The latest phase of investment in our CNC machine shop is now in place. Adding to the Mazak machine tools we already had, we have the latest 250MY, mill/turn lathe, but with an important addition; a TA12 load and unload robot.

This is our first robot, but already we are certain it is unlikely to be our last. The video shows the whole shop in action, producing components for our fabrications, as well as spare parts - pins, bushes, linkages, track rollers, sprockets, idlers etc. - for excavators.

Despite the uncertainty created by Brexit, we have been determined to continue our policy of development through capital investment, in order to offer our customers greater choice of product and faster manufacturing times. The first element of the investment undertaken in 2018, two new Modula Vertical Lift Machines (VLM) storage systems  is now fully operational.

The first machine "M1" looks after the routinely used components for the fabrication shop. Bosses and laser profiles are stored in a layout planned for maximum picking speed, in the 3.9m high VLM.

The taller "M2" machine carries tooling for the Mazak CNC machines and also looks after components for machined parts, such as bearings and seals for undercarriage parts we manufacture.

Both machines not only increase item picking speed, but have also freed up space which will be used for production. To which end, there is more investment to follow....

Yes, it was wet, yes it was muddy, but overall, we'd say PlantWorx 2017 was a big success.

Tea, coffee, sandwiches and a cabin heater all helped to make the event more bearable for our customers and the rain did not stop the orders!

Huge thanks to everyone who visited us.

We have added a third, new, CNC machine tool to the machine shop in our Engineering works.

The new machine, another Mazak, will add both physical capacity - it handles bigger diameters and lengths of bar - as well as increased overall production volume.

The ethos of designing and producing not just in the UK, but in-house remains a key strategy in DIGBITS' quest for quality and speed of service.

By controlling not only the skills of the production team and the quality of bought-in raw materials, but also the machinery used to produce goods, the firm aims for extremely high standards.

We are offering a variety of "drill, mix, fill" packages for augers. Using the drive unit both to drill post holes and also to mix concrete to fill them makes a lot of sense on many applications:

• lower outlay
• less machinery to move about on site
• easier to pour in awkward locations where barrows cannot be tracked

Call us today to found out how your mini excavator can benefit from these versatile packages, or how a mixer bowl might be added onto your existing Auger Torque drive.

We'd genuinely forgotten we were 25 until we considered our first employee's 25th work anniversary.

In a rare flash of inspiration, we had the idea to brand all buckets and attachments we build this year with a special logo. Keep an eye out for it.

In the meantime, just a reminder of what was in the charts in 1990/1:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WgF-OAFEMbE

STOP PRESS! Camoplast Solideal has re-branded itself as Camso.
As of the start of this month, the company, created by the takeover of construction and industrial tyre and tracke specialists Solideal, by the agricultural and snowmobile track specialist Camoplast in 2010 has become Camso.
The re-branding simplifies and unifies the corporate identity across the range of products. DIGBITS will remain the main Camso importer and re-seller for replacement construction rubber tracks.
More on this story on the Camso website.

If you missed the write-up in January edition of Earthmovers magazine, you can catch a summary of it here: Earthmovers
Journalist, blogger, excavator operator and ethusiastic plant expert Nick Drew tours the DIGBITS HQ and Factory to get the inside track on what goes on behind the scences.

It's been a few years since we did a UK exhibition, but we'll be out in full force at this year's Plantworx show, from 2nd to 4th June. Note that the venue of this Plantworx hasbeen changed to the Bruntingthorpe airfield, close to the junction of the M1 and M6.
We will be exhibiting alongside our colleagues from Camoplast Solideal, so will have an extensive range of not only our in-house products, such as buckets and attachments, but also a wide range of rubber tracks and construction tyres on show.
As with just about every other show we've ever done, we'll be maintaining the vital continuity of service which means that, sadly, not all of our team will be there to meet you.
Inevitably we'll be exceptionally busy both on the stand and back at base, so bear with us, but please do drop by and visit us if you're at the show.

We look forward to seeing you at Stand E3 on Avenue 13!