Another record breaking year for Haas Automation Inc

US machine tool maker Haas Automation says 2007 saw the company produce a record 13,755 machine tools – 10 per cent up on 2006. In parallel with this increase in unit volume, sales revenues soared 19 per cent to more than $880 million. This performance, says the company, “reinforces Haas Automation’s position as the world’s leading CNC machine tool builder.” Sales of Haas CNC machine tools hit an all-time high of 13,663 units in 2007 – an increase of nearly 20 per cent over 2006 – and the company shipped a record 13,751 units worldwide last year. For the first time ever, more than half of all Haas CNC machine tools sold during the year went to international markets. In Europe, Haas machine tool sales increased by an impressive 58 per cent over 2006, and sales in China grew by a remarkable 65 per cent. In Asia, excluding China, Haas sales expanded by 20 per cent, and sales in Latin America increased by 17.5 per cent. “It was an incredible year,” said Haas general manager Bob Murray (pictured), “and we owe a lot to our international customers. We will continue investing in our growing international markets to ensure that all Haas customers receive the high-quality products and world-class service they deserve.” All Haas products are built in the company’s 1-million-square-foot manufacturing facility in Oxnard, Southern California and are distributed worldwide through a global network of Haas Factory Outlets (HFOs). Haas opened more than 30 new HFOs, primarily in international markets, last year, and plans to open as many as 40 more in 2008 across the globe. “Our growing HFO network allows us to provide Haas customers around the world with local access to Haas products, sales assistance, replacement parts and factory-trained service personnel,” underlined Mr Murray. “This commitment to serving our customers is one of the driving forces behind Haas’ global success.” Haas Europe managing director Peter Hall underlined the company’s growth, saying: “On May 31 2007, we installed our 75,000th CNC machine tool; by the end of the year we’d passed the 85,000 mark.” As for Europe itself: “We are expecting continued and strong growth in Europe in 2008,” he added. Last year also saw the official launch of the Haas Technical Education Centre (HTEC) program for Europe, at EMO in Hanover, Germany. Since then, the Haas Automation Europe HTEC team has been busy setting up a number of collaborative CNC teaching facilities at universities, colleges and technical schools across the continent. “Our initial goal was to have 100 fully Haas-certified HTECs in Europe within five years,” says Mr. Hall. “That’s 20 new HTECs per year. However, judging by the response we are already experiencing, this is probably a very conservative number, and I anticipate at least 200 to be achievable. We’ve already made some significant progress with notable institutions in Austria and Germany, and more than 20 universities, schools and technical institutes in Belarus, Russia, Poland, Italy, Greece, Belgium, Scandinavia, Portugal and Estonia.”