Automation of the production process was definitely high on the agenda of the visitors that made over 300 serious enquiries on the 600 Centre stand at MACH 2006.

Automation of the production process was definitely high on the agenda of the visitors that made over 300 serious enquiries on the 600 Centre stand at MACH 2006.

Said director/general manager Ray Grocock: 'Our capability to provide turnkey solutions across our range of machining centres, EDM machinery and grinding products drew a lot of attention and there were more high level people from companies showing a lot of interest - something we have not seen in any great numbers since the MACH show in 1998.' The 600 Centre attracted a lot of new visitors as well as existing customers and according to the 600 Centre team at the show they were surprised at the high level of interest in five-axis and four-axis machining on the Toyoda-Mitsui Seiki, Richmond and Fanuc vertical machining centres.

'There was definitely a strong trend to combine operations to reduce labour levels, lead time and improve the relationship, geometry and positioning tolerances relative to different features on a component,' added Ray Grocock.