Hurco hails MACH 2014 as its best ever MACH show, with orders of £2 million bagged

The tally was 70% up on the 2012 edition of the exhibition, which itself was a record year for the company. Demonstrations of a third-generation, vertical spindle machining centre, the VM10i, attracted the most attention. The machine has longer travels and faster rapids than earlier models, a 10,000 rpm spindle and Ultimotion high speed profiling software as standard. The helical pocketing demonstration in steel was a particular draw, which showed the exceptional speed and rigidity of the machine. David Waghorn, managing director, commented: "Machinists were able to make a direct comparison at the show between this model and other low-cost, entry-level machines. "It resulted in orders on the stand. In many cases, the customer had come to the show expecting to buy an alternative brand." The VMX42SRTi 5-axis machining centre with B-axis spindle also created a stir. A redesign of a popular Hurco model with a flush-mounted table, it allows easy transfer between 3- and 5-axis work, with no loss in capacity. A complex, 5-sided engine block was machined using a cycle comprising merged conversational and NC programming routines. Other highlights on the 240 sq m stand were a VMX30Ui 5-axis trunnion machine; a VMX24HSi, the latest high speed machine with 18,000 rpm/HSK63A/35 kW spindle; a DCX22i dual-column machining centre with 2.2 by 1.7 by 0.75 m travels and 6 tonnes table load capacity; two models from Hurco's CNC lathe range, one with driven tooling in its 12-station VDI turret; and a German-built RXP500 high precision, 3-axis, high speed machining centre from Roeders. Those placing orders included Steve Hayes, chairman and joint owner of two engineering firms in the West Midlands and Gloucestershire, was first to order a Hurco machine at MACH – a VM30Mi 3-axis machining centre, which will be delivered to SRS Precision Engineering, Stourbridge. Nearly three-quarters of the company's turnover comes from press tool manufacture for first-tier suppliers serving automotive OEMs, such as JLR, Honda and BMW. Another machine ordered at MACH, a VMX42Mi, went to Leeways Packaging Services in Gloucester, while a Hurco VMX30Ui machining centre was snapped up by Huddersfield-based HB Bearings, marking the company's first move into 5-axis machining. Si-Can was yet another company placing an order; it took a Hurco VM30i 3-axis machining centre for its Worcester operation.