As Thorne & Derrick International marks its 40th anniversary, the company celebrates industry transformation that mirrors the global energy shift—from fossil fuels to a sustainable future. Founded in 1985 as a regional supplier to the traditional energy industry, the company has evolved into key suppliers to the renewable revolution, delivering critical infrastructure for the Green Grid.
Its early years were rooted in the fossil fuel era, with key customers in the oil/gas, coal mining and heavy industries, when a pivotal moment came with an order for BAND-IT products from Swan Hunter shipyard for the Solitaire project, then the world’s largest offshore pipe-laying vessel. As the original UK Distributor for BAND-IT Cable Management Systems, Thorne & Derrick International established a reliable delivery model from shelf to site, laying the foundation for decades of collaboration in energy infrastructure.
For years, the company supplied the oil and gas industry but as climate goals and policies like the UK’s Net Zero 2050 target reshaped the energy landscape, Thorne & Derrick International proactively pivoted.
Today, the company is embedded in renewable energy and industry decarbonisation projects, supplying LV HV Cable Accessories, Tooling & Hazardous Area Electrical Equipment for offshore and onshore wind, solar farms, battery energy storage and process industry projects. Its expertise ensures safe, efficient power transmission in increasingly complex and demanding energy networks.
Growth has been both technological and geographic. What began as local supply company to North East of England projects now spans global markets as Framework Supply Partners to ECP’s and international energy providers across the UK and Europe including Spain, France, Germany, Switzerland, Sweden and Denmark, delivering mission-critical Cable Accessories where high-voltage cables are essential for long-distance, large-scale power transfer.
A powerful symbol of this shift is the former Swan Hunter site in Wallsend. Once a hub of ship and crude oil tanker building it is now reborn as the UK’s centre for renewable energy services and offshore wind manufacturing.
In September 2025, Thorne & Derrick International returns, this time to supply Cable Accessories & Tooling for the energisation and electrification of UK and international green energy projects. It’s a full-circle moment that reflects the company’s resilience and vision.
Innovation and partnerships have driven this evolution. Long-standing Distribution Agreements with manufacturers including BAND-IT, 3M, Nexans Euromold and Pfisterer has secured approved vendor status with major energy providers, reinforcing Thorne & Derrick’s role as a trusted supply-partner in the modern energy chain.
“From fossil fuels to Net Zero, we’ve adapted, innovated, and grown,” said Chris Dodds, Sales & Marketing Manager. “Our 40-year journey reflects our commitment to sustainability, partnership, and powering the future.”
Over four decades, the company has moved from local supplier to global partner—not just adapting to change, but advancing it. Thorne & Derrick’s story is one of purposeful transformation: powering progress, sustainably, from fossil fuels to a sustainable future.
