Working very closely with European machine tool builders, a revitalised machine tool company will show competitively priced CNC lathes at MACH 2004, with the latest user-friendly, touch-screen CNCs.

Ajax Machinery's new owner will be presenting a revitalised company and introducing new ranges of high quality, cost-effective products at MACH. These new Ajax machine tools include European-manufactured manual CNC and production lathes, universal CNC bed milling machines, vertical machining centres and vertical band saws. According to Managing Director, William Savin: 'We have reawakened the giant that was Ajax and are bringing it back to the forefront.

Since I acquired the company we have set about raising the quality of the products and services we offer to a new high.

' We have been working very closely with European machine tool builders to develop product ranges that are manufactured under contract for us to our exacting specifications.

The engineering experience of these companies is second to none and we are not afraid to acknowledge them - we want them to be proud to be manufacturing for us,' he says.

One of the fruits of this product development programme is a new manual CNC lathe, the Ajax Apollo QT.

The machines feature Fanuc's QuickTurn control as well as Fanuc drives and motors.

At prices ranging from GBP 12,950 for a 335mm swing lathe with 750mm between centres to GBP 28,950 for a 620mm swing 155mm spindle bore machine with 3m between centres, the range offers the benefits of simple user-friendly CNC for the same price as many manual lathes.

'We see the Apollo QT as a manual lathe with CNC assistance,' says William.

'The touch screen control is very simple to use.

A manual turner can get straight on the machine and use it.

If he wants to he can operate it without engaging the control, but why wind a handle when the CNC will do the job more quickly?

This is aimed at being a replacement for manual machines.' Wherever possible Ajax now offers the choice of European manufactured machinery at a price comparable to Far Eastern machines from other suppliers.

In a number of areas, such as turret mills, it complements its Ajax range of European machines with even more cost effective Taiwanese alternatives.

The company has recently relocated to purpose-built premises in Lymington that give it the capacity to support its continuing expansion.