Supporting this, a number of plans and initiatives designed to ensure the Group’s long-term growth and prosperity have been set in train.
These include the recent launch of two new websites, one each for Machine Tool Sales Online and MACH Machine Tools, and, from Spring 2018 onwards, a significant expansion in the type and range of machines offered by MACH Machine Tools.
Explains Andrew: “We are constantly moving forward and in the early part of this year we will begin to stock and sell ranges of new high productivity and high performance CNC machine tools to UK and Irish component manufacturers.
“These will be sold alongside our existing and best-selling ranges of manual machines - and both (CNC and manual machines) will be showcased from our stand at the forthcoming MACH 2018 exhibition in April (NEC, Birmingham, 9-13 April.”
Since it was established, Vigilance Group been characterised by year-on-year growth and success. Kicking off the Group’s journey, Dave Andrew’ wife, Lisa, created Vigilance Engineering Safety Products Ltd in 2007 and was, in the first couple of years, best known as the sole UK and Irish distributor for Chuck-Eez - a power chuck lubricant manufactured in the US.
From 2009, following Dave Andrew joining the company as sales director, there was a change in focus away from supplying ancillary-type products towards buying and selling new and used machine tools and CNC equipment. This culminated in the launch of a new company - Machine Tool Sales Online - and the introduction of the company’s online marketing website - www.machinetoolsalesonline.com
With sales and enquiries growing, the company moved premises, leasing a 6,000 ft2 facility in Avonmouth, Bristol, and, in 2011, signed a deal with a major finance company to sell its ex-rental and repossessed equipment.
Andrew explains further: “This arrangement proved particularly important and ensured we always had a ready supply of used machine tools and equipment to sell.”
With business booming, a new business venture was launched - spearheaded by Matt Andrew (Dave and Lisa Andrew’s son) and business partner Marc Bowers.
Set up in 2012, this new venture complemented the Group’s already established used machine tool and equipment business, focusing its activities on new machine tools - MACH Machine Tools was born.
Continues Andrew: “Since being created in 2012 MACH, Machine Tools has gone from strength to strength.
“Machine Tool Sales Online has become the UK stocking distributor of MACH Machine Tools’ manual and CNC machine tool ranges, and 25% of the Group’s new showroom floorspace (following a second relocation) at recently acquired premises in Fishponds, Bristol, is now dedicated to the new entity.”
To ensure that the Group and the individual companies continue to grow and flourish, there has been an increase in the organisation’s headcount. To date these include the appointment of two maintenance engineers, an applications engineer and a sales office administrator.
Plans for expansion are also underway, with an additional 6,000 ft2 facility for a new MACH Machine Tools Showroom and training centre acquired adjacent to its existing 13,000 ft2 facility on the Fishponds site.
Concludes Andrew: “Ten years - and never a dull moment. The Group, last year, experienced its best-ever sales performance and I’m confident that the continued investment in our people, plant and processes, combined with a significant expansion in our product ranges and the attendant services we provide, will deliver even more success in the future.”
