Investing in new machinery has helped punching specialist Bruderer UK break the £4 million turnover barrier.

The figure was revealed at the MACH 2012 exbibition after the firm received more than £1 million in potential new leads from the show.

The company, which employs 12 people at facilities in Birmingham and Luton, gave the first ever UK appearance to its state-of-the-art BSTA 280-75B2 high-speed punching press, including its own servo-feed line for added efficiency.

It marks what has been a record-breaking year for the firm, which has seen sales rise by 25 per cent.

Adrian Haller, managing director at Bruderer UK, explained: “Massive interest at MACH, combined with strong sales performance across all of our product areas, proves that manufacturing in this country is really on the up.

“The companies we are speaking to are all reporting increases in volume and are keen to find new ways where they can invest in speeding up the manufacturing process, improving quality and accuracy or even simply increasing capacity.”

He continued: “This is where we can normally help with our global reputation for punching technology and the number of new machines we’ve got coming to market.

“The BSTA 280-75B2 caused lots of interest at MACH and this machine, along with a BSTA 510-125B2 high speed press, will shortly be heading to Birmingham-based Brandauer for installation.

“Together, they will help the company produce two billion precision components ever year – this is what manufacturers now want.

“Our comprehensive FIBRO range of tooling components for use in press tools also proved a big hit at the event, continuing a trend we have seen all year.”

Bruderer UK offers high-precision automated stamping presses for simple and complex parts.

It also offers a comprehensive press overhaul and refurbishment programme and supplies quality used presses and equipment.

The company, which was founded in 1968, distributes its products to customers involved in automotive, building, electronics, medical, watch and the food and beverage sectors.

Its global head office is in Switzerland and is backed by seven additional competence centres located across the world, employing in excess of 200 people in locations such as France, Germany, Singapore and Spain.

Mr Haller added: “There is a mass of work being repatriated into the UK, and a high percentage of the new technology that will shape manufacturing in the future is also being developed here.

“At Bruderer we are firmly committed to growing our presence in the country and will shortly be looking to increase our workforce to cope with the planned expansion.

“This is more than likely going to include the recruitment of new apprentices.”