The Vigilance Group, through its MACH Machine Tools and Machine Tool Sales Online business operations, continues to go from strength to strength.
Demand for new MACH Machine Tool branded CNC and manual machine tools and toolroom equipment has never been higher and used machine tool sales achieved by the Group’s Machine Tool Sales Online (MTSO) subsidiary, are continuing on a strong, upward trajectory.
It's a win: win situation for the Bristol-based outfit, brought about, in no small part, by the Group’s commitment to continuous improvement and by its equally strong conviction to, always, deliver unrivalled and exceptional customer service.
With combined sales turnover expected to top £6.5m, for the first time in the Group’s history, it’s worthwhile looking back at Vigilance’s development and how its two machine tool brands, in particular, have now become the ‘go-to’ technology providers for a growing number of UK, European and, since 2025 for MACH Machine Tools, North American customers.
In 2007, The Vigilance Group was established by managing director, Dave Andrew.
Back then, the Group’s activities were primarily focused on -:
a) providing UK component manufacturers and machine tool suppliers with Chuck-eez® power chuck lubricant, through its Vigilance Engineering Safety Products (VESP) subsidiary.
b) supplying UK manufacturers with high-quality used and pre-owned machine tools, equipment and vehicles, via its then embryonic, Machine Tool Sales Online (MTSO) operation which, through its sophisticated web-based platform also offered an on-line auction service.
It wasn’t until 2013 when MACH Machine Tools first came into existence, established by Matt Andrew (Dave Andrew’s son) and business partner, Marc Bowers.
The rest, as they say, is history.
MTSO and MACH Machine Tools have, over the last 13-years, gone from strength to strength and, for those with an interest in Health & Safety at work, Chuck-eez® power chuck lubricant is still available from the Group.
“We started off small”, says Dave Andrew. “We began by raising our profile and building relationships with manufacturers throughout the UK. A key sector, for us, was the educational sector (Schools, FE and HE Colleges and Universities), and this has remained a primary focus ever since.”
Educational institutions and organisations that have developed close relationships with MTSO and MACH Machine Tools, over the years, are many and varied. To date some 37 educational institutions are MACH Machine Tools’ customers.
Continues Dave Andrew:
“In addition to supplying many educational organisations with new and/or used machine tools, we also Sponsor a number of institutions through a range of initiatives that include -: workshop and workwear branding and sponsorship of specific events like annual ‘Machinist of the Year’ apprenticeship awards.
“We are passionate about education and training and believe that young engineers should be encouraged and their achievements recognised and celebrated.”
Machine Tool Sales Online (MTSO)
The used and pre-owned machine tool market in the UK is strong and buoyant and is populated by many suppliers.
MTSO with its reputation for always having a large and diverse range of high-quality and competitively-priced used machine tools in stock, is rightly recognised as a market leader and actively promotes its stock of high-quality, competitively-priced machines via its website, social media channels and, selected, print publications.
“We are one of the largest resellers and stockholders of used machines in the UK”, continues Dave Andrew. “At any given time, we have over 200 machines in stock and sell well in excess of 350 machines every year.”
Over the last three years MTSO sales revenues have increased by 12%: by the close of 2025/26 turnover is expected to have surpassed £3.6m.
The key to MTSO’s growth and success are many and varied.
Always having a wide range of used machine tools available, that is constantly being refreshed, is obviously important and a quick glance at MTSO’s stock reveals the presence of many leading machine tool manufacturers’ models i.e., Doosan, Haas, Hurco, XYZ, Hardinge, Bridgeport and more recently
pre-owned MACH Machinery too.
Equally important is that used machines supplied by MTSO are fit for purpose and are delivered to customers in tip-top condition, ready to ‘hit the ground running.’
“We carry out in-depth checks on all our used machines prior to delivery”, explains Dave Andrew. “Spindle alignment checks, and ball-bar testing etc., are all part of the service provided, and underpin our guarantee to customers.”
MTSO’s reputation in the used machine tool market is not confined to the UK and Ireland and the company supplies a significant number of its stocked machines, every year, to customers in Europe.
“Being successful in the used machine tool market is a balancing act”, says Dave Andrew.
“For companies selling equipment it is important that we offer them realistic prices for the machines they are looking to sell. We also only acquire used machines that we know there is a market for – there’s no point in tying up capital in stock that just depreciates in value in our showroom.”
On the other side of the coin are the potential buyers of used machines.
Continues Dave Andrew:
“We want customers buying used machines to be happy with their investments. If they are, they are more likely to buy from us again, recommend us to their peers or, when the time is right, consider investing in a new MACH machine tool from us.
“That’s why we put so much resource into prepping our used machines before they are delivered and installed at customers’ facilities.”
MACH Machine Tools
As previously stated, MACH Machine Tools came into being in 2013 and, in September (2023) celebrated its 10-year anniversary.
Back in the early days, the company was best known for its popular MACH CLASSIC VS-1 turret-type milling machine which, over a short period of time, rapidly became the ‘manual machine tool of choice’ for many UK component manufacturers’ toolrooms and machine shops, and a firm favourite for a growing number of educational institutions’ engineering departments.
Says sales director, Matt Andrew:
“Right from the off our CLASSIC VS-1 machines took the market by storm, and by early 2015 we had sold 50 machines. Not bad from what was, in effect, a standing start.”
MACH Machine Tools constantly develops, augments and improves its product portfolio and, on the back of its VS-1 sales successes, introduced a series of MACH-branded manual lathes and belt linishers into the market and, a few months later, launched a series of double-ended grinders, guillotines, garage presses and bandsaws to its product range.
“Our business model is very similar to that of MTSO, our sister company,” explains Matt Andrew.
“Understanding the market is critical and developing long-term, mutually-profitable relationships with customers, based on trust and integrity…is our raison d’être.
“Our intention and ambition have always been to become a one-stop technology provider for manufacturers and educational establishments looking to improve their machining and production capacity and capabilities.”
MACH Machine Tools’ current product portfolio is light years away from what it was in 2013.
In addition to manual milling machines (i.e., VS-1 Classic, VS-1 SP and VS-2SP), the company now provides customers with MACH-branded CNC toolroom mills as well as production-oriented and high-speed vertical machining centres, and on the turning side, a suite of high-performance CNC slant bed and flat-bed lathes have been added and complement its manual lathe range.
MACH Machine Tools’ range of machines is constantly evolving and growing and between 2024 - 2026 the company introduced its new range of MACH MDV 3-axis machining centres and MACH MDM CNC bed mills, both of which are supplied with many advanced technology features as standard.
MACH Machine Tools started supplying the UK and Irish markets with CNC-controlled machines In 2019, following contact with leading CNC-control specialist, DynaPath, a couple of years earlier.
Since then, MACH Machine Tools has introduced ranges of CNC knee mills, toolroom mills, vertical machining centres, slant and flat-bed lathes equipped with the advanced WinDelta DynaPath control.
The CNC route adopted has proved to be pivotal and transformative in MACH Machine Tools’ development.
DynaPath control
The powerful and versatile DynaPath CNC control with its simple-to-understand menus, on-screen graphics and conversational and ISO/G-code programming capabilities has helped differentiate MACH Machine Tools from its competitors.
Says Matt Andrew:
“Back in 2019, could see the huge potential of the DynaPath control system and made the decision, not long after, to focus all our efforts into supplying (and supporting) DynaPath-controlled machines into the market.”
Over the last seven years MACH Machine Tools has become the ‘de facto’ UK and European sales arm and outlet for DynaPath Systems located in Taiwan.
Unlike many traditional distributor arrangements, the one that exists between MACH Machine Tools and DynaPath is strong and direct. MACH Machine Tools is able to provide its customers with ‘direct-from-the-factory’ prices for the machine tools it sells and, as such, has removed the need for, and reliance, on export houses and agents.
Continues Matt Andrew:
“From efficiency, logistics and economies of scale perspectives it made perfect sense to nail our colours to the DynaPath mast and, we haven’t looked back since.”
The Future
Over the last seven years the company’s range of DynaPath-controlled machines has grown exponentially and, over the same period, a number of developments and improvements have been made to the DynaPath control itself that have helped increase the performance and functionality of MACH machines.
As well as its 32Gb on-board program storage facility and 10,000 block look-ahead capability the DynaPath control ensures fast processing speeds resulting in improved contour accuracies and superior surface finishes.
A key feature of the DynaPath control is its fast, Wi-Fi enabled, remote 24/7 diagnostic, applications and monitoring help and support.
“This is a real game-changer,” says Matt Andrew. “This level of support is unique in the industry and means we can respond to customers’ queries within 20 minutes.”
MACH Machine Tools operates a 24/7 help desk for customers enabling them to directly contact the MACH applications team via WhatsApp, without the need for time-consuming email exchanges or having to organise service engineers’ visits.
This service, provided free of charge, is proving its worth with customers and ensures that machine downtime is kept to a minimum. Training and applications support, if required, can also be provided via the same remote assistance function.
With quick and reliable machine tool service interventions being high on every manufacturer’s agenda, the high level of support provided to MACH Machine Tools’ DynaPath customers is pivotal to the company’s future growth ambitions.
Service and support
The DynaPath 24/7 remote assistance facility is proving popular with customers. It helps them maintain productivity levels and the efficiency of their manufacturing operations.
MACH Machine Tools’ commitment to after-sales service and support is a constant theme running throughout the company.
Recent sales, service and application engineer recruitment have been made to strengthen existing support structures and provide a firm foundation for the company’s future growth.
Explains Dave Andrew:
“Many companies focus a majority of their resources on sales…increasing market share and expanding their customer base. This is often at the expense of building a strong service infrastructure and culture within their organisations.
“So, when push comes to shove, these companies find it difficult to support their customers satisfactorily in their time of need, meaning all the effort they expended in acquiring them is made redundant.
“We have a different business approach: incremental and sustainable growth as opposed to boom and bust.”
New horizons
Having successfully negotiated its way through the pandemic and having the building blocks in place in terms of service, applications and back-office support, MACH Machine Tools is well positioned to meet its future growth plans.
For MACH Machine Tools, this future is particularly exciting.
Following a request from DynaPath US’s distributors, MACH Machine Tools was approached and asked if it could supply its popular and proven (MACH) turret mills into North America. After further discussions, it was decided to ‘go the whole hog’ and open a ‘hub’ facility in the United States in 2025.
MACH Machine Tools is putting significant resources into raising its profile in North America.
The company is actively developing a network of distributors in Canada, the United States and Mexico, and is increasing its presence by attending a number of well-established trade shows and exhibitions; the company will, for the first time showcase a number of machines at IMTS in September 2026.
Concludes Dave Andrew:
“The North American market provides significant opportunities for growth.
“We are building MACH CNC and manual turret mills in the UK and exporting them into North America via our US subsidiary - MACH Machine Tools USA.
“These machines, with their gloss black finish, polished aluminium heads and iconic branding are set to ‘wow’ customers visiting our stand (339400) at IMTS 2026 (14th - 19th September).
For further information please contact:
Matt Andrew
matt@machmt.co.uk
Tel: 0117 965 2706