Mills CNC, the exclusive distributor of Doosan machine tools in the UK, has reported stronger than expected first quarter sales. Machine deliveries and new machine tool orders for Q1 2017 were up 78% and 30% respectively on the year before. Among the reasons is a number of sales relating to large-capacity horizontal borers, double-column milling machines and vertical-turning lathes, most notably from manufacturers operating in the nuclear sector. In addition, the decision by Mills to offer customers the Siemens control option across its range of machining centres has paid dividends and resulted in a number of sales, most notably from new aerospace component customers.
For further information
www.millscnc.co.uk

Quaker Chemical Corp and Houghton International Inc, companies with a combined 250-year history as providers of metalworking cutting fluids and coolants, have executed a definitive agreement to merge. Both companies are headquartered in the Philadelphia area. Under the terms of the agreement, Houghton International shareholders will receive $172.5m of cash and 24.5% ownership of the combined company, representing approximately 4.3 million shares of newly-issued Quaker Chemical stock. In addition, Quaker Chemical will assume Houghton International’s debt and cash, with net debt of approximately $690m at year-end 2016.
For further information
www.quakerchem.com

LPW Technology has received a strategic investment from Stratasys to develop end-to-end metal powder solutions for additive manufacturing. As a result, LPW plans to invest in excess of £20m over the next two years, which will be focused on establishing new facilities in both the UK and US. In bringing Stratasys on board as a strategic investor, LPW remains majority-owned by founder Dr Phil Carroll, who will continue to lead the business supported by LPW’s independent management team. The Stratasys investment represents the first consolidated partnership arrangement in LPW’s approach of developing close working relationships with 3D printing machine manufacturers.
For further information www.lpwtechnology.com

Momentum is beginning to build for Metaltech Malaysia (Kuala Lumpur, 24-27 May), which is the country’s largest exhibition for the metalworking and machine tool industries. Established for more than 20 years, the four-day show will feature some 1400 companies across exhibition space spanning 35,000 sq m. Six national pavilions will also be present: Austria, China, Germany, Korea, Singapore and Taiwan.
Around 27,000 buyers from Thailand, Vietnam, Malaysia, Singapore, Korea and other countries
are expected to attend.
For further information www.metaltech.com.my

The ReTEC trade fair for used machinery and equipment is set to take place in Augsburg on 25-27 April. Over three days, exhibitors will present pre-owned machine tools and metalworking technologies in halls 5, 6 and 7. Furthermore, some exhibitors will be offering a full range of services relating to used machines, including retrofitting, dis- and re-assembly, special transport and commissioning.
International visitor groups from countries such as Armenia, China, Egypt, India, Iran, Iraq, Morocco, Nigeria, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Turkey and the Ukraine have already registered for ReTEC 2017. The demand for machinery in these countries is large but available finances are often only sufficient to allow for pre-owned machinery. As always, MTI magazine will be taking a stand (E02, hall 5) at ReTEC, from where it will be handing out copies of its show issue to exhibition visitors.
For further information www.retec.com