RK International Machine Tools has a rich heritage that stretches back nearly 75 years and it has since supplied hundreds of new and used machine tools to the UK and Irish markets with strong partnerships at the core of its success.
The company was established by former WW2 Spitfire pilot Ray Schwarz in 1951, before his son Mike took over in the 1970s during which time RK moved to its current Erith base. Mike then passed the baton on to current managing director John, who has been at the helm since 1999.
At the heart of business during the last eight decades has been the deep partnerships and relationships that RK has formed. One that goes back the longest has been with Colchester Machine Tools and it has now been reenergised.
RK International has a long-standing relationship with Colchester and the relationship between the two companies goes back almost 50 years when RK initially sold Colchester’s range of renowned conventional lathes.
The success of north Kent machine tool supplier RK International Machine Tools continues. A key part of this ongoing success over the last eight decades has been the strong relationships that the company has forged and continue to develop initially sold Colchester’s range of renowned conventional lathes.
Throughout the 1980s and 90s, Colchester then introduced CNC machines including the launch of the Tornado CNC turning centre in 1993. In the 1990s, and early 2000’s, RK sold in excess of 300 Tornado CNC lathes to customers throughout the UK.
RK is now acting as an agent to sell Colchester machines south of the M4 in England – its historical territory – and it is selling its range of CNC lathes and machining centres. As part of this move, RK has revamped its Erith showroom and there is now a dedicated section, where different Colchester machine tools are situated.
Machine tools in situ at RK include the Alpha 1400XS CNC/manual combination lathe, Tornado 2-axis SL25 CNC turning centre, Storm VL-550 vertical machining centre and Student CNC lathe. RK is also working with Colchester on part-exchange machines as part of their partnership.
