2D CNC Machinery Ltd and the Halbronn Group, a leading French distributor of machine tools and automation, have merged as part of a strategic technology alliance operating out of Hinckley under the UK company name.

In a statement, the two businesses said that the merger will “create an unmatched force in high-tech manufacturing solutions, with the addition of the OKK range of vertical and horizontal multi-axis machining centres and automation to the existing 2D CNC portfolio.

This includes Mitsui-Seiki, Toyoda Machinery, Wele, Reiden and Fermat vertical, horizontal and five-axis machining centres, cells and systems, along with Toyoda’s range of high-specification grinding machines.”

The 7,500sq ft Hinckley facility comprises a large showroom, a customer-training school and an engineering centre for the development of turn-key packages, plus areas for service and spares, in-depth machining demonstrations and customer acceptance trials.

The Paris-based Halbronn Group employs 61 people and has sales of more than 35 million euros. It has four showrooms strategically located around the country, as well as branches in Poland and Belgium. During its 30 years in business, over 5,000 installations of equipment have been made throughout Europe.

2D Machinery director David Holden said: “By joining with the Halbronn Group, 2D CNC Machinery’s future looks very exciting. It has given our customers — and prospective clients — an enviable one-stop source for the latest machining and automation systems from leading suppliers, as well as superlative technical engineering development skills.”