EDITORIAL ROUNDUP

Vigilance Group names new sales engineer

The Vigilance Group, comprising MACH Machine Tools and Machine Tools Sales Online (MTSO), has strengthened its sales operation in the north of England with the appointment of Jack Varley, as the group’s new northern sales engineer. Previously employed at Nikken UK as an apprentice engineer before progressing, within the company, into a number of applications, service and sales positions, Varley brings a wealth of experience to the role.

Commenting on the new appointment, Matt Andrew, MACH Machine Tools’ sales director, says: “We’re delighted to have Jack on board and confident he can help increase market share. We’ve always done well in the north but, having our own representative based in the region will help accelerate growth and capitalise on the many opportunities that exist there. In the next month or so, we’ll be doing something similar in the Midlands.”
For further information www.machmt.co.uk

£550,000 sales boost

Educating companies on the manufacturing benefits of etching is paying off for a Telford-based precision component specialist. Advanced Chemical Etching (ACE) has enjoyed a £550,000 sales boost in the first six months of 2023 after securing a string of new contracts with clients in the aerospace, automotive, electronics and, more recently, the space sector.
This marks a 13% increase on the same period last year and, in order to cope with the renewed demand from customers in the UK and overseas, the company has recruited a further 15 people.
For further information www.ace-uk.net

BLM Group to stage open house

At its headquarters in Levico Terme, Italy, BLM Group will host a new edition of its
open house. Specialising in the production of tube and sheet metal processing machines, BLM is opening its plant doors for two weeks (20 September to 4 October) to welcome its customers. The event will occupy a total exhibition area of more than 10,000 sq m divided into four main technical hubs, where attendees will have the opportunity to get hands-on with the latest innovations among the group’s various technologies: tube laser, sheet laser, 3D laser cutting cells, tube benders, wire benders, sawing machines and tube shapers.
For further information www.blmgroup.com/innova

Ward CNC grows sales team

Following an increase in customer demand, TW Ward CNC Machinery Ltd (Ward CNC) is further enhancing its sales network with the appointment of Grant Gavin, who joins as regional sales manager for Scotland. Gavin had 10 successful years working for Innovative Tooling Solutions, working his way through the company following his apprenticeship in Mechanical Manufacturing in 2013. For the past five years, Gavin has also enjoyed a successful and rewarding career within the technical sales department, selling into key industries such as oil and gas, aerospace and power generation, among others.
For further information www.wardcnc.com

Mapal grows turnover and remains on track

In the 2022 financial year, group turnover at tooling specialist Mapal increased by 6.5% to €558m. The first months of the current year also showed increases, which is why the company is cautiously optimistic about 2023 and expects turnover to grow to €590m. “The first half of the year was very positive, so we’re now working on achieving our targets despite increasing economic risks,” says Dr Jochen Kress, president of the Mapal Group. “We have used the past few years intensively and faced up to the changing conditions in order to be prepared for the future.”
For further information www.mapal.com