Camper van manufacturer accelerates with technology investment

A Barnsley manufacturer which has built more than 3,000 camper vans has invested in the latest technology to speed up production.

Wellhouse Leisure has bought a CNC machine with the support of a Business Productivity Grant secured through Barnsley Council’s Enterprising Barnsley programme.

The grant, designed to help SMEs improve productivity, is supported by the South Yorkshire Mayoral Combined Authority (SYMCA) and part-funded by the Government’s UK Shared Prosperity Fund (UKSPF).

It has been put towards the cost of the £83,000 Biesse Rover K FT machine, which will now be used by Wellhouse to cut all component wooden parts for fitted furniture in their van conversions.

Previously, the company sub-contracted this task to a business in Leeds.

Wellhouse Leisure CEO, David Elliott, said: “Having our own CNC machine on-site will save us so much time and money.

“We’ve worked out that we’ve paid out more than £53,000 over the years so our joiners could go and use someone else’s machine.

“On top of that, add the time and money spent on them going back and forth on a 70-mile round trip to Leeds.

“Having our own CNC machine cuts all that out; and eradicates any little hold-ups when we need to amend a piece or cut a replacement.

“It will speed up each job and make life easier for us all round – we estimate it will pay for itself within two years.”

Elliott is planning to develop more products and explore new markets with the in-house CNC machine too.

He is looking into the manufacture of flat-pack furniture kits to sell to other camper van companies and production of fittings for garden buildings and man sheds.

Business support advisor at Enterprising Barnsley, Paul Johnson, said: “We’re very pleased to support this latest bold move by Wellhouse Leisure to improve productivity and operational efficiencies at work.

“It’s great to see a manufacturing business continue to invest in Barnsley and grow. It highlights the strength of Barnsley as a great place to do business.”

Enterprising Barnsley has previously supported Wellhouse Leisure to invest in other machinery and software; developments in lean manufacturing; skills training to support new product ventures and engagement with a borough-wide Business Productivity Group.

Elliott set up Wellhouse Leisure in 2002, building on a lifetime of experience in van conversions, having previously run Deepcar Motorhomes with his father

He and wife Sarah now employ 21 people. Their Barugh Green factory manufactures, services, repairs and sells made-to-order and in-stock campers to customers nationwide.

The Business Productivity and Digitisation grant is being delivered across South Yorkshire via part-funding from South Yorkshire Mayoral Combined Authority (SYMCA) and £5.2m of investment through the UK Shared Prosperity Fund (UKSPF).