Northern Ireland, September 13, 2025
News Summary
Northern Ireland manufacturer Grays Clip implemented the MRPeasy manufacturing ERP system before taking commercial orders for its ViperClip cable fastening products. The six-month deployment now manages procurement, production planning, barcode labelling, invoicing and serial-number traceability, supporting subcontracted assembly of the ViperClip Gun. Founders moved to digital systems after a decade of development and recent investor funding to ensure quality control, smoother order fulfilment and clearer financial visibility as the business scales into international residential markets. Early benefits include improved inventory control, automated production scheduling, multi-channel pricing and faster returns and root-cause analysis.
Grays Clip installs MRPeasy ERP before selling the ViperClip after a decade of development and investor backing
What happened
Grays Clip, a Northern Ireland manufacturer of an innovative cable fastener and matching power tool, put an enterprise resource planning system in place before the company took its first commercial orders. The system chosen was MRPeasy, installed to manage purchasing, production, quality tracking and invoicing as the company moved from prototype to sales.
Why this matters
The timing is significant because the company completed roughly 10 years of development on a new product family — the ViperClip plastic staple and the battery-powered ViperClip Gun — and secured investor funding via a televised investment pitch before starting full manufacturing and distribution. Installing an ERP before launching sales means Grays Clip began shipping with a system that tracks parts through procurement, production, subcontract assembly and final delivery, rather than trying to add the software while handling live orders.
Product and safety details
The ViperClip system replaces the traditional process of individually nailing metal-tacked clips into joists with a rechargeable staple gun that fires fully insulated plastic staples. The staples are completely plastic to avoid electrical conductivity and meet regulatory needs that require cable support during a fire. The design is intended to make cable fastening faster, less physically taxing and safer for electricians working on residential builds where 240 volt systems are common.
Founders and funding
The company was founded by an electrician-turned-entrepreneur from Lisburn, working with his wife, an experienced business analyst. They invested personal savings, sold assets and committed over a decade to product development. With limited funds in 2021 they applied to a TV investment programme and won backing after a public pitch. One investor offered the full funding requested but for a larger equity share than originally proposed; the founders accepted the revised deal. That investor funding, along with angel investors organised through a private investor network, helped the company move to manufacturing and global distribution.
Why MRPeasy was chosen
The business analyst co-founder assessed available software and found many options either too complex or too basic for their needs. A recommendation led them to MRPeasy, which they judged to sit between those extremes in usability and function. The team aimed to have the system live before accepting customer orders to avoid operational disruption from a midstream software rollout.
Implementation and operations
Implementing MRPeasy took about six months. The timeline was extended by internal delays rather than by software complexity. Once live, the ERP began to manage the full item journey: procurement of raw materials, subcontracted manufacture of the ViperClip Guns, quality monitoring, serial-number-level tracking, returns and invoicing. Subcontract manufacture made traceability critical; the ERP stores detailed digital records for each serial number so the team can trace quality issues back to suppliers or internal steps and act quickly when problems arise.
Planning, stock and sales
The planning tools in MRPeasy let Grays Clip convert projected demand into manufacturing orders. The system checks inventory and capacity, automatically calculates order needs, and schedules production so staff and stock align with incoming orders. Different price lists in the ERP support distributor bulk pricing as well as single-item retail orders handled through an online store. Invoicing is created in MRPeasy and synchronised with the company accounting system to provide an overview of pending invoices, cash flow and other financial metrics. Label printing with barcodes has also sped up packing and shipping.
Market potential and testing
Independent electrician testing conducted prior to launch returned strong interest in the product, and the founders presented the solution as a labour-saving device suited to large 240 volt residential markets. Commentary during the investment pitch highlighted particular demand in major construction markets that are building millions of homes annually and seeking labour-saving tools.
Quality focus and returns
Quality assurance remains central to operations. The company conducts extra in-house inspections, monitors subcontractor quality data, and uses ERP-managed returns processes to maintain customer service standards. Serial-number traceability supports fast identification of faulty batches and helps determine whether an issue stems from a supplier or an internal process.
What this means going forward
Starting commercial shipments with MRPeasy already in place gives Grays Clip a structured foundation for scaling production and reaching international customers. The ERP’s planning, traceability and financial features are designed to reduce duplicated data entry, shorten response times for quality issues and streamline everyday packing and shipping tasks.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the ViperClip system?
The ViperClip system is a fully plastic cable staple and a rechargeable battery-powered staple gun designed to fasten electrical cables more quickly and safely than traditional metal-tacked clips.
Who founded Grays Clip and how was it funded?
The business was founded by an electrician and his wife, the latter a business analyst. They used personal savings and secured investment through a televised investor pitch and support from angel investors organised by a private investor network.
Why did the company implement MRPeasy before launching sales?
They wanted an integrated system to connect procurement, production, quality control and finance. Implementing the ERP ahead of sales reduced the risk of operational disruption and ensured order traceability from day one.
How long did MRPeasy implementation take?
The implementation took around six months, with delays largely caused by internal factors rather than the software itself.
How does the ERP help with quality control?
MRPeasy enables serial-number-level tracking, stores subcontractor quality data, manages returns and creates a digital audit trail to trace issues back to specific batches, suppliers or production steps.
Can MRPeasy handle different pricing and sales channels?
Yes. The system supports multiple price lists for distributor bulk pricing and single-item retail sales handled through an online storefront, while synchronising invoicing with accounting software.
Key features at a glance
| Feature | Purpose | Benefit |
|---|---|---|
| MRPeasy ERP | Integrates procurement, production, quality and finance | Reduces data duplication, improves planning and traceability |
| Serial-number tracking | Monitors individual product history | Speeds fault tracing and supports returns handling |
| Production planning | Converts demand forecasts into manufacturing orders | Aligns stock and staffing with orders to meet delivery dates |
| Label and barcode printing | Creates package labels during packing | Faster, more accurate dispatch and inventory control |
| Multiple price lists | Supports distributor and retail pricing models | Flexible sales channel management and consistent invoicing |
| Subcontractor quality monitoring | Collects supplier quality data | Helps identify whether issues are internal or supplier-related |
Deeper Dive: News & Info About This Topic
Additional Resources
- SyncNI: NI couple strike big on Dragons’ Den with electrician’s invention
- Wikipedia: ViperClip
- The Irish News: Business Angels Network in call for new investors and more pitch candidates
- Google Search: Business Angels Network Northern Ireland
- Insider Media: Angel investment network marks busy first year after backing six companies
- Google Scholar: angel investment network ireland
- IEN: MRPeasy — Dragons’ Den winners implement manufacturing ERP before going to market
- Encyclopedia Britannica: Enterprise resource planning
Author: Construction CA News
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