Penybryn Engineering is a family-run firm based in South Wales offering a series of general, precision and conservation engineering services. From toolmaking to machining and fabricating, Penybryn Engineering works with a range of materials on a daily basis, requiring various non-ferrous metals and ancillary plastics.

Dave Thomas, Managing Director, turned to Matsource to trial a new method of material procurement – and it didn’t take long for the platform to become a key part of Penybryn Engineering’s material sourcing strategy…

Getting started with Matsource

Using any new software comes with a learning curve – but for Dave, getting to grips with Matsource was a straightforward experience.

“When I started using Matsource, I found the platform very intuitive,” commented Dave. “Everything I needed to start sourcing materials was right in front of me, which made it self-explanatory. I put in a few requests to see what my options were, and received quotes from suppliers very quickly – and in the time I’ve been using the platform, the number of quotes I receive for each request has grown significantly.”

Having costs and delivery times clearly indicated against each quote has made it easier for Penybryn Engineering to choose the best option for each project, prioritising price or speed of delivery depending on the situation.

“The platform puts all the information we need to make a decision front and centre, so it’s easy to get a clear picture of what’s available.”

Accessing new opportunities

Dave is now regularly using Matsource to source materials for Penybryn Engineering, and has seen success purchasing stainless steel bars, pre-machined materials, aluminium billets and more.

“All of our orders have arrived on time, and the range of materials has been perfect for us. We can now source plastics through Matsource too, which is a great help. It’s been a handy complement to our traditional methods of material sourcing, and is something I can see us using more and more,” explained Dave.

Penybryn Engineering previously worked with a small group of preferred suppliers, which could cause issues when there were local material shortages. Through Matsource, Dave has ordered from suppliers that are further afield but still able to deliver within a similar timeframe. On top of bringing these suppliers to Dave’s attention, Matsource simplified the process of commencing with new businesses by receiving all payments through the platform rather than requiring Penybryn Engineering to set up new payees for each order.

“I’m very pleased with our experiences using Matsource so far – I didn’t need to spend a long time learning how to use it, and we’re now requesting and receiving quotes most days. It’s a great tool to have in our arsenal!”

To find out more about how Matsource can support your business, find out more about sourcing materials or visit our dedicated supplier landing page.