HEADLINE: Sales into Double Figures in May........

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Star GB had a fantastic order intake during May, according to managing director Bob Hunt, who said that sliding-head lathes ordered during the month reached well into double figures for the first time since before the credit crunch.

"I am realistic enough not to expect that level of monthly orders to be repeated often during the rest of 2011,
 

but it is a real tonic when it does happen," he said. "June is also looking very good at the moment."

All of the Star lathes are destined for subcontractors around the UK, which implies that the success being enjoyed by OEMs, particularly in export markets, is filtering down the supply chain and giving sufficient confidence for investment.

It underlines that recovery has undeniably taken hold in manufacturing, which is leading the UK out of recession and helping to reduce our balance of payments deficit.

Interestingly, three of the lathes will go to customers that are new to Star. This is always pleasing, bearing in mind repeat orders are the norm, so there is a likelihood of further business down the line.

Another statistic of Star GB's sales achievement in May is that double machine orders were placed by two existing customers that are expanding, which alone accounted for a significant percentage of May's order intake.

One customer was Astec Precision, Ulverston, whose business is going from strength to strength.

The company's managing director, Peter Smith, said, "There is every reason to invest in more Star machines at the moment, as historically the lathes have proved very capable for producing our tight-tolerance electrical and electronic components."

The other twin-lathe installation will be at a firm in the Midlands. In this case, in-depth process development undertaken by Star GB's engineering manager, Brian Chamberlain, led directly to order placement.

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One of the country's leading producers of special fasteners, Wetherby-based Vaughan Jones Socket and Screws, is celebrating its 50th anniversary this month.

The company, which has been a Star sliding-head lathe user for a decade and now operates four of our CNC mill-turn centres, specialises in the manufacture of bespoke aerospace fasteners. Accounting for 70 per cent of turnover, they are supplied into some of the most prestigious aircraft programmes, mainly through a network of distributors across the UK and overseas.

Established in 1961, Vaughan Jones holds the aerospace quality management standard AS9100 and was one of the first companies in the UK � in fact the 28th � to be accredited to BS 5750 (now ISO 9001) back in 1979.

The remainder of its business is spread across a number of industries where demanding performance is essential, such as defence (MOD AQAP4 registration is held), mining, medical, telecommunications, machine tools, tooling, motorsport and automotive engineering.

A variety of products is produced from high tensile, stainless and mild steels, nickel alloys, brass and bronze, aircraft materials, nylon and other plastics to worldwide standards and customers� specifications, including special socket, slotted and hexagon screws, internally threaded parts, nuts and turned parts. Some of the Star lathes have high-pressure coolant to cope with machining the more exotic materials.

Managing director, Jeremy Hornby, who has been with the company for over 35 years, commented, "We have always had a strong reputation for producing top quality products and providing a first rate service, underpinned by a specialist workforce of skilled craftsmen and women, all with many years' experience in the industry.

"Our investment over the years in sliding-headstock, multi-axis lathes has allowed us to reduce setting times, increase production capacity and offer faster, more flexible delivery of small to medium sized batches of bespoke fasteners to our customers."
 

Vaughan Jones Socket Screws Ltd, Unit 352, Thorp Arch Trading Estate, Wetherby, Yorkshire, LS23 7BJ. Telephone: 01937 843298. Fax: 01937 843501 www.vaughanjones.co.uk