Mills CNC celebrates order and sales levels as the company busts best ever year numbers

Commenting on the sales results, Mills' managing director, Nick Frampton, says: "Our order intake by value, let alone by volume, is up 55% on 2010; up 113% on 2009 and, more impressively,up 47% on 2007, which was, up until now, our previous best ever year. "And, because sales have remained strong throughout the year, and certainly in the last quarter, we are going forward into 2012 with our largest and strongest looking forward order book ever." Breaking the sales down further, 32% of all machine orders during 2011 were from new customers, demonstrating the wide and growing appeal of Doosan technology with UK and Irish manufacturers. Over 90% of all machine orders were fulfilled from Mills' stock programme, with this underlining the reason behind Mills ordering and carrying such high levels of stock. Says Mr Frampton: "Doosan machine tools are widely regarded as being technically excellent, reliable, and competitively-priced, as well as representing great value. But, equally important is their accessibility and availability too. You can't simply promote your products and then expect customers to wait months and months for them to arrive." With 112 machines sold, the new-frame Doosan Puma 8", 10" and 12" chuck lathes were the stars of the show and, in a little under 18 months since they were first launched, these machines have become the UK's and Ireland's favourite lathes. The sales of large capacity (up to 32" chuck size) Puma lathes and the smaller Lynx 220- and 300- series lathes collectively accounted for 168 machines sold. On the milling side, Doosan DNM 3-axis verticals saw 94 machines sold; while the larger range of Mynx vertical machines, the Doosan range of VC (twin-pallet) verticals and Doosan horizontal machining centres also had a marked impact on sales. Multi-axis machine tools (including Doosan mill-turn centres, twin-turret/twin-spindle machines and 5-axis milling machines), large horizontal borers and vertical turning lathes – many sold as part of turnkey solutions – were also in high demand. Machines apart, other elements of Mills CNC service are also important. "We have continued to invest in and strengthen our service provision in 2011 and this year we have recruited additional service and PDI engineers, as well as appointing a new service manager and a new parts administrator to meet the needs of our large and growing installed base,' Mr Frampton underlines. A recently completed £100,000 revamp of its operations centre, stores and the CNC Training Academy, plus further investments lined up during 2012 to further improve the company's infrastructure and facilities, demonstrate the importance the company places on 'having the best customer service and support in the business.' Concludes Mr Frampton: "2011 was unquestionably a great year for us, but we are now focused on the future and on making 2012 equally successful. "We have a number of new machines coming on stream over the next few months that will provide us with even more impetus. These include a new range of Lynx sub-spindle lathes and new horizontal machines that will be available from spring 2012, and which we will be launching at MACH 2012."