Unrivalled ease-of-use features the latest manual/CNC lathe, thanks to its specially developed Fanuc/Harrison control and full-size colour touch-screen. It makes its debut at IMTS.

High capability and exceptional value for money will be the key underlying themes of 600 Group's considerable presence at the forthcoming IMTS show in Chicago. As well as tried and tested products from the Group's celebrated ranges, the show will also provide a backdrop for the launch of a number of exciting new machine tool innovations. 600 Group's major involvement in the show signals its confidence that a gradual recovery in the US machine tool market is now within sight.

Central to 600 Group's IMTS activity will be world's first showing of the new Alpha U 2 manual/CNC lathe from Harrison, offering unrivalled ease-of-use thanks to its specially developed Fanuc/Harrison control and full-size colour touch-screen.

Colchester's driven-tooling equipped Storm 120M and 220M, the US version of its highly successful Tornado turning centre, will also be on show, as will Colchester's Combi K state-of-the-art CNC/manual lathe.

Continuing the theme of high capability will be Pratt Burnerd America's much-publicised Programmable Power Chuck, whose ability to be program-controlled and fully integrated with the parent machine's own control earned it the coveted title of Best workholding equipment at the International machine tool industry Awards in April.

In response to market demand for ever-lower equipment costs, Colchester will unveil the latest incarnation of the world's most famous lathe, the Colchester Triumph centre lathe, complete with infinitely variable spindle speed and now available at the unprecedented and highly competitive price of $20,000.

IMTS will also see the US launch of Richmond Machine Tools' range of high-specification vertical machining centres, as well as Electrox' highly acclaimed Cobra Marker laser marking system and representation from Crawford Collets.

From its own stand at the show, 600 Group company Clausing Industrial will exhibit its extensive range of turning, milling, sa wing and sheet metal products from Group brands Kalamazoo and Metal Muncher.

600 Group Chief Executive, Tony Sweeten, explained, '600 Group's intensive IMTS campaign will focus on a powerful combination of great value machines and those which offer high levels of capability and performance.

The fact that the Group will be so well represented at the show reflects our unswerving faith in this important machine tool market and our long-standing belief that a dynamic and large-scale approach befits a machine tool force of 600 Group's global stature'.