As a family-owned Canadian business, Thordon Bearings Inc. has made a mark on the international scene by designing and manufacturing non-polluting bearing systems in the marine and clean power generation industries. The 100-year old family business has an international network of agents, distributors and regional sales representatives in 90 countries providing high performance, oil and grease-free bearing systems, seals and other shaft line products.
Thordon Bearings Inc. is a true Canadian success story. In this episode of Vanguard Radio, J. Richard Jones talks with George A. ‘Sandy’ Thomson, Innovator at Thordon Bearings Inc.
Sandy joined the family business Thomson-Gordon Ltd., in Hamilton, Ontario in 1965. At the time, the company was primarily a distributor of Engineers Supplies. Looking for a niche where engineered mechanical products made from rubber and plastic components could be designed, they developed the Thordon polymer in the late 1960’s. Sandy’s focus on innovation and developing export markets has been the key to Thordon’s success. In 1990, he bought the Russian deep sea salvage tug, Rudokop, and converted it to a “floating showcase” of Thordon marine bearing and seal products, then captained this ship visiting more than 200 ports in Europe.
With Sandy at the helm, Thordon has become a global leader in seawater lubricated propeller shaft bearings and seals, as well as, offering a complete range of non-metallic sleeve bearing solutions for marine, clean power generation, pump, offshore, and other industrial markets.
Learn more about this company and their success, their partnerships and how small manufacturers can become a global success through export. Sandy will be sharing more about this at ShipTech Forum 2020, taking place in Ottawa on February 25.
ShipTech is a one-day conference, which brings together members of industry, government, and military to share knowledge and lessons learned from a technological perspective to showcase successful investments in cutting-edge technologies for the shipbuilding and marine industries.
To learn more about ShipTech Forum 2020, visit vanguardcanada.com/shiptech2020. There are a few seats remaining, register today to hear more from Sandy Thomson and other speakers.
