Like much of Europe, the UK is in the middle of a fuel crisis that is pushing the UK Government to source more fuel from the North Sea as well as driving investment in the renewables industry. To capitalise on this, Hove-based
Dugard, a leading UK supplier of CNC machine tools, has appointed Steven McBride as its new area sales manager to maximise opportunities in Scotland and the North East of England.
The new appointment will enable Dugard to build on its already strong customer base in the region and support the growing demand in the company’s machine portfolio. Joining the company in February, Mr McBride is relishing the challenge of introducing new customers to the Dugard portfolio of brands that includes Ibarmia, SMEC, Kitamura and Hanwha.
With more than 20 years in manufacturing, Mr McBride started his career as an electrical and instrumentation engineering apprentice. He then worked in electrical roles overseas while travelling, eventually returning to the UK to work as a maintenance engineer with a company that provided him with an extensive mechanical education to complement his skillset.
In 2015, Mr McBride joined a world-leading machine tool manufacturer as a maintenance engineer and when the opportunity arose, he moved into field sales. Since 2016, he has worked closely with both OEMs and sub-contract manufacturers to deliver machine tool solutions to businesses in Scotland.
Dugard sales director Colin Thomson said: “We are delighted to welcome Steven to Dugard. He has an excellent track record in technical sales, which will put him in good stead for his future with the company. Additionally, as a highly-skilled maintenance and sales engineer, Steven’s fundamental knowledge and understanding will be extremely beneficial to customers of Dugard in Scotland.”
“We have six machine tool brands that are complemented by extensive automation solutions. With everything from the Dugard cost-competitive range through the robust SMEC series and the Kitamura high-end machining centres, and on to the heavy-duty Ibarmia multi-tasking machines, we have a machining centre to meet the needs of every business.
“Likewise, we have the heavy-duty SMEC slant bed turning centres, the multi-process travelling column Ibarmia range and the most productive sliding head turning centres in the industry with the Hanwha range. Armed with such a diverse line-up, Steven will certainly make in-roads with existing and new Dugard customers in the north and we are excited about the opportunities for expanding the Dugard footprint in Scotland.”