RK International racks up 60 Colchester-Harrison sales in 2006

More than 60 Colchester-Harrison lathes and multi-axis mill/turn centres were ordered through the Southern Technical Centre of Colchester-Harrison at RK International’s premises in Erith, Kent during 2006, with a surge of orders worth over £500,000 placed in the last two months of the year. “The latest machine range has proven to be a winner due to the combination of performance, the flexibility and the very competitive pricing strategy," said RK’s sales director Dick Aldrich. "Customers, especially in the value-seeking sub-contract area, are very keen to combine operations and they have found the specifications of the latest 4-and 5-axis versions of Tornado have been ideal to meet their requirements.” The Southern Technical Centre was opened in 2003 by managing director John Schwarz in conjunction with Colchester Lathe so that customers would be able to see machines under power and have the benefit of a dedicated facility where they could perform cutting trials. At the same time, the 600 Group opened a centre at Heckmondwike for the north alongside the machine development and build facility and for the Midlands area, at 600 Centre in Shepshed near Loughborough. The 600 Centre is now the hub for Colchester-Harrison turning and machining centre products, sales and service in the UK. While the Tornado has sold well, at the other end of the lathe range the flat bed Alpha and MultiTurn CNC lathes have also proven to be very popular with RK International’s customers for single part and repeat turning cycles for small batchwork.