Mills CNC, the exclusive distributor of Doosan machine tools in the UK and Ireland, has experienced strong sales in the first quarter of 2021 with significant growth in demand for its Doosan multi-axis and Doosan multi-tasking machines, as well as for its advanced turnkey solutions.
At the start of January 2021, the third national lockdown had been announced, and the impact and effects of Brexit were largely unknown. With certainty and predictability in short supply, Mills CNC was undeterred and forged ahead with the launch of its new Automation and Turnkey Centre located at its Campus facility in Leamington Spa, and made preparations for the arrival, and subsequent introduction into the market, of a number of new Doosan models.
The opening of the centre and the new Doosan machines had a noticeable impact on Mills CNC’s sales performance in the first three months - complementing and augmenting the company’s day-to-day machine tool sales operations during the period.
Kevin Gilbert, Mills CNC managing director, said: “We started the year strongly, and this wasn’t just down to the continuing high demand, among component manufacturers, for our best-selling Lynx and Puma lathes, or for our DNM vertical machining centres either. What was apparent was the sustained demand for our five-axis DVF machining centres, and for our SMX and MX multi-tasking mill-turn machines.”
Doosan DVF machining centres, especially the DVF 5000 model, with its powerful, direct-drive spindle, generous-sized ATC, linear guideways and choice of control, is a high-performance, competitively priced five-axis milling solution for component manufacturers looking for an immediately available full simultaneous five-axis machining centre.
A number of DVF 5000 machines were ordered and have been delivered to customers in the first quarter, including two models integrated with Doosan Automatic Work Changers (AWCs).
There was also a number of orders taken by Mills CNC for Doosan SMX and MX multi-tasking mill-turn machines, including a recent order for a large-capacity Puma SMX 5100LXB machine.
Meanwhile, the new SMX 5100L series joined the line-up at the start of the year. There are four different models in the range, with the SMX 5100LXB model having a 21in chuck and a maximum turning diameter of 830mm and turning length of 4,070mm. The machine features a servo-driven tailstock for the machining of long shafts and tubes.
Although first quarter machine tool sales across the UK remained resilient, even buoyant in some regions, it was the sustained demand for new Doosan machines throughout Ireland that was particularly noticeable.
Mr Gilbert added: “Ireland is an important area for us, and we have a loyal and growing customer base. Sales over the first three months of the year, in Ireland were exceptional — not just in volume but also by technology type — with sales of five-axis machines and multi-tasking turning centres and mill-turn machines prevalent.”
The recently launched Automation and Turnkey Centre provides the ideal location for the company to showcase its advanced SYNERGi Automation Systems, and its range of Doosan collaborative robots (cobots). Although the lockdown and subsequent travel and social distancing restrictions clearly impacted on the number of manufacturers able to visit the new centre in the first quarter, the company nevertheless reported a steady increase in demand for its advanced turnkey solutions - many of which had automation at their core.
Mr Gilbert said: “There is a definite trend among UK and Irish manufacturers to invest in high-productivity and high-efficiency automation-led turnkey solutions. Since the beginning of the year we have designed and delivered a number of turnkey solutions for customers looking to improve their productivity, performance and competitiveness.”
As well as launching the new range of SMX 5100L multi-tasking mill-turn machines, Mills CNC also prepared the ground for the introduction of a new range of 10in chuck Lynx lathes with Y axes. Although the new Lynx 2600Y and Lynx 2600SY models will not be in stock until late April 2021, such is the reputation of Lynx machines, that the company has already taken a number of orders for them.
Mr Gilbert concluded: “Clearly there was some apprehension at the beginning of the year but, after a difficult 2020, it does look as though manufacturing in the UK and Ireland is ‘bouncing back’.
“The depth and breadth of the Doosan range of machines combined with our advanced automation solutions means we are ideally positioned to capitalise on the upturn. It is fair to say that we are cautiously optimistic about the remainder of the year.”