A Coventry firm which specialises in high-precision lathes has seen its sales soar since it turned to a city support group for advice.

KC Machine Tools, which has been run by Alan Crossthwaite for the last 10 years, specialises in rebuilding and modifying precision Hardinge lathes for the aerospace and medical industries.

Used widely for high-precision work, the Hardinge machines can continue to give good service, even after more than 20 years, when upgraded with state-of-the-art CNC control systems and new spindle drives.

Initially the company, based on the Hales Industrial Estate in Rowleys Green, struggled to make money from the service.

But after turning to specialist support and advice from CEMAG, The Chamber Engineering and Manufacturing Action Group, the order book has started to fill, with sales increasing by 50 per cent in 12 months.

It has now become the most profitable part of the business.

Through his involvement with the group, Mr Crossthwaite was received advice on marketing from The Chamber and invested in new sales literature and exhibited at a number of trade fairs.

He also discovered how to reorganise the company's management structure and operations, as well as installing sound procedures for cost accounting.

Alan said:

"CEMAG has some excellent ideas and has made a difference to my business, as well as helping us to network with other local firms and source more components from local suppliers."

The Chamber's Graham Allcock, who manages the CEMAG programme added:

"Manufacturing is alive and kicking in Coventry and Warwickshire and KC Machine Tools' success is a perfect example of what can be achieved with the right support and guidance."