“ The Makino Viper G Series was developed in a collaboration between NCMT , Makino , Rolls Royce , and Tyrolit , a grinding wheel manufacturer ,” he reveals . “ There was a gap in a the market since Rolls Royce needed a new machine , and the brand came to NCMT so that we could have Makino develop an appropriate piece of kit for a new range of products . We acted as a driving force on that project .”

Relationships are key in any trade . A strong bond between company and external supplier , vendor , customer , and

commercial partner ensures success on every level . With NCMT , it is no different .

The company has , for instance , worked with Makino since it opened its doors in 1964 – long before the Japanese firm ’ s European or North American divisions even existed . “ Internally , when we go to Makino meetings , we are referred to as Makino NCMT , even though we are actually two completely separate businesses ,” reveals Ian . “ That just goes to show how strong the relationship is .

“ Likewise , from an Okuma point of view , we have been working with the brand since 1976 , and also have a very long-standing , highly productive relationship with the team over there ,” he goes on . “ It was only recently that we were sat down with the President of Okuma Japan and the President and Vice President

of Okuma Europe . Indeed , these are not flyby-night relationships ; rather , they are living , breathing , collaborative partnerships that are built on trust and best-in-class engineering . Decades of work attest to as much .”

The wheels are firmly in motion at NCMT . Following the buyout in early 2020 , the company has got through the pandemic ( in all its various waves ) and come out the other side arguably stronger . Most recently , for instance , the company has moved into a new facility in Leatherhead , Surrey .

“ Having been located at its previous facility for 41 years , it is safe to say that it has been all hands on deck since the move ,” details Jonathan . “ We had to clear out four decades worth of stock : some was very old ! Unusually , we have taken on a smaller facility . Our previous location was our sole site back when we first arrived ; however , today , we have more than one , so we are adjusting

www . ncmt . co . uk

accordingly . From a showroom standpoint , we have now started

As our conversation draws to a close , we begin to talk about the future . For Ian , there is nothing like the endless opportunities that are afforded by strong sales and continued growth . “ We have had an incredibly good start to the financial year , and I want that to carry on as we look ahead ,” he says . “ If we continue to grow both the Okuma and Makino brands , then we will be able to achieve that . However , we will then need to match that growth by expanding internally , meaning more

NCMT

salespeople to keep the momentum going . We want to bounce back to pre-pandemic figures , and we can firmly say that we are on the right track to getting there .” ■

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