The Moore family had been supplying local industry in the Poole and Bournemouth area with bearing and power transmission solutions for some 13 years, when in 1997 they had an enquiry that was to change the business dramatically — and see Moore International formed. Managing director Mark Moore takes up the story.
“We were approached by a London-based company making parts for buses and asked to quote for a significant quantity of ballscrew and leadscrew products. I contacted the Swiss manufacturer Eichenberger Gewinde, and we subsequently won the business. Moreover, the quantities were such that, after a few meetings, the Swiss company asked us to be their distributor in the UK and Ireland. “The ballscrews — supplied in lengths up to 3m — were cut to length and the ends machined to suit specific applications. Initially, we used about five companies to do the necessary turning and milling work, but when Eichenberger Gewinde said it wanted distributors to do their own machining, we established our own facility. We also bought our first CNC machines, allowing us to not only have full control over quality but also meet demanding customer lead times.”
A steady increase in customer demand saw Moore International continue to invest in new CNC machinery, including its first Hwacheon turning centre — a Cutex 200 from Sheffield based Ward Hi-Tech Ltd. Mr Moore said: “The high-precision nature of the ballscrews and other products we produce means we buy high-quality machines that offer accuracy, repeatability and reliability; and where possible, we double up on key items of equipment to ensure some continuity of production, whatever the circumstances.” With growth continuing, it moved from rented buildings in January 2016 and bought a much larger industrial unit on Poole’s Upton Industrial Estate, where it is today.
To add further production capacity plus physical capacity — and with exports a fastgrowing opportunity (particularly to the USA) — Moore International installed a Hi-Tech 200BLMC turning centre in March this year; this is its fourth Hwacheon machine.
For more information on Moore International www.mooreinternational.co.uk
Reprinted in part with permission from Machinery Market