ETG to represent Hardinge and push Bridgeport brand

Under the agreement, Hardinge will transfer its UK sales, service and customer support activities for these products to a new subsidiary named ETG Bridgeport UK Ltd, part of the Engineering Technology Group. As indicated by the name chosen for the subsidiary, ETG aims to revive the 150-year-old Bridgeport brand, complete with original logo, pushing it to the fore of its plans moving forward. The takeover will immediately double ETG turnover to more than £25 million, while personnel will now exceed 90. The current Hardinge UK personnel engaged in sales-related activities, including the seven-strong sales force, have already transferred to ETG Bridgeport, with the team led by newly appointed sales director Martin Doyle. A further 20 engineering, service and technical support personnel will move to the ETG's facilities in Southam and Coventry in the coming month. ETG also expect to create five new positions in 2013. As with the other manufacturers it represents, ETG's new subsidiary company reflects a philosophy whereby each group member operates as an individual business, but benefits from a core organisation offering central resources and services. The wide range of Hardinge Bridgeport machine tools, together with servicing, workholding and technical support are now available from ETG, while customers can also access the ShopHardinge on-line store as normal. John McTernan, managing director European sales and marketing for Hardinge Group, says: "We believe the most effective way to present our products and provide the best customer support in our mature markets is through strong distribution partners who have a greater bandwidth of resources over a larger platform of products. This strategy has worked well in the USA over the past three years and we believe it will best serve our customer base here in the UK. Furthermore, it enables Hardinge to focus fully on its core activities of new product development and manufacturing for its machine tool and workholding range. "When the UK opportunity with ETG presented itself, it was an opening we felt was exactly right for our business," he continues, "and it is strengthened greatly by the fact that ETG has taken on our former direct sales force, so customers have absolute continuity with their Hardinge sales contacts." Hardinge has an annual global turnover of over $334 million. Although a US manufacturer, Europe is currently its biggest market, representing 39% of sales in the final quarter of 2012. For the full year 2012, Hardinge European sales increased by $16.2 million over the previous 12 months. ETG managing director John Temple says: "We are delighted that a company with the global reputation and product range of Hardinge has chosen us as its partner. This new agreement with Hardinge broadens considerably the capabilities of the group and expands it into new areas with undoubted potential." For existing Hardinge customers, warranty and service contracts will continue with no change in terms, conditions or levels of service, while the new contact number for parts and service is 01926 298818. The same stock machines and parts offered previously by Hardinge are now held by ETG. The management team at ETG also insist that the introduction of Hardinge Bridgeport products will witness minimal overlap and no conflicts of interest with existing ETG members such as Feeler or Hyfore. As for Hardinge, the company will maintain its UK presence but is renamed as Jones & Shipman Hardinge Ltd, and will trade from the current Jones & Shipman base in Leicester. As this suggests, the Jones & Shipman grinding machine activities do not come within the scope of this agreement and will continue as they are. Kellenberger in Switzerland is also unaffected by the agreement. Similarly, ETG will not be taking on the Biglia agency from Hardinge. This news follows a recent multi-million pound management buyout at ETG funded by Santander Corporate Banking. John Temple has acquired a majority shareholding in the group and is now the managing director. Former owner Paul Rhodes retains a shareholding in the business and remains a director with the title of chairman. February 2013 also saw the launch of ETG Finance Ltd, a facility that offers business loans, hire purchase, invoice finance, leasing and refinancing packages. Also introduced to the group is Hyfore Developments, a fully equipped facility with a range of machining centres that is intended to be a centre of excellence for CAD, CAM and CNC machining, both for Hyfore Engineering's workholding systems, and as a development and testing centre for wider ETG activities.