Onward and definitely upward

Reflecting on 2011, Mills CNC's managing director Nick Frampton has described the year as ‘truly exceptional'. “472 orders for new Doosan machines were taken up to year end which equates to our order intake by value – let alone by volume – is up 55% up on 2010, up 113% on 2009 and, more impressively, up 47% on 2007 which was, up until now, our previous best ever year. And, because sales have remained strong throughout the year and certainly in this last quarter, we are going forward into 2012 with our largest and strongest looking forward order book ever.”

Encouragingly, 32% of all machine orders during 2011 were from new customers across the UK and Ireland and over 90% of those orders were fulfilled direct from stock. With 112 machines sold, the new frame Doosan Puma 8 inch, 10 inch and 12 inch chuck lathes were the stars of the show. Other turning machine highlights included sales of large capacity, (up to 32 inch chuck size), Puma lathes and the smaller Lynx 220 and 300 series lathes, which collectively accounted for 168 machines sold.

On the milling side, Doosan DNM 3-axis verticals continued to be a first choice for many manufacturers, with 94 machines sold while the larger range of Mynx vertical machines, the Doosan range of VC (twin pallet) verticals and Doosan horizontal machining centres also had a significant impact on sales.

Multi-axis machine tools, including Doosan mill/turn centres, twin turret/twin spindle machines and 5-axis milling machines, large horizontal borers and vertical turning lathes – many sold as part of turnkey solutions – were also in high demand.

Mills' investment is not purely in machine tools however. The company has recruited additional service and PDI engineers as well as appointing a new service manager and a new parts administrator. This is in addition to a recently completed £100K revamp of its Operations Centre, stores and the CNC Training Academy.

“2011 was unquestionably a great year for us but we are now focused on the future and on making 2012 equally successful,” Mr Frampton concluded. “We have a number of new machines coming on stream over the next few months including a new range of Lynx sub-spindle lathes and new horizontal machines that will be available from Spring 2012, and which we will be launching at MACH 2012.'

Mills CNC
www.millscnc.co.uk