MACH 2022 a resounding success for Dugard

Kitamura Medcenter5AX five-axis VMC attracted the crowds at MACH 2022

East Sussex-based Dugard, which showcased four new machine tools at MACH 2022, has secured several new orders and took an unprecedented number of enquiries at the show.

The event was the first opportunity for Dugard to introduce the Kitamura range since being announced as the UK agents. To highlight the quality, speed and productivity of the renowned brand, Dugard demonstrated the MedCenter5AX five-axis vertical machining centre for fast precise machining.

Also on display from the milling stable was the larger Kitamura Mytrunnion 4G machining centre. The two machines demonstrating just how broad the Dugard milling range is.

The MedCenter5AX took centre stage and with a 30 to 30,000rev/min spindle, an HSK-E40 spindle taper with a tool ATC that can change tools in just 1.5sec, rapid traverse rates of 60m/min and table rotation of 200rev/min on the A and C axis and a pallet change system — the machine highlighted its class-leading credentials at the show.

Impressive characteristics
The machine also features 67 million pulse encoder technology, the positional accuracy of ±2 microns across the full stroke and the repeatability of ±1micron — all factors that make it one of the most accurate machines on the market. The Mytrunnion 4G with equally impressive characteristics and a larger work envelope, were two centre points of the stand. As well as these two highly productive and flexible workhorses, Dugard also gave a MACH show debut to the Hanwha brand of sliding head lathe that has taken the market by storm since entering the UK just over two years ago. Presenting the robust Hanwha XE20 and XD26II-V, the turned parts community certainly paid attention to these newcomers.

Colin Thomson, Dugard’s sales director, said: “We had representatives from Hanwha, Kitamura, Ibarmia and SMEC on the stand to support the Dugard team and throughout the week both our UK sales and technical teams and our technical partners from overseas had some very constructive conversations that resulted in several machine sales. Equally encouraging is the level of interest and direction that some of these meetings took at MACH, we fully expect to generate several additional sales in the months following the show.”

Mr Thomson concluded: “Aside from the success Dugard enjoyed at the show, and the subsequent success that will follow, it was a pleasure to be back at MACH on a human level. Having face-to-face meetings with colleagues, friends, technology partners and even competitors, after the challenges of the pandemic was a genuine delight. No level of marketing activity can exceed the anticipation and buzz that MACH creates in the marketplace. It was great to be back and we are already planning a larger stand space for MACH 2024.”