Entry level' vertical machining centre is characterised by long axis travel, a compact design, excellent performance, starting price of GBP 39,950 and typically cutting 20% off production time.

Few would dispute that DMG has outstanding abilities at the high-tech end of manufacturing and in complete machining in particular. Indeed many in the automotive and aerospace industries now regard its highly advanced CNC machines as industry-standard. However, DMG's track record in advanced machining should not be over-emphasised at the expense of its burgeoning 'entry-level' success.

With more than 100 series of machines now at its disposal - each with multiple variations and options - DMG has never been better placed to provide the optimum machine for every manufacturing need.

Specialist DMG manufacturing sites around the world are now producing all levels of machines from the basic to the advanced.

They have common components and the economy of scale ensures costs remain low.

All machines are also subject to the renowned DMG build-quality so their value-for-money is exceptionally high.

Established customers cite DMG quality as a key reason for their continued custom.

Aspec Precision Engineering in Cambridge is a general engineering subcontractor to various industries including the scientific and medical sectors.

When the company was seeking to boost its turning capacity late last year it looked at many machine tool suppliers.

'However, we were so impressed with the accuracy of our DMG machining centre we decided to opt for a CTX 310 lathe,' confirmed the company's Colin Flack.

The same sequence of events applied to Roota Engineering of Rotherham whose Steve Crampin ordered a CTX510 universal lathe following a visit to EMO.

Indeed quality is a reason also given by many newcomers to DMG.

Acting on the recommendation of an established DMG customer Interactive Precision Machining in Surrey ordered two DMC 635V vertical machining centres.

This model is characterised by long axis travel, a compact design, excellent performance and highly attractive starting price of GBP 39,950.

It typically shaves 20% off the production time of a standard job providing excellent value for money especially as an alternative for flexible single part machining and small to medium batch production.

'I went for the high build standards of this machine,' explained Mick Hill of Interactive Precision Machining.

'So many other machines are just not of the same quality.' Launched at last year's EMO, this machine appeared for the first time in the UK at MACH 2006.

Another newcomer at MACH 2006 was the NEF 400 entry-level lathe.

Derek Salt of Metalite in Swindon placed his order for this new model after a visit to EMO.

'I did my apprenticeship on German built machines and in my opinion their reliability and quality are better than anything else in the market.' Better quality was also the reason why Tony Bess of Plalite in Sittingbourne chose his entry level universal 5-axis DMU 50 in December 2005.

His company had standardised on another low-cost brand but became disillusioned.

'We wanted quality, to step up the ladder from a Ford to a Volkswagen.' DMG (UK)'s, managing director Tim Hately also reinforces the reason why DMG are gaining orders from both new and existing customers - as he said 'Our customers new and old keep coming back to us because we are a quality German manufacturer at the leading edge of technology.

We cannot only offer value for money machines, but we can also support the machines on a long term basis.

At DMG we are still supporting machines that were manufactured before the engineers who operate them were born and not many suppliers of machine tools can brag about that level of back up.

In addition, we offer the most comprehensive machine tool range on the market including a range of superior lower cost machines for both milling and turning which can compete on price with the low cost, lower quality machines that are available on the market today.

The major advantage is that we can offer these machines with the same quality and accuracy as our higher specification machines as we use the same standards of parts and build techniques on our complete range of machines.' With demand for its entry level machines very much in the ascendancy DMG introduced several new models at MACH 2006.