XYZ Machine Tools Posts Another Record Year
XYZ Machine Tools has continued its record breaking run of year-end results posting an 11 per cent increase in turnover for 2018/2019, taking it to a significant £33.9 million. This growth reflects what is continuing optimism within the UK manufacturing sector, along with increased sales within the education sector and mainland Europe. This optimism is reflected by 33 months of sustained growth in the sector highlighted by the Purchasing Managers’ Index (PMI) which remains resolutely above 53 and the Bank of England has upgraded its growth forecast. On top of this inward investment also remains robust and with that comes greater demand for machine tools. A recent survey by the organisers of the SUBCON show suggests that some 65 per cent of manufacturing businesses are positive about investment. “There is some amazing positivity in the manufacturing sector at the moment, despite the uncertainty that our politicians are generating around Brexit,” says Nigel Atherton, Managing Director XYZ Machine Tools. “Our sales have been bolstered by a mix of the optimism in the sector along with the introduction of new products to our portfolio such as the LR series of vertical machining centres, our two UMC five-axis machining centres and the latest generation of ProtoTRAK RMX and RLX controls for our mills and lathes. Put simply we are meeting the needs of our customers with machines that are both price competitive and highly productive.” The coming year is also one of optimism for the Burlescombe, Devon-based machine tool company with order books remaining encouragingly strong and plans in the pipeline for more new product developments, along with the opening of a new showroom in the north of England. Manufacturing & Engineering Magazine | The Home of Manufacturing Industry News
CNC Made Easy with XYZ ProtoTRAK Control System
Control systems are amongst the biggest buzz word in the manufacturing industry for a decade and the popularity of the software continues to increase. Leading the digital trend and ushering in a new dawn of control, XYZ ProtoTRAK software continues to be the choice system here in the UK; the firmâs pioneering technology is now in use on over 15,000 machines across the country. ProtoTRAK control system software has been used exclusive by XYZ Machine Tools since the 1993. And despite being over 10 years old, the technology is as pioneering and valuable as its ever been â pushing XYZ Machine Tools CNC milling and turning tools to the top of the market. Design-engineered so as to be flexible to one-off, prototype and small batch production, ProtoTRAK continues to improve ease-of-use on 2- or 3-axis mills, and 2-axis lathes. The control technology provides a simple interface from which operatives can select operations quickly and easily. Whilst some control system models have proven counter-intuitive to use, even slowing down lead times, XYZâs machines have been complimented by the technology following collaboration between the two developers. Both the machine and control software have identical desktop units, meaning operatives only have be conversant in one interface and are, moreover, provided the opportunity to monitor machining performance remotely. Despite a now-pronounced identity within the sector, it was a long road before the XYZ ProtoTRAK machines became best practice in the industry. With a slow start to sales in the UK for the first three month, the firm went on to sell 400 unit in less than the nine months following. Nigel Atherton Managing Director of XYZ Machine Tool stressed attributed such a correlation to clients needing to see it in action before they believed it: Once customers saw the ease of use and potential of the ProtoTRAK control, we were almost guaranteed a sale, he commented. In fact, the hit-rate for customers viewing a presentation remains consistently high and over 80% of those witnessing one of the firmâs many demonstrations go on to purchase a machine. And having significantly improved the way in which control systems and CNC machines work in harmony, XYZ Machine Tools looks set to lead the movement to leaner and more intelligent future of manufacturing.
