US machine tool maker Haas Automation Inc has announced its ambition to become a $2 billion turnover company by 2015.
The new target was announced on the opening day of MACH 2008 – 21 April - at Birmingam's NEC by the company's customer services director, John Roth.
The new target supersedes the previous one of becoming a $1 billion turnover operation by 2010 because this year will see the company breach that milestone early.
Mr Roth said that achieving this $2 billion figure will require it to set up manufacturing outside the USA for two reasons: the first is that the culture of the company in Oxnard, California could not be maintained at this level of production, although probably could support a turnover of $1.5 billion. Second, it would make no sense, he added, for the company to be shipping a large proportion of its output to a particular geographical location – local manufacture would then be the sensible decision.
He gave no clues as to where such a location might be, although the company is to open its first non-US manufacturing operation, in China, in May. To be based in Shanghai, it will manufacture Mini Mills for the local market only. This year some 160 machines will be made there, 400 next, said Mr Roth. Haas sold 1,000 machines into the Chinese market last year.
* The UK saw its best year ever with 480 machines sold last year. By the end of this year, the UK market will be home to more than 4,000 Haas machines. Worldwide, the number of Haas machines sold will break the 100,000 figure. Established in 1983, manufacturing rotarty tables, the company launched its first CNC machine in 1987.
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