Towcester-based WH-Lead, the sole sales and service agent in the UK and Ireland for the Taiwanese-built Leadwell range of vertical machining centres and CNC lathes has appinted Graham Cherry as its new UK sales manager from 1 August.

An established figure in the machine tool industry, Mr Cherry has spent his entire career in the sector since he started a four-year mechanical engineering apprenticeship at the age of 16 at a sub-contracting firm in Leicester.

The subsequent decades have witnessed his progression through numerous well-known machine tool subsidiaries and agencies in the UK, always in sales and marketing roles. He also has experience of the carbide cutting tool industry.

He said: “This is a fantastic opportunity for me to bring my long experience of CNC technology, particularly five-axis prismatic machining, to promoting and selling the Leadwell brand. Everything is in place to allow that to happen, including six new machines in stock in Towcester with more on the way, good applications engineering support and excellent service.

“Leadwell was one of the first makes of CNC machining centre sold in the UK and there are currently more than 250 users in this market. The machines are rigid, reliable, high quality and good value for money and we are offering them with different types of third-party robotic automation equipment.”