Machine sales boom

Precision Technologies Group, reports that the division's machine sales topped £10m during 2012, an increase of more than 30% over the previous 12-month period.

The company made headway into several new markets and won a significant order from the USA.

Chris Cheetham, sales manager, says: "Worth $2.3m, this order was for a 25,000kg-capacity deep hole boring machine that will be used for deep hole drilling of nickel alloys, with up to 15in diameter holes." However, Cheetham says the real highlight of the year was the design and build of a Powerstir Friction Stir Welding Machine with 6 x 4m gantry for a customer in China's avionics industry. Designed for R&D purposes, PTG believes it to be the most powerful friction stir welder in the world; it is capable of producing friction stir welds in aluminium alloys, titanium and stainless steel.