As part of its ongoing growth strategy, Dugard Machine Tools has appointed two new area sales managers to support customers along the M4 corridor, London, the South East and Norfolk areas.

Mark Tipper will cover North London, Hertfordshire, Oxford and Norfolk while Mark Drummond has been appointed to support customers in South London, Berkshire, Kent and Sussex.

Mr Tipper has more than 20 years’ experience, initially serving an apprenticeship with a prominent Essex aerospace manufacturing machine shop. He progressed through the ranks from apprentice to CNC machinist before moving into the programming office.

Over the last five years, he has been an area sales manager with a world-leading cutting tool manufacturer, supporting machine shops with innovative cutting tool solutions in Essex, Kent and the home counties. With expertise in machining and an extensive client list from working with a leading tooling manufacturer, Mr Tipper is relishing the opportunity to introduce the Dugard brand to manufacturers in his area.

Meanwhile Mark Drummond has more than 30 years’ industry experience that started with a toolmaking apprenticeship, before he moved into engineering sales over 25 years ago. During this time, he has served as a key account manager, area sales manager and subsequently director of business development with some of the world’s most recognised cutting tool and machine tool brands.

Dugard managing director Eric Dugard said: “Employing area sales managers with the wealth of experience that both Mark Tipper and Mark Drummond have, will be a huge asset to our business. In the last couple of years, we have added the high-end range of Kitamura machine tools and the Ibarmia brand to our stable as well as the Hanwha brand of sliding head turning centres and automation solutions.”

“We already have an expansive range of machine tool solutions for industry, but these latest additions are giving us the impetus to increase our footprint in all regions of the UK. The Dugard brand is well-positioned in the south of the UK and having two highly-experienced sales engineers will certainly help to drive sales and growth even further.”