The Walsall Wheelbarrow Company begins 30th anniversary celebrations

The Walsall Wheelbarrow Company begins 30th anniversary celebrations

Celebrating its 30th anniversary in 2025, The Walsall Wheelbarrow Company can trace an even longer heritage as “a shining example of innovation and resilience in British manufacturing.”

Established on April 1st, 1995, this family-run business in Wolverhampton has continually redefined how wheelbarrows are designed, produced, and delivered. However, the company’s roots go back the best part of a century with the Thacker family name having been associated with wheelbarrows since the late 1930s, when a certain Fred Thacker crafted his first wheelbarrow.

At the time, traditional wheelbarrows were made from wood, a material that was both costly and laborious to work with. Fred, an innovative thinker and skilled engineer, sought a more practical solution in his garden shed in Pelsall, West Midlands. His original design incorporated hand cut and folded sheet steel to form the pan, combined with a welded angle-steel frame. In doing so, his design not only helped to rebuild Britain after WWII, but it was cheaper and quicker to manufacture.

By 1954, from his factory (Brownhills Sheet Metal), Fred began to manufacture his steel wheelbarrows by hand. Stronger and quicker to produce than their wooden predecessors, the steel wheelbarrow would go on to become the standard across the industry.

In 1980, Fred’s son Les later introduced the pressed steel pan design which is used to this day. Then, on 1st April 1995, he and his wife Maureen, along with their sons Simon and Jonathan set up The Walsall Wheelbarrow Company Ltd.

From the introduction of press pans to fully automated production lines in 2012, these innovations have improved product consistency, reduced costs, and allowed the company to scale up operations to meet ever-growing demand: originally producing 1,200 barrows weekly by hand, The Walsall Wheelbarrow Company now boasts a production capacity of over 3,000 wheelbarrows per day.

Celebrating its 30th anniversary in 2025, The Walsall Wheelbarrow Company can trace an even longer heritage of innovation and British manufacturing.

Manufacturing what is said to be the most comprehensive range of wheelbarrows available in the UK, the business offers steel, polypropylene and HDPE barrows to suit the needs of the whole market. In an approach that demonstrates the company’s forward-thinking ethos, it also pioneered the “Barrow in a Box,” enabling wheelbarrows to be efficiently packaged and shipped, and a solution that has proven invaluable for e-commerce.

The company emphasises that it remains dedicated to its workforce of 50, ensuring that automation and staff development go hand in hand. While robots handle precision manufacturing, staff have transitioned into more advanced roles, such as robot technicians and wheel production specialists. This focus on employee retention and growth reflects the company’s family-oriented culture.

Looking to the future, The Walsall Wheelbarrow Company confirms that it has plans to further increase its investment in production processes through the installation of an automated assembly line by the end of 2025, bring the automation across the business to 90%. This will further improve efficiency, provide additional opportunities for staff development and bring it closer to its goal of achieving a nett zero carbon footprint by 2030.

Throughout 2025, the company will be celebrating with various campaigns and events for customers and employees. And as the firm approaches its milestone anniversary, it marks not only its rich history but also its “unwavering commitment to innovation.”

By leveraging technology and prioritising customer needs, The Walsall Wheelbarrow Company is confident it can build an even stronger legacy over the next three decades.

Celebrating its 30th anniversary in 2025, The Walsall Wheelbarrow Company can trace an even longer heritage of innovation and British manufacturing.


Celebrating its 30th anniversary in 2025, The Walsall Wheelbarrow Company can trace an even longer heritage of innovation and British manufacturing.

Related posts