Vertical take-off!

Date: 27 April 2010

Strong first quarter sales of Doosan vertical machines boosts Mills CNC's January – March 2010 performance.

Mills CNC the exclusive distributor of Doosan machine tools in the UK and Ireland has announced its results for the first quarter of 2010.

A breakdown of the results by machine tool and technology type reveals that for the first time in the Company's history - sales of Doosan milling machines outstripped Doosan lathe and turning centre sales.

Says Nick Frampton, managing director at Mills CNC:

'Our first quarter results demonstrate the continued high demand for Doosan milling machine tools.

'During the January - March period over 55% of company sales were milling machines, which has substantially increased out market share in this sector'

'Particularly pleasing were sales of our 3- and 5-axis vertical machines which numbered 20 in total, and included 4 from our new range of DNM Heidenhain-controlled machines.'

Mills continuing growth and success in the wider milling markets were also reflected in the sales figures with 3 horizontal machining centres and a large horizontal boring machine sold in the same period.

Continues Nick Frampton:

'Whilst milling machine sales just about beat lathe and turning centre sales - we did sell significant numbers of the Lynx and Puma lathes, and 2 MX-series Mill-Turn centres. This definitely provides an optimistic outlook on the general manufacturing recovery in the UK and Ireland.

'Another interesting aspect to our sales performance has been the continued success of our SMART Options Rental Scheme, which has helped encourage (often new) customers to invest in Doosan Technology for the first time.'

Mills first quarter sales results further demonstrate the pulling power of the Doosan and Mills brands, something that the Company will be exploiting to the full in the run up to MACH in June where a number (8 in total) of new Doosan machine tools will be making their debuts on Mills' stand (Hall 5 Stand 5430).