Mills CNC 2013 sales top £57 million as company's Technology Campus investment gathers pace

"It's been another fantastic year for us," managing director Nick Frampton said: "The year started strongly and just got better and better. Over the last three years, the company has grown by 70%, and this performance, compared to the 50% growth experienced by the UK machine tool sector at large during the same period*, further demonstrates our success and our ability to consistently out-perform the market." Further analysis into Mills' 2013 sales performance reveals that the company sold eight large Doosan boring machines and 20 Doosan horizontal machining centres to customers in the year. New frame Puma lathes (Puma 2100, Puma 2600 and Puma 3100 machines) accounted for 23% of overall sales, and Lynx lathes, which now includes a range of new Y-axis models, sold at an impressive "two machines per week". The company's range of 3- and 5-axis vertical machining centres also proved popular, representing over 25% of sales. This is not just good luck, Mr Frampton points out. While regular introductions of new Doosan machines into the market is important, Mills' large and loyal customer base does much to explain the company's high levels of organic growth, it is claimed. Mr Frampton: "Over 25% of our business comes from new customers and I believe that our ability to both attract new business and retain existing customers is as much to do with Mills' after-sales services and customer support as it is to do with the technology we provide." Mills describes itself as a service-led company, and every year the company launches a number of new service and support initiatives, designed to help make its customers' lives easier, better and more profitable. Last year was no exception and a key initiative saw the creation and launch of 'The Mills CNC Technology Campus'. Home to all of Mills' operations (sales, service, turnkey, logistics and the CNC Training Academy), the 50,000 sq ft Technology Campus facility's jewel in the crown is the company's new 25,000 sq ft Operations Centre, where some 60 Doosan machines are stocked and prepared for immediate delivery to customers. Mr Frampton again: "Machine tool availability and delivery times are important purchasing considerations for customers. "Holding such large numbers of Doosan machines in stock provides customers with peace of mind and the assurance that their new machine will be with them in double-quick time." Other 2013 initiatives included the creation of a dedicated servicing division – Mills CNC Servicing; the strengthening of its Turnkey Development Centre; and further improvements and enhancements to the CNC Training Academy. Concludes Mr Frampton: "2013 was a great year, but we are now firmly focused on the future. "Such was the strength of our sales towards the end of last year that we are taking a £15 million order book into 2014 and, even though we are only a few weeks into the New Year, demand for Doosan machines is strong. "We are looking forward to MACH 2014 in April and our large stand (Stand 5430, Hall 5) is where we will be exhibiting 21 Doosan machines, including a number of new and recently-launched models, to visitors. "By the end of the second quarter of 2014, we will have also completed Phase 2 of the Mills CNC Technology Campus building works and this, amongst other improvements, will see the doubling of the size and capabilities of the CNC Training Academy and a significant investment across our customer support services." *Figures obtained from independent research consultants, Oxford Economics.