Hampshire’s BEC Group leverages over 40 years of local expertise, driving the UK reshoring movement through fully integrated tooling and moulding.
Founded in 1978 by three visionary engineers, Hampshire-based BEC Group has evolved into a leading, independent toolmaking and plastic injection manufacturer. By housing the entire design-to-manufacture process on a single UK site, the company provides domestic and international sectors with an agile, highly collaborative solution.
Over the years, BEC has secured a strong reputation for its ability to react quickly to changing customer requirements, minimise delays and maintain high levels of quality assurance throughout the manufacturing process. “Every mould tool, moulding and filter we produce is manufactured at our Hampshire site, giving customers complete confidence in quality, traceability and continuity of supply,” says Katie Reed, BEC’s Commercial Director. It works with trusted, long-term partners and maintains strategic stocks of key materials where appropriate, helping to reduce risk and improve continuity of supply. For customers looking to reshore production from overseas, this integrated model provides a robust and dependable alternative to extended international supply chains.
Indeed, as a certified Made in Britain member, the ISO 9001:2015 accredited manufacturer has become a driving force in the reshoring movement. “Our membership of Made in Britain further reflects that commitment, while our ISO 9001:2015 certification and involvement with Sedex demonstrate our focus on quality, responsible business practices and ethical supply chains. We believe the future of manufacturing lies in combining world-class engineering with local expertise and strong customer partnerships.
“After many decades of watching manufacturing work being outsourced across the globe, we are now seeing much of this work returning. BEC has actively supported the reshoring movement, helping customers such as EcoEgg relocate manufacturing from overseas by offering a fully integrated, domestic solution that delivers shorter lead times, improved quality control and greater resilience.”
Key to its success is an ability to think outside the box. “Innovation at BEC Group is about far more than developing new products,” acknowledges Katie. “It is embedded throughout the entire manufacturing process-from design for manufacture advice and advanced tooling strategies to automation, material selection and production planning. Our engineering teams continually explore ways to simplify designs, improve mouldability and enhance product performance.”
Its work with sustainable materials is a great example. BEC partnered with Moulded for Your Ears and Vital Spark Creative to manufacture an over-moulded acoustic filter and cord retention system produced from discarded fishing nets. “Our filter expertise and design for manufacture service helped to create a product that combined thoughtful design, innovative techniques and sustainable materials to solve an important problem,” notes Katie.
This confidence to set new benchmarks is backed by a willingness to invest. It has “always been central to BEC Group’s growth strategy.” Over recent years, it has expanded its manufacturing capability through investment in new injection moulding machinery, including the addition of advanced Wittmann SmartPower technology, which provides greater efficiency, flexibility and precision for a broad range of customer applications. Alongside machinery investment, BEC has expanded its quality assurance department and become members of Sedex to assist customers in providing up-to-date supply chain information.
However, Katie says the Group’s biggest strength is its people. “Both the brilliant staff that work within the company, and the customers we collaborate with. We have been incredibly lucky to work with household names, automotive multinationals and local start-ups. Our experienced team working together under one roof means decisions can be made quickly, communication is direct, and projects move from concept to production far more efficiently.”
She highlights BEC’s work in the manufacture of the V Plane golf training aid. Coordinating with both V Plane and design consultancy Simple Design Works, BEC provided design-for-manufacture input from the earliest stages, reviewing CAD data and refining component geometry to optimise the product for injection moulding. Through joint material selection, tooling development and prototype evaluation, the teams identified opportunities to improve mouldability, reduce cycle times and minimise assembly complexity.
The Group also stands out for the diversity of the products and sectors it supports. “Rather than focusing on a single market, our expertise in tooling and injection moulding allows us to bring innovative ideas to life across automotive, filtration, healthcare, marine, defence and consumer products,” acknowledges Katie.
Take its bespoke filter division, for example. “Since developing our first tumble dryer filter in the early 1980s, the business has evolved into a specialist manufacturer of highly engineered filters for automotive emissions control, marine applications, beverage systems and industrial processes. Today, BEC produces thousands of bespoke filters every week, many of which are designed in close collaboration with customers’ R&D teams.”
Looking ahead, the future for BEC Group is centred on sustainable growth, continued investment and strengthening the UK’s advanced manufacturing capability. “We will continue investing in machinery, digital manufacturing technologies and the development of our people to ensure we remain at the forefront of design-led manufacturing.
“Most importantly, we will continue building long-term partnerships with customers who value collaboration, engineering expertise and the benefits of manufacturing in Britain. As supply chains evolve and businesses seek greater resilience, we believe BEC Group is well placed to help shape the future of UK manufacturing – combining more than four decades of experience with an ongoing commitment to innovation and continuous improvement.”
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