600 UK Ltd.

Byline: Howard Bamforth

MACHINE tool specialist 600 UK Ltd has appointed Howard Bamforth as sales director.

Mr Bamforth, 44, will head the Heckmondwike-based company's global sales team and work with appointed distributors in key locations.

He takes responsibility for leading 600 UK's sales strategy for all machine tool brands and associated products, including its Colchester-Harrison Tornado computer numerical controlled turning centres, Alpha combination lathes and Colchester and Harrison conventional lathes.

Mr Bamforth (pictured) was one of the first sponsored students at T S Harrison, which was later amalgamated into the 600 Group.

On gaining a BSc degree in mechanical engineering from Salford University, he joined the company full-time in 1988 and specialised initially in product design.

After spending two years working in service and spares, he became sales office manager for Harrison in 1998 and regional sales manager in 2006. He was closely involved in the cross-over of the Colchester and Harrison lathes ranges and the introduction of CE Marking during the 1990s.

600 UK is part of 600 Group PLC, the UK''s largest machine tool company, which has sites worldwide and sells into more than 180 countries. The group has two core areas of business activity centred on machine tools and laser marking.