HMC builder records positive MACH 2006 results

Horizontal machining centre builder, Heller Machine Tools, reported very positive results from the UK's MACH 2006 show and received two major orders at the event for six machines each.

Heller Machine Tools, manufacturer of horizontal machining centres, is reporting 'very positive results' from the MACH 2006 show.

Managing director Geoff Lloyd said: "We set ourselves an aggressive target for serious enquiries from companies which would be investing in our type of project during the next 12 months.

We realized triple the target number.

Many of the enquiries were from companies with which we have had no previous dealings." He added: "During the show we received two major orders, each for six machines, and witnessed two of our customers achieve Metalworking Awards for their outstanding performance.

One of those - Perkins (Stafford) - received the greatest accolade of all, the top Grand Prix Award for its production system for the Perkins 4000 engine.

We were delighted with the results when the show ended, and already have a number of companies visiting our plant in Redditch to pursue their initial enquiry.

We were particularly pleased that the enquiries came from the broadest possible range of companies, from small sub-contractors through to large OEMs in a wide variety of industries." Heller has an established presence in the UK market for manufacturing productive, powerful and robust horizontal machining centres, supported by very strong application engineering, tooling and fixture design, customer training and service.

"We wanted to both reinforce this message and build on it during the show," said Lloyd, he continued: "And we succeeded in doing so.

We had three stands at MACH, the largest number of any single company.

Each was placed in the most appropriate position for our customers, with the Machine Tool stand in Hall 5, and both the Engineering Support stand and Customer Service and Support stand in the ancillary-support area in Hall 4.

This enabled customers to take full advantage of the Heller Package, using our profound expertise and experience in manufacturing to enhance their own productivity." Each of the Heller stands was staffed by specialist engineering technicians so that customers could receive whatever information, advice and assistance they needed in order to resolve their specific production requirement.

It is in particular this aspect of Heller - The Heller Package - which sets the company apart from its competitors.

With its manufacturing plant in Redditch, Worcestershire, the company has a virtually unlimited ability to serve the market.

Lloyd said: "It is our ability to support the customer from the very earliest point in the design process through to the smallest detail of spares supply which provides our customers with the production and commercial advantage necessary in the modern manufacturing environment." Lloyd continued: "The value of our service is proven by the Metalworking Awards won by two of our customers.

Both projects utilise Heller horizontal machining centres.

The success of each project illustrates the value of the cost effective partnership which we provide.

Mahle Powertrain received the Award for Best Sub-contractor (machining) for its excellent performance as a sub-contractor machinist of the JCB engine and Perkins Engines (Stafford) the Productivity Award and the best-in-show Grand Prix Award for its extraordinary improvements in productivity in the manufacture of the Perkins 4000 diesel engine." Lloyd commented: Companies no longer have the spare capacity to dedicate to the development of a project or to re-evaluate their production methods.

This is where Heller fits in - we do not simply supply the machine but we are willing and able to devote highly skilled engineers to each project to work alongside our customers' engineers to ensure that the best production system is created and then to ensure that system operates to its optimum at all times.".

Back to top