UK NEWS

Lease finance

Chester Machine Tools is now offering customers a lease-to-buy option, a new initiative designed to give prospective customers the choice of substantially lowering initial outlay and cost by paying for the machine on a monthly basis. Buyers will have the opportunity to either lease or purchase their machine outright. Benefits include: fixed rates for the duration of agreement; 100% tax deductible payments; the equipment can be earning the next payment from day one; no need to have bank loans, overdrafts or pay cash; the cost of the purchase is spread; existing lines of credit are protected; and cash flow is preserved.

For further information www.chestermachinetools.com

Open house

Citizen Machinery UK’s annual open house event, which is being staged on 3-5 October, will feature a pre-launch preview of the company’s latest generation Cincom D25 sliding headstock, a 10-axis CNC turn-mill centre. Complementing the 12 Citizen and Miyano machines to be installed at the showcase event will be the company’s Low-Frequency Vibration (LFV) technology, which is being launched in the UK. LFV is now available on the smaller capacity Cincom L12-VIIILFV. This additional model is the next phase of Citizen’s programme to extend this production advantage across the company’s product range following its UK launch of the L20 machine type last year.
For further information www.citizenmachinery.co.uk

Industrial auction nets six-figure sum

The assets of a steel fabrication business that went into liquidation fetched a six-figure sum when they were sold through an online auction. BPI Auctions handled the sale of metalworking equipment and vehicles from Midland Metal Fabrications, which ceased trading in May. Lots included industrial equipment ranging from CNC machine tools and welding extraction units to a gas-fired spray booth, welding robot and powder coating line. Marcus Smith from BPI Auctions says that conducting online auctions of a liquidated company’s assets simplifies the sales process for both vendor and purchaser.

For further information www.bpiauctions.com

Three new members for the AFRC

The University of Strathclyde’s Advanced Forming Research Centre (AFRC) has welcomed three major new members from the manufacturing sector. Agreements have been signed with Kuka Robotics, Open Mind Technologies and Metalube, all joining as tier two members.

The companies will share knowledge with the AFRC, working with the £60m research centre on collaborative projects, partnerships and problem-solving exercises in particular manufacturing processes. “We’re pleased to add another three highly innovative businesses to our list of partners and are looking forward to the collaborative projects which evolve as a result,” says Dr Lynne O’Hare, chief business development officer.
For further information www.strath.ac.uk

XYZ strengthens customer-facing team

A combination of recruitment and internal promotions has strengthened the customer service team at XYZ Machine Tools, reflecting ongoing business growth and the company’s move into the sale of five-axis machining centres. After 10 years supporting customers through the XYZ programming helpline, Mark Higson is moving across to the newly created role of manufacturing engineer. This will see him provide detailed support to customers, with emphasis on developing demonstration parts and proving-out components. Moving in the opposite direction is Matt Hill, who will be adding his expertise to the programming helpline desk.

Two changes in the service department will see Steve Davie put his 12 years’ experience working across machine-build and electrical testing in the XYZ factory to use, benefitting customers across the southwest of England and south Wales in a customer-facing role as service engineer. Teaming up with Davie in the service team is new recruit Jas Chaven, who joins XYZ after spending 10 years in a machine tool service role.
For further information www.xyzmachinetools.com