Leveraging five decades of dedicated service to its customers, Trojan Baths is one of the largest manufacturers of acrylic baths in Europe. We speak to David Mosley, Managing Director, about the company’s simple beginnings, upcoming 50th anniversary, and plans for an innovative future.
WORKING LIKE A TROJAN
Creating more than just an appealing bathroom setting, Trojan Baths – a proud family-owned manufacturing business in West Yorkshire, UK – is on a mission to enable spaces where relaxation and luxury seamlessly merge.
Established in 1975 with humble beginnings, Trojan Baths (Trojan) has a long and hard-earned history of manufacturing high-quality acrylic baths, setting industry standards both nationally and overseas.
“We specialise in producing premium acrylic baths and gel coat shower trays, serving diverse markets across the UK and the Middle East with some products also going into Europe,” introduces David Mosley, Managing Director.
With 180 employees working across three state-of-the-art manufacturing facilities, the company combines traditional craftsmanship with modern techniques to deliver exceptional bathroom solutions.
Its product range caters to various sectors, such as the DIY and commercial markets, alongside manufacturing baths on an original equipment manufacturer (OEM) and white label basis to customers’ individual and specific needs.
What sets Trojan apart from the competition is its unwavering commitment to long-term sustainable growth and excellence in the industry, ultimately granting it the reputation of being one of Europe’s leading bath manufacturers.
“Our philosophy of continuous investment in technology and infrastructure provides confidence and stability to our entire business ecosystem – from customers to suppliers and our employees,” expands Mosley.
Equally, being a family-owned company enables Trojan to make agile, forward-thinking decisions that aren’t solely driven by immediate returns on investment.
It acts on experienced-based intuition and market understanding, enabling the company to maintain strategic manufacturing capacity that can be rapidly upscaled to meet customer demand – a significant advantage over competitors who may face lengthy equipment procurement delays.
However, most importantly, Trojan’s streamlined management structure and hands-on leadership approach ensure direct oversight of operations and swift decision-making.
“We maintain a culture where quality takes precedence over marginal profit gains, reflecting our long-term view of business relationships and reputations,” specifies Mosley.
“This commitment to excellence has earned us the trust of customers across multiple markets and contributed to our position as a leading manufacturer in the industry.”
THE BEST IN BRITISH MANUFACTURING
Recently, Trojan made a strategic £750,000 investment into its shower tray division, Traymate, which consists of specialist shower tray products.
This significant development for the business stemmed from external circumstances, as the company’s landlord in Purfleet, Essex announced plans to renovate the site.
Trojan seized this opportunity to consolidate its operations by relocating Traymate to Huddersfield, West Yorkshire.
“This relocation provided the perfect catalyst to comprehensively modernise our shower tray manufacturing capabilities,” details Mosley.
“In line with our philosophy of building spare capacity through strategic investment, we implemented several major upgrades.”
These included the installation of a state-of-the-art casting machine, a new curing tunnel, advanced vacuum lifting equipment, semi-automated packing systems, and a complete replacement of master moulds.
The decision to replace the master moulds, whilst one of the costliest elements, was crucial to production mould quality and the final product.
“This investment reflects our unwavering commitment to maintaining the highest quality standards across all our product lines,” furthers Mosley.
The relocation also resulted in the successful development of the company’s workforce, as it recruited local talent and trained them in sophisticated manufacturing processes.
The enthusiasm and dedication shown by these employees have exceeded Trojan’s expectations, with many quickly becoming valued, skilled members of its production team.
“This transition demonstrates our ability to build and develop a skilled workforce while maintaining our high manufacturing standards.”
“Looking ahead to the next 50 years, our approach remains fundamentally unchanged – we’ll continue to ‘work like a Trojan’, staying true to the values and work ethic that have driven our success since 1975”
David Mosley, Managing Director, Trojan Baths
AN ENDURING COMMITMENT TO EXCELLENCE
The company is seeking to build upon its commitment to British manufacturing, quality, and innovation through capital expenditure (CapEx) planned for Q1 2025.
Specifically, Trojan has committed to a £180,000 investment programme that further demonstrates its dedication to advancing British manufacturing excellence.
“This investment focuses on implementing cutting-edge automation and Industry 4.0 technologies across our production facilities,” expands Mosley.
Key elements of this modernisation programme include advanced automation systems for critical production line processes, enhanced material distribution systems for improved efficiency, the integration of radio frequency identification (RFID) technology in casting machines, and the implementation of real-time production monitoring and data analytics.
Whilst such technologies have been established in automotive manufacturing, Trojan is strategically adapting them for its own industry, positioning the company at the forefront of innovation in bathroom product manufacturing.
“This investment ensures we continue to meet growing market demand whilst upholding our reputation for quality,” insights Mosley.
Equally as significant in 2025 is the company’s 50th anniversary, which represents a remarkable milestone in its history.
Trojan plans to celebrate in a manner that properly reflects its Yorkshire heritage and values by organising a special event that will bring together the heart of the company – its employees – alongside loyal suppliers who have been integral to the journey.
“The inclusion of our long-standing suppliers, some of whom have partnered with us since we were founded, speaks to the enduring relationships and loyalty that have been crucial to our success,” details Mosley.
“Looking ahead to the next 50 years, our approach remains fundamentally unchanged – we’ll continue to ‘work like a Trojan’, staying true to the values and work ethic that have driven our success since 1975.”
For the company, this entails maintaining its commitment to manufacturing excellence, continuous investment in innovation, and preserving its hands-on, sleeves-rolled-up approach to business.
“Whilst the manufacturing landscape will undoubtedly evolve, our dedication to quality British manufacturing and customer service will remain unwavering,” prides Mosley.
“Manufacturing excellence is at the heart of the Trojan Difference and is our unwavering commitment to quality British manufacturing”
David Mosley, Managing Director, Trojan Baths
THE TROJAN DIFFERENCE
Representing the company’s distinctive approach to bath manufacturing that has constantly evolved since its inception, the ‘Trojan Difference’ has continued to set it apart as a true industry trendsetter.
“Manufacturing excellence is at the heart of the Trojan Difference and is our unwavering commitment to quality British manufacturing,” dictates Mosley.
Trojan has established itself as an industry frontrunner by setting manufacturing standards that others aspire to match, both domestically and internationally.
This excellence stems from decades of experience combined with continuous investment in modern production capabilities.
The company’s investment-driven innovation, value proposition, people-centric approach, and craftsmanship heritage are likewise critical to the passion and drive behind the Trojan Difference.
“It extends beyond manufacturing to encompass our relationship with customers. We prioritise knowledge sharing and focus on building an understanding of our products and manufacturing processes throughout our customers’ organisations,” specifies Mosley.
As Trojan continues to look towards another five decades of high-quality service, its priorities reflect both the challenges and opportunities ahead, particularly in its shower tray division.
Whilst the company’s substantial investment in this area demonstrates confidence in its potential, it is taking a pragmatic approach to the challenges faced, with a strategic focus centring on several key areas, including marketing positioning, business development, financial recovery, and market competition.
Regarding the former, Trojan has deliberately positioned itself in the mid-to-premium market segment, offering design-led shower trays manufactured using superior materials and advanced production techniques.
Additionally, looking at the market competition, the company is realistic about the challenges of entering a market dominated by established players but confident in its ability to carve out its niche through superior product quality and service by focusing on building sustainable market share rather than pursuing rapid expansion.
“The foundation of these priorities is straightforward – drive sales through demonstrating value to our customers. We recognise that commercial success is essential for sustaining investment in quality, innovation, and our workforce,” concludes Mosley.
