600 Group expands
As the latest step in implementing its recently announced new business strategy, 600 Group has acquired the UK spares and service responsibility for Toyoda-Mitsui Seiki.
The Group already holds the distributorship for Toyoda-Mitsui Seiki machine tools, which are marketed in the UK by Shepshed-based 600 Centre, the Group’s UK distributor. The move brings together sales, service and spares support on one site, giving customers the assurance of engineering service from one company throughout the lifetime of the machine.
Chief Executive of 600 Group, Andrew Dick, said “Our new strategy focuses on marketing a portfolio of branded machine tools, laser markers and technology solutions which provide quality, dependability, and service at their respective price positions. When we announced the new strategy, we made it very clear that a key element within it was to focus our attention on the customer, in particular to offer turnkey solutions using the highest and most appropriate technology. The variety of machine technologies within this sector of 600 Group’s activities is very broad, but we believe it is essential to be able to assist the customer not only in developing and installing a production process but also in the effective operation of that process. Acquiring the provision of spares and service for the Toyoda-Mitsui Seiki machines further increases the depth of service with which we can provide the customer and complements our other activities”.
Since announcing the new business strategy in September 2006, the Group has pursued an aggressive implementation policy. It has acquired the distribution of Fuji machines for the whole of Europe, has established a new network of specialist distributors for CNC machines in North America and Mexico, has taken on additional machine tool distributorships in Australia and South Africa, and has continued to strengthen its network of distributors in Eastern Europe. In addition, it has appointed a Head of European Operations to focus and develop its activities in Germany, France and Eastern Europe.
Manufacturing companies within the Group, which include 600 Lathes (Colchester-Harrison), Clausing (Atlas drills, Kalamazoo saws and MetalMuncher steelworkers), Crawford Collets, Electrox (laser marking machines), Gamet Bearings and Pratt Burnerd International (chucks) have, since the announcement of the new strategy introduced a multiplicity of new technologies and products, including the radical new EF Technology laser platform, new turning technologies, additional workholding systems and an extended range of super-high precision taper roller bearings.
600 Group is the largest UK machine tool company and is the largest UK builder of lathes, industrial lasers, machine tool accessories and machine tool bearings. Based in Leeds in West Yorkshire, England, the Group operates world-wide and includes both manufacturing and distribution companies within its portfolio. Wholly owned manufacturing and distribution operations and representative offices are in France, Germany, the Czech Republic, the USA, Canada, South Africa, Australia and China. The Group also has its own finance company, 600 Finance.
For further information, contact:
Stephen LeBeau (Group Marketing Director)
Tel: +44 (0) 113 277 6100
Mary Hollingsworth (Hollingsworth Enterprises)
Tel: +44 (0) 1773 836757
