Elta UK Strengthens Supply Chain by Bringing GRP Fan Moulding Production Back to the UK
MPM is proud to have supported Elta UK in successfully bringing the manufacture of its GRP fan mouldings back to the UK, helping improve product quality, reduce lead times and create a more resilient supply chain.
Founded in 1974, Elta UK is a leading manufacturer of ventilation products, supplying high-quality fan housings and air movement solutions across a wide range of industries. After experiencing inconsistent product quality, extended lead times and limited communication from an overseas supplier, the company made the strategic decision to repatriate production to the UK.
Partnering with MPM Durham, Elta UK found an experienced composite manufacturing partner capable of delivering a complete end-to-end solution, from reverse engineering and tooling through to full-scale production.
The Challenge: Overseas Supply Chain Constraints
Like many manufacturers, Elta UK faced increasing challenges associated with offshore production. Variations in product quality, lengthy shipping times and reduced supply chain visibility were impacting operational efficiency and making production planning more difficult.
The business required a UK manufacturing partner that could not only replicate its existing GRP components but also improve consistency, responsiveness and long-term reliability.
Reverse Engineering Existing GRP Components
Working closely with Elta UK's engineering team, MPM reverse-engineered the existing fan mouldings to accurately recreate each component for UK manufacture.
The project involved analysing the original parts, refining the designs where required and ensuring every component met the required dimensional accuracy and performance standards before production commenced.
This collaborative approach ensured a smooth transition from overseas manufacture while maintaining product integrity throughout the process.
Developing New Tooling for UK Manufacture
To support the repatriation project, MPM designed and manufactured a complete suite of production tooling capable of producing more than 20 GRP fan moulding variants.
Using decades of experience in composite tooling and manufacturing, the team established a controlled production process that delivered consistent quality across every moulding while providing the flexibility to meet Elta UK's ongoing production requirements.
Improving Quality, Lead Times and Reliability
By bringing production back to the UK, Elta UK achieved significant improvements across several key operational areas.
Manufacturing closer to its own operations enabled faster lead times, improved communication and greater control over production scheduling. The consistency and finish of the mouldings also exceeded previous expectations, providing confidence in both product quality and supply.
The partnership has strengthened Elta UK's supply chain while reducing many of the risks associated with overseas manufacturing.
Stock Management Supporting Production Continuity
Alongside manufacturing, MPM implemented a controlled stock management system designed to support Elta UK's production schedules.
Maintaining agreed stock levels allows products to be supplied when required, improving operational efficiency while reducing the risk of unexpected supply interruptions. This proactive approach gives Elta UK greater confidence when planning production and meeting customer demand.
Customer Feedback
Dan Stevens, Operations Manager at Elta UK, commented:
"It was great to find a company with the commitment and skills to help us repatriate our products back to UK manufacture. MPM was responsive, quick and focused – the quality of the product is second to none."
Supporting UK Manufacturing Through Collaborative Partnerships
The Elta UK project demonstrates how collaborative partnerships and UK-based manufacturing can help businesses strengthen supply chains, improve product quality and reduce operational risk.
Whether supporting product repatriation, developing new tooling or manufacturing complex GRP components, MPM works closely with customers to deliver technically robust composite solutions tailored to their requirements.
Looking to Repatriate Your GRP Manufacturing?
If your business is experiencing supply chain challenges, inconsistent quality or long lead times from overseas suppliers, MPM can help.
From reverse engineering and tooling to full production and stock management, our experienced team delivers complete GRP manufacturing solutions that improve quality, reliability and supply chain resilience.
