Devon-based XYZ Machine Tools took orders worth in excess of £1 million at last month’s MACH 2024. Spanning 12 machines, this figure is expected to rise in the coming weeks and months as the company’s area sales managers work through the high number of enquiries generated by the show. The quantity of leads is up considerably on the previous MACH in 2022, providing a positive indication of robust investment levels across UK industry. With 16 machines under power on the company’s main stand, XYZ Machine Tools, which is celebrating its 40th anniversary this year, presented its usual show of force at MACH.

Martin Burton, sales director at XYZ, said: “We saw a similar number of visitors to the stand as MACH 2022, but the quality was better. There were more people looking to make an immediate or near-future investment, rather than discussing plans further down the track. In particular, it was nice to meet a number of companies who are considering XYZ Machine Tools for the first time.”

The 12 orders, spread across both ProtoTRAK and Siemens-controlled machines, were placed by both sub-contractors and OEMs, including Image Wheels, a Tipton-based leader in the manufacture of classic and modern alloy wheels. The company actually won XYZ’s MACH competition for a £10,000 discount on any new CNC machine, opting for the popular Proturn RLX 555, a 1m gap-bed lathe with ProtoTRAK RLX touchscreen control.

UK debut
Taking centre stage on the main stand was the XYZ 65 LTY-S twin/sub-spindle lathe, which proved popular across all five days. Making its UK debut, this box-way machine offers the advantages of automated turning and milling in a single set-up via its twin spindles, live tooling, and Y and C axes.

Another highlight was the first-ever showing of XYZ’s complete range of fully enclosed TMC machining centres. Featuring the same ProtoTRAK RMX controls as the company’s bed-mill series, the TMC (Toolroom Machining Centre) proved to be a crowd pleaser. At the show XYZ presented the machines with a variety of options, including a fourth-axis unit.

Other MACH featured machines included the XYZ UMC-5X for full five-axis simultaneous machining at a repeatability of ±2.5µm, and the XYZ 800 HD with box slideways and massive ribbed castings for heavy-duty cutting.

On a second stand, XYZ Machine Tools showcased a Proturn RLX 780 3m gap bed lathe with impressive 780mm swing over bed and 160mm spindle bore. The strategy of taking another stand served to showcase the sheer size of the machine and XYZ is now in discussions about two potential orders for this machine following the show.

Mr Burton concluded: “Overall we enjoyed a very successful MACH 2024 and we are already in the process of booking our presence at MACH 2026.”