Wetherby-based CPL Engineering Ltd was established 14 years ago by Chris Edmondson and Paul Foster with the aim of creating ‘an efficient, well-rounded sub-contract machine shop’ (www.cpl-precision.co.uk).

Mr Edmondson began looking for a CNC machine and approached Norfolk-based Haas Automation Ltd (www.haas.co.uk). He said: “Haas bent over backwards to support us.

"We had no idea which model we needed, but the company spent hours with us going through the options, then we had a day at the showroom viewing demonstrations.”

Mr Edmondson opted for two VF-2 vertical machining centres, and while one has recently been traded in for a new Haas model, the other has run every day since the company began.

“It is as good for repeatability as a brand-new machine and has proved to be very reliable.”

With the business going from strength to strength, investments have been made in another nine Haas machines over the past few years, including six Super Speed vertical machining centres.

“The Super Speed machines have improved our cycle times ten-fold.

“All our programming is completed off-line, so we simply load the programs and press ‘go’ — we can run an unmanned shift overnight without any worry.”

Service is also important for Mr Edmondson and his team. “In all the years we’ve been using Haas, our down-time has totalled less than two weeks.

“The service is absolutely top-class, and it is something we can rely on.”