MACHINE tool maker 600UK has seen demand for three newly launched machines launched at a major exhibition this month take off.

The Heckmondwike-based manufacturer received a record number of enquiries and took multiple orders on its three stands at the five day MACH 2016 exhibition at the National Exhibition Centre in Birmingham .

600 UK used the UK’s largest manufacturing and engineering exhibition to unveil of nine new products from its Colchester, Harrison, Pratt Burnerd International and Clausing brands.

The company said the exhibition exceeded all its expectations.

Colchester introduced a new ultra-heavyweight Colchester Magnum centre lathe alongside the redesigned Colchester Triumph centre lathe. The world’s best selling training centre lathe, the Colchester Student, was the main highlight in the MACH16 education zone.

Harrison also launched new lathes, including an electronic machine to meet the step up in skill levels required between manual and CNC turning machines used in the education and training markets.

Pratt Burnerd International introduced a new combination power chuck designed to handle delicate components along with a Gripsafe chuck force measurement gripmeter, to improve health and safety for lathe operators.

MACH 2016 also marked the European launch of the USA- based Clausing Precision Machine Tools brand,including a new range of milling, drilling, sawing, grinding and large swing turning machines, which created significant interest from both industrial and education customers .

Howard Bamforth, 600 UK sales director said “The launch of all of these new products at the MACH exhibition is of huge significance to us at 600 UK. Our design and manufacturing teams in Heckmondwike have been working hard to deliver new and innovative products that our customers have been demanding and we are certainly doing that.

“The level of interest that we generated at MACH has justified our continued heavy investment in product development.”

In March, 600 Group said business was picking up following a difficult period.

The MACH 2016 event, staged by the Machine Technologies Association, was opened by British Olympic cycling hero Sir Chris Hoy, who has a keen interest in how advanced manufacturing can benefit sporting performance and helped design his own range of cycles.