Rockwell Thompson
1972 Rockwell Standard of America acquired John Thompson Pressings Division.
1986 Parkfield Foundries acquired Rockwell Thompson Ltd, except for the axle bay which Rockwell retained.
1990 Parkfield Group tried, but failed, to sell the Thompson Pressings and Fabrications section. The Parkfield Group collapsed in July, due to the failure of their Entertainments Division caused by over-investment in video films. The Pressings and Fabrications sector was sold to a management buyout. This became UPF on 31st August. This was basically the chassis making concern and initially seems to have been very successful.
Then something went wrong - company had became over-ambitious and plans to expand into Europe built up debts of about £75 million. KPMG were appointed as receivers. They continued production but told Land Rover that they would not supply any further Discovery frames unless they were paid £45 million. After High Court cases, they agreed to continue production, with Land Rover taking over some of the debt.
Then GKN stepped in. This group, mostly now based at Telford, included Sankeys. GKN set up a subsidiary called GKN Thompson Chassis Ltd, who agreed with Land Rover and the receivers to buy out UPF. But by then the buildings were in the hands of Advantage West Midlands, a government agency concerned with the development of the region. GKN took a three year lease of the site and, during this short period, invested over £1 million. It was only a short term move and GKN announced that when the current contracts, for Discovery and Vauxhall Frontera chassis ran out, any new contracts would be met at the GKN Autostructures premises at Telford.
2004 The Ettingshall works closed.