As part of a drive to increase sales of its ProtoTrak-controlled and CNC machine tools in mainland Europe, XYZ Machine Tools (www.xyzmachinetools.com) has appointed Marcin Drozd as a directly employed area sales manager, based in Poland.

Export sales director Howard Bamforth said: “The potential for our products across Europe is significant.

“While we have had success in certain countries working through distribution, the time is right to maximise the potential business, and directly employing a sales manager in Poland is the initial stage of that process.

“Marcin brings to the role extensive experience of our product range, particularly the ProtoTrak control system, which we see as one of the key products for developing sales in the region.”

XYZ is setting ambitious growth targets for Poland, with £2 million of sales envisaged in the next 18 months — and double that in the following year.

The company will be embarking on a marketing drive to support this newly created field sales operation.

Mr Bamforth added: “We feel that the targets we are setting are realistic, given the size of the market in Poland.

“With the full support of everyone at XYZ Machine Tools, I am optimistic that they will be achieved.

“The result may provide the model for future expansion of direct sales across mainland Europe in collaboration with existing sales channels.”