UK-based lighting manufacturer Thorlux Lighting is marking its 90th
anniversary throughout the summer with charity events and the opening of a refreshed visitor
centre at its Redditch, Worcestershire headquarters. As the company continues to innovate and
works towards a validated net-zero target, its future remains bright.
Founder Frederick William Thorpe first manufactured Thorlux luminaires in 1936. Based in a small factory in Small Heath, Birmingham, the company initially made vitreous enamelled steel reflectors.
This was the beginning of a journey that would see Thorlux grow into a globally recognised
manufacturer of luminaires and lighting control systems, becoming the largest company in the FW
Thorpe Group.
Thorlux has installed a spinning lathe used since the 1930s as the centrepiece of its refreshed
Thorlux Application Centre. The centre also includes an improved Emergency Lighting Experience,
providing guests with a realistic, educational power failure escape scenario.
Thorlux remains at the forefront of modern UK luminaire manufacture, with multi-million-pound
investments in advanced technology at its Redditch factory. The company still proudly makes over
90% of its products in the Midlands, employing five hundred people locally. Thorlux specialises in
energy-efficient, sustainable products, and is working towards achieving net-zero emissions by 2040.
Mark Stevenson, Marketing Lead at Thorlux, said: “90 years is a major milestone for Thorlux. As aproud UK manufacturer, it is important to reflect on our accomplishments so far – from pioneering energy-saving controls to relighting the