Ultra Cems has a well established policy of offering its customers a comprehensive and joined-up low-cost sourcing service.

Called the Ultra "Blended Model", it addresses both the sourcing of low cost material for UK assembly activity and, subject to volumes and design stability, the option of graduated low-cost off-shore electronic assembly by way of a managed network of tried and tested low cost off-shore suppliers.

Low cost sourcing of raw material

Common targets:

• Raw PCB's
• Metal castings
• Metal fabrications
• Cable assemblies
• Plastic mouldings

Ultra's Blended Model offers regional low-cost sourcing according to volumes, demand pattern, technology and changes in exchange rates. With Far Eastern suppliers for larger volume more design-stable parts and nearer Central & Eastern European or UK suppliers for lower volume less stable-design parts. The Blended Model is an agile service constantly reviewing the implications of fluctuations in currency exchange rates and re-directing spend in the face of significant changes.

Graduated off-shore assembly

The Ultra Blended Model provides UK based assembly, via either of our two facilities (Cambridge / Weymouth) for new, smaller volume, higher complexity and less design-mature products, facilitating easy communications at engineering and supply chain level in order to establish the optimum test and assembly processes, prove the product design documentation and secure the right supply chain. Where higher volume sales are predicted and design stability has been achieved the Blended Model provides a migration path toward UK managed high volume low cost manufacturing. Ultra has an established network of Far Eastern and Eastern European contract electronics manufacturing partners who can provide a wide range of procurement and assembly services at attractive cost levels. Trading with Ultra Cems during the earlier UK manufacturing phase clients continue on the same basis, with Ultra Cems issuing both quotes and invoices for off-shore manufacturing in GBP. With communications in English and in the UK time zone whilst Ultra Cems staff manage communications with the off-shore manufacturer, it provides UK customers with the benefits of low cost regions and a local UK supplier!

The Ultra Blended Model offers a graduated pathway to low cost, accommodating the customer's actual sales ramp, moving off-shore at the point where actual sales ramp up or staying in the UK, using low cost material, until sales do ramp up!