Hurco reports record year and lively end-of-year event

Video shows TM18L lathe - see later For the year to 31 October, turnover exceeded £20 million for the first time, representing a 27% increase on 2010/2011, which was itself a record year. The number of machines sold increased by 11% and the company broke the 300-machine barrier for the first time, while the average value of each unit sold rose by £8,500. The proportion of new companies buying Hurco equipment reached two-fifths, roughly the same as last year, which is a good indicator of sustainable business growth, it is suggested. As for the Open House, 80 visitors representing 58 companies from the UK and the Republic of Ireland were welcomed, resulting in the sale of seven machines in the first seven days of December, with a significant number of additional orders expected before the end of 2012. Speaking about the year's results first, managing director David Waghorn said: "Average order value was greater this year for a number of reasons. One is that more people are migrating from 4-axis machining centres to higher cost 5-axis Hurco models, which are selling particularly well, with 26 ordered during the year. "Another reason for raised selling prices is the increasing popularity of extra functionality, such as higher spindle speed options, full swarf management, through-tool coolant and probing for parts and tools. "Additionally, we have added larger and, hence, more expensive machines to our range. They include the DCX twin-column, bridge-type machining centres for machining parts weighing up to 11 tonnes; and our TM12 and TM18 CNC lathes, the latter capable of turning components over two metres in length." Lathe sales during the year as a proportion of the total increased to account for 30% of turnover, while at the show interest was demonstrated in the largest TM18L model with 54 kW spindle (see video), 18" hydraulic chuck and programmable tailstock, which was offered as one of Hurco's 12 Bargains of Christmas at 27% off list price. The strength of Hurco's Windows-based conversational programming and control software, WinMax, on both its turning and machining centres, continues to be a major driver of sales. Enhanced ability to import externally prepared NC code and merge it with cycles created conversationally is proving very popular, says the company. In addition to selling its US parent company's machine tools, Hurco Europe is sole agent in Britain and Ireland for the German-built Roeders range of high precision, 3/5-axis machining centres, which can achieve exceptional levels of accuracy and surface finish. Four were sold by Hurco during 2010/11. The latest news from this manufacturer is that it is adding machines of higher capacity to its range, intends to increase spindle power across the board, and has now standardised on linear motors in X, Y and Z and direct drives on all rotary axes.