Hardinge wins with group stand at MACH

Indeed, the company reported off-stand sales exceeding 20 machines and significant numbers of strong sales enquiries to pursue. "We took a decision to promote the stand as a Hardinge Group initiative, alongside Jones & Shipman and Kellenberger, as well as our third-party representations with Quaser and Biglia," explained Mr Doyle. "The scope and breadth of the 11 machines on the stand certainly gave visitors plenty to view and discuss; we were delighted to meet so many old friends, but also to meet new prospects who were interested in a variety of machines." Mike Duignan, managing director of Jones & Shipman, was similarly enthusiastic with the outcome: "There was a great response to the Jones & Shipman and Kellenberger machines on show, particularly for the Ultramat 1000 CNC grinding machine making its world-wide launch and which we sold off the stand. Likewise, the universal Kellenberger KEL-VISTA UR 175/1000 had a very positive response, with this machine also selling off the stand. "We found the quality of visitor to be very strong and, like our turning and milling colleagues, have a fund of high quality leads to pursue". Added Mr Doyle: "Even as the visitors were leaving on Friday, our sales team were still meeting with visitors and we took a significant order in the last 15 minutes of the event, which is credit to the staying power of the salesman and his customer." On two days of the exhibition, British Superbikes rider Jenny Tinmouth - who Hardinge is sponsoring in 2012 - was on the stand signing autographs and meeting the many Superbike enthusiasts who visited the show. Business secretary Dr Vince Cable also paid a visit to the stand, during his tour of the MACH show. Image: L to R - Mike Duignan, Vince Cable, John McTiernan (Hardinge) and Simon Pollard, president, Manufacturing Technologies Assiociation (MACH show organiser)