NHER 55341 (Building record) - Thermos factory

The Thermos glass blowing facility was built in Thetford after planning permission for an extention to the Brentwood factory was denied. It was claimed to be the most modern and efficient glass factory in Europe in 1965. The factory made the glass flask which was exported to other factories for silvering and putting in plastic. In July 1965 the factory's stores were gutted by fire and 750,000 units were destroyed. Reconstruction took 19 weeks and full production was resumed. Gradually more stages of flask production were added to the facility besides glass blowing, until the entire product was made on site. A silvering plant was added in 1978 and an injection moulding machine added in 1996, meaning that all parts were manufactured and assembled in one place. Demand declined as cheaper imports from India, Pakistan and China flooded the market and made Thermos flasks appear expensive. Closure came in stages through 2000 with the glass furnaces shut down in August, silvering in September and assembly in November.
See (S1)
The site still exists, although modified, and is a factory for Tulip International (S2)
W. Arnold (HES), 14 March 2011