A Proposal for
Ultralon
Flexible PVC Marine Decking
Background
Ultralon Foam International, a subsidiary of Skellerup Holdings Limited, is the established market leader in foam marine decking through its U-Dek range, supplied through a global network of installers and fabricators across Australia, New Zealand, the United States, and Europe. Ultralon is now extending its range with a flexible PVC marine decking sheet aimed at larger and permanently moored vessels, a segment where a harder wearing surface and longer uninterrupted runs are required and where the current foam based product is not the right fit.
The target product is a dual layer co-extruded flexible PVC laminate in contrasting colours, supplied in sheet or roll format. CNC machining, inlay work, and finishing are performed by Ultralon at its own facilities, supported by an in-house product development centre that will carry out validation testing.
Ultralon comes to this engagement well prepared. A full written specification has been issued, competitor materials have been independently lab analysed, target performance criteria are defined, and an NDA is in place between our companies. C2W Group’s role is to identify, qualify, and secure the right manufacturing partner, with the search starting in China and Southeast Asia held in reserve, and to support the program through sampling, validation, and into production.
Volume and Timeline Targets
| Item | Target |
|---|---|
| Launch market | Australia and New Zealand, with expansion to US and EU to follow |
| Year 1 volume | 100,000 sheets per year (per Ultralon requirement document, June 2026) |
| Supplier visits | August 2026, aligned with Richard’s planned travel in the region |
| Validation samples | September 2026 |
| Market ready product | February 2027 |
The August visit window is the anchor for the program plan. Prompt confirmation of this engagement allows the supplier shortlist, RFQ feedback, and visit itinerary to be in place ahead of that trip.
Sourcing Program Scope
Both commercial options below deliver the same sourcing outcome through the same two stage process, and both are billed monthly, reflecting the technical depth of the program. They differ in the monthly rate and in what happens once a supplier is qualified.
Option 1: Sourcing and Handover Engagement
Option 1 delivers the full Stage 1 and Stage 2 scope for a monthly engagement fee of $6,500 USD, running month to month from kickoff until the selected supplier is qualified and handed over to Ultralon. Based on the current specification and timeline, we estimate six to nine months through to the first production order.
The monthly structure reflects the technical nature of this program. Sample iteration, process and machine adaptation at the supplier, and specification refinement will continue for as long as the product needs them, and the monthly model keeps that work covered without renegotiating scope partway through.
On qualification, the supplier relationship is handed over to Ultralon with full documentation, and Ultralon manages the supplier directly from that point. Ad hoc support remains available afterwards at standard rates, including onsite QC inspections and further factory audits, should Ultralon require independent eyes on the ground at any point.
The monthly fee under Option 1 is higher than under Option 2 because the engagement ends at handover and carries no ongoing supply relationship.
Option 2: Managed Supply Program
Option 2 covers the same full Stage 1 and Stage 2 scope at a lower monthly rate, with C2W remaining in place as Ultralon’s supply partner in China after qualification, managing the supplier relationship, order execution, quality control, and the ongoing engineering coordination between the supplier and the Ultralon team in New Zealand.
Monthly Engagement Fee: $5,000 USD per month from kickoff. This covers a dedicated bilingual technical project manager in our China head office, engineering support for specification, sample iteration, and process adaptation, and all supplier communications, coordination, and reporting. The lower monthly rate reflects the ongoing supply relationship. The monthly fee is reviewed once production is established and stable.
Margin on Purchases: applied to the factory price on all orders placed through C2W.
| Order Value | Margin on Factory Price |
|---|---|
| Orders below $50,000 USD | 7.5% |
| Orders above $50,000 USD | 5% |
The margin covers all purchasing operations (finance management and payments), legal documentation (purchase orders and Chinese entity contracts), and onsite factory QC inspections for all orders placed through C2W. This keeps order management, quality control, and payment control synchronised under one accountable partner, which is the single most effective risk control available when manufacturing in China.
Option Comparison
| Option 1: Sourcing and Handover | Option 2: Managed Supply | |
|---|---|---|
| Monthly fee | $6,500 per month | $5,000 per month |
| Margin on orders | None | 7.5% / 5% on factory price |
| Duration | Month to month until supplier handover | Through qualification and into production |
| Supplier relationship | Handed over to Ultralon | Managed by C2W on Ultralon’s behalf |
| Factory QC on orders | Available at standard rates | Included within margin |
| Engineering coordination | Until handover | Ongoing throughout the program |
| Best suited to | Full in-house supplier management | Supported ramp with on the ground presence in Asia |
Should Ultralon begin under Option 1 and subsequently prefer ongoing managed supply, we will propose conversion terms at that point.
Exclusions
The fees above cover all research, supplier engagement, RFQ management, sampling coordination, audit work as described, reporting, and program coordination. The following are excluded and would be approved by Ultralon on a case by case basis:
Payment Terms
| Option | Component | Payment Trigger |
|---|---|---|
| Option 1 | $6,500 USD per month | Invoiced monthly in advance, from kickoff until supplier handover |
| Option 2 | $5,000 USD per month | Invoiced monthly in advance from kickoff |
| Option 2 | Margin on purchases | Invoiced per order alongside the factory price |
Safeguards and Clarifications
Stage 1 opens with a technical kickoff session to lock the practical sourcing specification, including sheet width strategy, the PSA supply position, and delivery terms, so suppliers are quoting against a single settled requirement.
The search starts in China, which offers the deepest supplier base, fastest movement, and best pricing for this product category. If the China search does not yield the right partner, Southeast Asian options will be assessed and presented before any change of direction.
Ultralon specifications, designs, and surface patterns are released to suppliers on a controlled basis under confidentiality protection and remain Ultralon IP throughout. Where a candidate supplier serves other decking brands, arm’s length separation will be confirmed as part of qualification.
We will use our full supplier network and best efforts to identify qualified sources. As with any sourcing program, we cannot guarantee that suppliers meeting every specification and budget target will be found. Where compromises are needed, options will be presented for your decision.
Timeline estimates assume reasonable supplier responsiveness. The August visit window is achievable on prompt confirmation of this engagement.
Both options run month to month with no long term lock in. Either party may end the engagement with 30 days written notice.
Why C2W Group
C2W Group has operated on the ground in China since 2005, providing sourcing, supply chain management, and quality control for Western manufacturers and brands. The group includes Shield Works, our own ISO certified precision manufacturing and engineering facility in Zhuhai, which gives this program genuine in-house engineering capability rather than a trading desk passing messages between you and a factory.
Next Steps
We look forward to working with you on this program.
Mark Jacobs
CEO, C2W Group / Shield Works
June 2026