Full production is under way at a new state-of-the-art machine shop in Heckmondwike where the UK’s leading machine toolmaker has its European hub.

Major investment has been put into the manufacture of work-holding equipment and precision-engineered components by 600 UK, part of 600 Group which has seen production of its world-famous Pratt Burnerd chucks getting into full swing.

Last month the 600 Group confirmed that a further £2.5 million is to be invested in ensuring that the company is in shape to take advantage of a predicted upturn in demand.

Pratt Burnerd is a world leading producer of equipment and replacement chucks for a variety of machine tools, which it makes both in batches and as ‘one-offs’ for customers in countries across the globe, including the United States, mainland Europe and the Far East.

The firm recently completed a giant 42in chuck for a European firm.

Alan Jenkin, Pratt Burnerd product manager, said: “This really demonstrates 600 UK’s versatility as a manufacturer.

“We have always had a strong reputation for batch production, but we also manufacture special applications to customers’ individual specifications.

“This capability is something we have brought with us to Heckmondwike and our customers know that everything is made here in West Yorkshire.”

Pratt Burnerd products, which retain their separate brand, were integrated into 600 UK’s Heckmondwike site as part of the restructuring of its manufacturing base last year which transferred production from Halifax The move integrated Pratt Burnerd, which has been making chucks and work-holding equipment for more than 150 years, into 600 UK’s centralised design and manufacturing operations.

The company also has UK manufacturing operations at Colchester, in Essex, at Letchworth, Hertfordshire. Mr Jenkin said merging the two sites was a logical move and would allow the group to implement its automated flexible manufacturing system at Heckmondwike.

Pratt Burnerd, which is also part of 600 UK’s supply chain for its Colchester-Harrison machine tools, produces a range of manual and power chucks, including extra heavy-duty big bore ‘oil country’ drilling chucks up to 2metres in diameter.

In August, 600 Group said it was looking to raise £2.5 million as a loan from shareholders to enable it to complete a major turnaround programme, which has seen costs slashed by £13.2 million.

It followed an improved performance by the diversified international engineering group in the year to April 2010, which saw it turn a £2.5m loss the previous year into a £600,000 operating profit in the second half.