Haas Automation breaks the 10,000 unit/annum barrier

“I know of no other machine tool builder in the world that has done this,” said Haas general manager Bob Murray, adding that the company reached this goal during a period of widespread plant restructuring and expansion. This milestone represents an increase of more than 22 per cent over 2004 and more than 200 per cent over 2003. In an industry where many companies struggle to build 100 machines per year, manufacturing 10,000 machines in a 12-month period is a major feat, says the company. In its home market, Haas sold nearly double the volume of its closest competitor. More than 90 per cent of the world’s machine tool builders sold fewer than 50 machines each during 2005 into the US market, with the top five builders accounting for more than one third of all US sales. Worldwide sales of Haas machines continue to remain strong, with no signs of a let-up. Orders in December, traditionally a slow sales month in the machine tool industry, topped 1,000 machines – the best December in the company’s history, and the third time in 12 months that orders for Haas machines have broken the 1000-machine mark.