REPL International is a leading manufacturer of cable products for electricity utilities world-wide.

The company has extensive experience – spanning more than 35 years – in producing heatshrink, coldshrink and pre-moulded products used to join and terminate power cables in distribution networks.

The challenge

For two decades, REPL experienced positive growth by focusing on sales and marketing while developing an effective worldwide distribution channel.

However, due to increasing global competition and the market’s rapidly changing technical requirements, the company recognised that continued success would require clear differentiation from
its competitors.

Rather than being just another market player, REPL sought to be an innovator. The necessary enhancements to the durability and functionality of its product required advanced technical capability and knowledge of polymeric formulations, but their in-house expertise in this area was limited.

The solution

A two-year Knowledge Transfer Partnership (KTP) gave the company access to expertise in the University’s Department of Materials as well as 67% project funding from Innovate UK.

During the course of the project, REPL successfully developed its in-house research and development around polymeric formulations and enhanced its manufacturing capability – raising its global profile as one of just a handful of companies able to create certain compounds.

The benefits

The new materials developed as a result of the partnership have provided REPL’s customers with significantly advanced products with greater longevity, giving the company a considerable competitive edge.

In addition, the project enhanced the knowledge and skills of REPL’s workforce, leading to improved procedures and methodologies to support future developments.

Some of these innovations are helping the company to improve margins and efficiency by reducing the cost of certain processes while improving product quality.

As a direct result of the KTP, the company forecasts a £2 million increase in annual turnover and a rise of almost £1 million in annual profits within three years.