinery (Numalliance Robomac 216 CNC) for medium-large production runs and traditional equipment for small to medium production runs and specialized products.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Refractory Anchors Specialised refractory anchors used to hold installed refractory products to the shell of furnaces and other lined equipment. Available in various formations including V-type, Y-type, and wave-formed configurations depending on castable type and installation requirements. Manufactured for refractory installers and furnace manufacturers worldwide using CNC and traditional equipment.
• Thermal Services Established thermal services provided to refractory installers and furnace manufacturers worldwide, encompassing manufacturing, supply, and technical support for refractory anchor products.

Segments2 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature2 records

Partnerships

One partnership is on record.

• Sutton Refractory Services LtdcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThermal Hire Ltd acquired Sutton Refractory Services Ltd, marking a strategic expansion into refractory anchor manufacturing. The acquisition brought established industry reputation, customer relationships, and specialized production capability for small to medium production runs. Thermal Hire retained Sutton Refractory Services' good name and installed associated traditional presses, lathes, saws, tooling and equipment as part of the capability expansion.

Scale indicators2 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Others

• Inductotherm Group: Global manufacturer of induction melting and heating equipment for foundry and thermal processing customers. Functions primarily as a customer/channel partner for Thermal Hire (a refractory-anchor supplier to furnace manufacturers), while also serving overlapping industrial heat-processing end-markets.

Broad incumbents

• RHI Magnesita: World's largest refractory supplier with a full product portfolio and global manufacturing footprint. Operates in the same furnace and process-heating equipment end-markets as Thermal Hire but at vastly broader scale and product breadth.
• Saint-Gobain (Refractory / High-Temperature Solutions): Major industrial materials group with refractory products for furnaces serving steelmaking, glass, and high-temperature industries. Comparable to Thermal Hire in target end-applications but vastly larger and more diversified.

Direct peers

• ANH Refractories: Manufacturer and installer of refractory products, precast shapes, and lining systems for industrial furnaces. Comparable to Thermal Hire in combining refractory manufacturing with installation/services and serving the same furnace and process-heating customer base.
• Resco Products: Manufacturer of refractory shapes, monolithics, and precast components, including anchoring systems used in industrial furnace linings. Directly comparable to Thermal Hire in product scope and target customer base of refractory installers and furnace builders.
• Morgan Advanced Materials: Global manufacturer of high-temperature materials and engineered refractory products serving steel, foundry, and industrial furnace markets. Comparable as a specialty refractory supplier with deep furnace-industry customer overlap.
• HarbisonWalker International: One of the largest North American manufacturers of refractory products and installation services, supplying steel, glass, cement, and petrochemical customers. Highly comparable to Thermal Hire as a refractory product supplier serving the same furnace and process-heating end-markets.
• Nutec Bickley: Specialized manufacturer of industrial furnaces and refractory-related products and services for heat-treatment and high-temperature process applications. Comparable to Thermal Hire in serving furnace manufacturers and refractory installers with engineered thermal solutions.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/refractory-anchors

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Thermal Hire Ltd