In addition, under a long-standing agency agreement, the company delivered six German-built Roeders machining centres into the same markets, all but one in 5-axis configuration and two with advanced automation.
In parallel with the upturn in business, the number of employees at Hurco Europe has grown to 50, more than one-third of whom are service engineers. The number of applications engineers has increased to six, reflecting the high level of support that is being provided to the firm's expanding customer base.
One explanation for the company's growth is a 40% increase in the number of 5-axis machining centres sold, from the smallest VM10U trunnion table machine through the increasingly popular SRTi B-axis spindle machines to a large, gantry-type, 3-axis DCX units fitted with a 2-axis spindle head. The presence of these higher value machines on the sales list for 2017 is one reason for the record turnover.
But sale for the company have become increasingly sophisticated, as an analysis of data shows. Sales of through-tool coolant machines were up 25% up on last year, while compared to 10 years ago, the increase is more than four-fold. Similarly, on-machine probing for tools and components has increased by 30% over last year to reach more than half of installations. The increase over the last decade is even greater, at 10-fold.
Customers are also opting for additional CNC axes. Around 40 single-axis rotary tables were supplied by Hurco in 2017, plus a number of compound tables for converting 3-axis machining centres into 5-axis. Looking at the last 10 years, all these add-ons, together with inflation, seen average order values double.
Looking forward to MACH 2018 next April, David Waghorn, managing director of Hurco Europe, says: "We are excited that the show comes at a time when UK and Irish subcontractors seem to be busier than ever, especially in the automotive supply chain, but also more widely from aerospace and medical to tool and mould making. For Hurco to have a year as successful as 2017, contract machining has to be buoyant right across the board.
"We will be launching a new range of bridge-type machining centres in Birmingham, with the BX50i in evidence on our stand, whilst the smaller BX40i machine was previewed at our open house in December. The design is ideal for producing tools, moulds and higher accuracy components.
"Turning remains an important part of our business and we will be showing for the first time an upgraded XP version of our TM8i 3-axis lathe.
"At our December Open House, we welcomed in excess of 80 visitors from more than 50 companies into our showroom in High Wycombe. Sales of £1.5 million have already been secured in December. We look forward to continuing that success at MACH and making 2018 another record year for Hurco."
