OXNARD, CALIFORNIA – Haas Automation, Inc. recently announced sales totals for 1998, and according to Denis Dupuis, general manager, "1998 was another good year for Haas, with sales of $326 million." Mr. Dupuis went on to explain, "Although that total is on par with our figures for 1997, the extreme efficiency of our new Oxnard facility (recently expanded to 620,000 square feet), combined with lower production costs, resulted in a slightly stronger bottom line."

According to Dupuis, Haas is well positioned for further growth in the coming year, despite a marked slowdown in the entire industry during late 1998 and early 1999. "With the recent release of our new SL-Series turning centers, and several new entries in the five-axis and large-capability categories," Dupuis said, "Haas is uniquely positioned to attract a whole new category of customers."

The growing markets opened by these new machines, combined with a solid existing customer base for their shop-proven VMC line, truly leave Haas poised for real growth in 1999. In fact, the company expects to return to the traditional 40–70% annual growth rates that marked most of the company’s previous years.

"Right now, Haas Automation is an extremely healthy company, both financially and mentally," Dupuis said. " We are looking at the current industry slowdown as an opportunity to improve our operations and manufacturing processes well beyond all expectations."

For 1999, Dupuis said Haas customers can look forward to "new machines, expanded features and options, continued polished engineering and more productivity solutions from America’s best selling CNC machine tool company."