Hurco open house is a record breaker

According to managing director, Dave Waghorn, it was by far the best attendance ever and gave a boost to the second month of the company's new financial year, which had already started well with 37 orders placed in November 2011. One was a VMX30t 3-axis machining centre to Cobra Seats, Telford – a specialist manufacturer of racing car seats, which customised one of its products with Hurco's logo for display at the open house.

Particularly noteworthy was Hurco's turnover last year, which was 50% up on 2009/10 and exceeded that of the previous best year – 2008 – by 25%. Lathe sales doubled to account for 20% of new machine orders. Particularly pleasing was that 44% of business was with new users of Hurco machines.

Mr Waghorn commented: “Our buoyant sales allowed us to employ a further seven staff across the company last year, mainly in technical support, service and spares. A further consequence of the high level of machining and turning centre sales is that Hurco will take its largest ever stand (250m²) at MACH 2012. This is just as well, as we will exhibit our second-largest machine, the 45 tonne DCX22 bridge type machining centre with 2,200mm x 1,700mm x 750mm travels."

An interesting aspect of recent order intake is that average value is greater than in previous years. Part of the reason is the migration of 4-axis machining centre users to higher value 5-axis models, which are selling particularly well. A dozen mid-range VMX30U 5-axis models alone were shipped in 2010/11 and Mr Waghorn expects that figure to double next year.

Further reasons for the higher unit order value is the increasing popularity of extra functionality, such as higher spindle speed options, full swarf management, through-tool coolant, and especially part and tool probing, the supply of which was 40% up on last year.

As always, products from a number of partner companies were in evidence at the show including CAD/CAM software from Open Mind and Delcam, tooling from SGS, Gewefa and Ceratizit, coolants and cutting oils from MacInnes Tooling, Roemheld and 1st MTA/Kitagawa workholding equipment and rotary tables, Renishaw probing solutions, and Finance for Industry.

Hurco Europe
www.hurco.co.uk