22 December 2011

Records are there to be broken! (And they have been).

Mills takes orders for 472 new Doosan machines in 2011.

It would be an understatement (to say the least) if Mills CNC, the exclusive distributor of Doosan machine tools in the UK and Ireland, described its performance this last 12 months as anything other than ‘truly exceptional’.

Because with 472 orders for new Doosans being taken up to the year end, and some 443 machines having been delivered during the same period it’s obvious that this has been a great year for Mills.

Commenting on the sales results, Mills’ managing director, Nick Frampton said:

‘Fantastic.

‘Our order intake by value (let alone by volume) is up 55% up on 2010, up 113% on 2009 and, more impressively, up 47% on 2007 which was, up until now, our previous best ever year.

‘And, because sales have remained strong throughout the year and certainly in this last quarter, we are going forward into 2012 with our largest and strongest looking forward order book ever.’

‘It really shows that manufacturers like the more personal approach of Mills and our teams’ passion to deliver great service and support.’

A closer look at Mills’ sales results for 2011 is illuminating.

32% of all machine orders during 2011 were from new customers demonstrating the wide and growing appeal of Doosan technology with UK and Irish manufacturers.

Over 90% of all machine orders were fulfilled from Mills’ stock programme and underlines the reason (and importance) behind Mills ordering and carrying such high levels of stock.

Says Nick Frampton:

‘Doosan machine tools are widely regarded as being technically excellent, reliable, and competitively-priced, as well as representing great value. But, equally important is their accessibility and availability too.

‘You can’t simply promote your products and then expect customers to wait months and months for them to arrive.’

Machine tools in demand

An analysis of the type of machine tools sold by Mills during 2011 helps demonstrate the broad appeal, as well as the breadth and depth, of the Doosan range. With 112 machines sold, the new-frame Doosan Puma 8”, 10” and 12” chuck lathes were the stars of the show and help underline that, in a little under 18 months since they were first launched, these machines have become the UK’s and Ireland’s favourite lathes.

Other turning machine highlights included the sales of large capacity, (up to 32” chuck size), Puma lathes and the smaller Lynx 220- and 300- series lathes, which collectively accounted for 168 machines sold.

On the milling side, Doosan DNM 3-axis verticals continued to be a first choice for many manufacturers, with 94 machines sold; while the larger range of Mynx vertical machines; the Doosan range of VC (twin-pallet) verticals and Doosan horizontal machining centres also had a marked and telling impact on sales.

Multi-axis machine tools (including Doosan mill-turn centres, twin-turret/twin-spindle machines and 5-axis milling machines), large horizontal borers and vertical turning lathes – many sold as part of turnkey solutions – were also in high demand.

Not just machines

But, as Nick Frampton readily admits, great Doosan products, while being clearly important, don’t tell the whole story behind the positive sales results. 

‘We have continued to invest in and strengthen our service provision in 2011 and this year we have recruited additional service and PDI engineers, as well as appointing a new service manager and a new parts administrator to meet the needs of our large and growing installed base.’

A recently completed £100k revamp of its Operations Centre, Stores and the CNC Training Academy plus further investments lined up during 2012 to further improve the company’s infrastructure and facilities - demonstrate the importance Mills places on ‘having the best customer service and support in the business.’

Concludes Nick Frampton:

‘2011 was unquestionably a great year for us but we are now focused on the future and on making 2012 equally successful. ‘We have a number of new machines coming on stream over the next few months that will provide us with even more impetus and these include a new range of Lynx sub-spindle lathes, and new horizontal machines that will be available from Spring 2012, and which we will be launching at MACH 2012.’