Reshoring Manufacturing to the UK: Flambeau Europe’s Partnership with Makita

Introduction: A Global Brand with Local Challenges

Makita, one of the world’s most recognised power tool brands, is continuously looking for efficiency gains in its European supply chain. For years, empty connector cases were manufactured centrally in China and Romania and distributed to regional assembly centres, including Telford in the UK. The extended supply chain process created issues such as increased warehousing, lengthy lead times, and more cost and complexity if a quality issue was encountered, to overcome the issue due to the volume of product in the supply chain. Increased packaging was required to protect the product being shipped over longer distances, and the environmental impact of the freight was greater. All of which provided the opportunity to provide a locally sourced solution… Optimising the complete supply chain, through reshoring manufacturing to the UK.

In 2019, initial conversations began between Makita and Flambeau, and by late 2022, the first UK-made connector cases were rolling off a brand new assembly cell in Ramsgate. By 2023, Flambeau was supplying Makita UK, Telford, at full volume. The result: the partnership with our injection moulding capabilities created a leaner, more resilient supply chain and earned recognition with a 2024 Makita Supplier Award.

Reshoring Manufacturing to the UK: A Leaner, Smarter Supply Chain

Flambeau Europe’s UK-based production immediately reduced Makita’s dependency on long, global supply chains. Reshoring manufacturing to the UK brought a series of tangible operational and financial benefits:

• Reduced warehousing costs: With Flambeau’s Just-In-Time (JIT) manufacturing model, Makita no longer needed two large warehouses in Telford to store empty imported cases. Less warehousing means less space and less working capital tied up in inventory, freeing resources for growth and investment elsewhere.
• Greater flexibility: With production based in the UK, demand can be driven by forecast. This allows Makita to place a call-off order for multiple product sizes one day and if essential, receive it the next day. This agility reduces buffer stock, lowers storage costs, and allows faster response to customer demand.
• Improved transport efficiency: Palletised products maximise truck loads, while minimal packaging cuts costs for the customer and reduces waste. Transport becomes smarter, not just cheaper.
• Dramatically lower rejection rates: Eliminating long-distance shipping meant that product damage during transit virtually disappeared. That in turn reduced rework, avoided delays, and stopped unnecessary costs from flowing back into the supply chain.

Reshoring production with a trusted local partner like Flambeau transforms the supply chain into a profit enabler rather than a cost burden. For Makita, it has meant greater reliability, reduced financial risk, and better ability to serve their customers.

Heavy Investment to Support Reshoring Manufacturing to the UK

To make this partnership possible, Flambeau Europe invested over £2 million into the project. We purchased seven brand-new injection moulding machines and creating a dedicated manufacturing cell for Makita connector cases. We strategically positioned each machine for maximum efficiency, allowing the cell to produce finished cases with key machines close to one another.

Additional investments included:

• Upgraded drying technology: improving overall production quality.
• A visual camera system: automatically detecting possible issues such as missing latches hence reducing human error and improving product consistency.
• Spectrometer testing: ensuring precise colour matching for Makita’s brand standards, setting a new benchmark for accuracy across Flambeau and Makita globally.

These improvements not only benefited Makita but also raised production standards across Flambeau’s wider customer base.

Driving Cost Efficiency Through Smart Solutions

Flambeau Europe continually works with Makita to optimise costs without compromising on quality. We have already successfully implemented two major initiatives:

• Colour consistency: Using a spectrometer to maintain colour consistency between the lid and base, which could vary if different colourant batches are used on the different machines. Working with our suppliers on incoming consistency has eliminated this issue.
• Variable shipment load configuration: speeding up logistics, improving load reliability, and delivering what the customer needs JIT to keep their lines supplied.

The outcome is a supply chain that delivers more value at every stage — from manufacturing and logistics to final delivery at Makita’s facilities. Learn more about how reshoring boosts efficiency in Cost Savings with UK Injection Moulders: The True Value of Staying Local.

A Partnership Strengthened by Reshoring Manufacturing to the UK

Clear communication, transparency, and cross-functional collaboration — from procurement and quality to operations and logistics — define the relationship between Flambeau Europe and Makita.

Makita formally recognised this approach’s success with the 2024 Supplier Award. Furthermore, the partnership continues to grow stronger, with positive recognition extending across Makita’s European operations and even back to Japan. Later in 2025, Flambeau will proudly welcome Makita’s Procurement Director from Japan to its Ramsgate facility.

Most importantly, this is not a static success story. Flambeau and Makita are actively exploring new projects and initiatives to expand the partnership further. Ensuring that it continues to deliver efficiency, innovation, and value for years to come. Learn more about the broader reshoring trend in Is UK Manufacturing Making a Comeback? The Role of Injection Moulding in Reshoring Production.

Results at a Glance

• ✅ Reduced warehousing costs and freed up capital
• ✅ Faster turnaround thanks to Just-In-Time local production
• ✅ Reduced global supply chain risk & transport-related defects
• ✅ Over £2 million invested in new machines & dedicated cell
• ✅ Higher quality and brand consistency through innovation
• ✅ Smarter cost control via raw material standardisation & automation
• ✅ Recognised with the 2024 Makita Supplier Award

Conclusion: Reshoring Manufacturing to the UK as a Pathway to Growth

The Makita–Flambeau partnership demonstrates how reshoring manufacturing to the UK is about far more than proximity. It delivers profitability, sustainability, and resilience.

By investing heavily in local capability, Flambeau helped Makita streamline operations, cut waste, and unlock new levels of efficiency while safeguarding quality and supply security. The benefits ripple across the business: lower costs, faster market response, reduced environmental footprint, and stronger customer satisfaction.

Ultimately, this is more than a supplier relationship. The Makita partnership is a collaboration built on shared values and long-term trust. And with new projects on the horizon, the Flambeau–Makita partnership promises to deliver even greater value in the years ahead.

Interested in exploring reshoring solutions for your business? Contact Flambeau Europe today to discuss how we can help streamline your operations.