The Hardinge Group showed an expanded product range at MACH, which included grinding machines from the recently acquired Jones & Shipman, and discussed over 200 projects with customers, estimated to be worth over £15 million.
Among orders taken on the stand was one for a Bridgeport Quaser MB154 vertical machining centre (VMC) placed by Greenway Pepper Precision Engineers, of Newcastle-under-Lyme, following it winning a subcontract order for between 80 and 90 components a month, each with a cycle time in excess of an hour.
Director Greg Pepper said: "Work is booming for us in medical, defence and food sectors and we were just running out of capacity. So we checked out all the possible machines at MACH and it was the MV154 VMC that gave us exactly what we needed in specification and delivery."
Interest in the Hardinge Bridgeport range of 5-axis machining centres reflects a move towards single cycle machining, the range prompted discussions with 25 customers about live projects and follow-up meetings have been arranged.
The Hardinge Group also used the show for world launches of a Hardinge GS 51A 3-axis production turning cell with a 10-pallet modular magazine and the RS-65MSY multi-tasking turning centre suited to hard turning and milling. The show was also the launch pad for the bridge-style Bridgeport XR600 5AX 5-axis machining centre and the Bridgeport XR 1000 heavy duty VMC, as well as the Kellenberger Kel-vista CNC grinding machine with Kel-Portal automatic loading system.
With Jones & Shipman now operating under the Kellenberger banner within the Hardinge Group, enquiries at MACH for its Suprema cylindrical grinder with multiple wheelhead options are expected to lead to orders over the coming weeks.