Our Specialisms

    VTT-WB Ltd is a UK-based specialist in vertical turning machine tools, serving customers across the defence, nuclear, oil and gas, aero engine, and aerospace sectors. Based in Birmingham (B6 7LG), we combine decades of machine tool engineering experience with a deep understanding of the industries we serve. Our focus is narrow but deep — we do vertical turning, and we do it exceptionally well.

    Unlike general machine tool dealers, we focus exclusively on vertical turning technology. This means we understand the specific challenges, requirements, and applications of vertical boring machines and vertical turning lathes — from the heritage Webster & Bennett machines that built British industry through to the latest CNC vertical turning centres. When you contact VTT-WB, you are speaking to engineers who have spent their careers working with these machines — not salespeople who move from one product category to another.

    Our work falls into four connected specialisms, each supporting the others:

    • Supply: New and rebuilt vertical turning machines, from our product range and from stock
    • Reconditioning: Restoration of used machines to factory accuracy through hand-scraping and component renewal
    • CNC retrofit: Modernisation of manual machines through the ManuPlus programme
    • Support: Parts, manuals, maintenance, and technical expertise for machines in service

    These specialisms are interconnected. A machine we supply may later need reconditioning. A machine we recondition may subsequently be retrofitted with CNC controls. A machine we retrofit will need ongoing parts and maintenance support. By offering all four services, we provide continuity of knowledge and support throughout a machine’s lifecycle.

    Vertical Turning Machines

    Vertical turning machines — including vertical borers, vertical turning lathes (VTLs), and vertical turning centres (VTCs) — are our core competency. We support, refurbish and supply rebuilt machines to suit every capacity and budget, from medium-duty workshop machines to heavy industrial units.

    The Machines We Designed and Built

    Between 1993 and 2010 we designed and built the Webster & Bennett vertical turning centres below. We no longer build them new, but we support, service and refurbish them, and sometimes have them available used:

    • Millennium — Flagship 3-axis vertical turning centre, launched in 1996. Precision turning, contour and thread milling, drilling, grinding and elliptical turning, with capacities from 1000mm to 2200mm diameter.
    • Evolution — From 2004. A 2-axis CNC machine built on the Webster & Bennett 36, 48 and 72 structure, for turning, grinding and PCD drilling up to 2100mm diameter.
    • Revelation — From 2006. A super heavy 3-axis turning and machining centre for turning, grinding and contour milling, with capacities up to 5000mm diameter.
    • Aeroturn — Launched in 2009, the last range we built new. A faster, lighter-duty machine than the Millennium for precision turning, milling and grinding, including a twin-ram version.
    • ManuPlus — Our programme for upgrading older Webster & Bennett vertical borers with full CNC or Manual-CNC controls.

    Every machine is different. Talk to Iain about the specification, condition and support options for a particular machine.

    Vertical Borers

    For an overview of vertical boring machines — what they do, how they work, and our range of capacities — see our vertical boring machines page. If you are new to vertical boring technology, our educational guide How a Vertical Boring Machine Works explains the components, operations, and applications in detail.

    CNC Vertical Turning Lathes

    For CNC-specific information — including the differences between VTLs, VTCs, and vertical borers, our range, and manual-to-CNC conversion — see our CNC vertical turning lathes page, which covers specifications, applications, and capability reviews.

    Used and Rebuilt Machines

    For cost-effective alternatives to new machines, our used vertical lathes page details our current stock of inspected, rebuilt, and warranted machines. We also offer part-exchange and buy-back for customers upgrading or disposing of existing equipment.

    CNC Retrofit & Modernisation

    Many vertical turning machines in service today are mechanically sound but limited by outdated control systems. Relays fail, DC drives become unreliable, and spare parts become impossible to find. Our CNC retrofit programme — known as ManuPlus — transforms manual vertical borers into fully programmable CNC machines, retaining the existing mechanical structure whilst replacing all control, drive, and safety systems.

    The ManuPlus programme offers a structured, staged approach:

    • Machine assessment and fixed-price quotation — know the cost before committing
    • Control system design and engineering — tailored to your machine and requirements
    • Retrofit execution with minimal downtime — scheduled around your production
    • Commissioning, testing, and operator training — verified before handover
    • Ongoing support and maintenance — we do not disappear after handover

    A CNC retrofit typically costs 30–60% of the price of a comparable new machine, making it one of the most cost-effective ways to gain modern machining capability. All retrofits are PUWER-compliant, with safety systems designed to meet current standards. For machines operating in regulated environments — nuclear, defence, oil and gas — we can design safety and documentation systems to meet the relevant sector standards.

    The ManuPlus programme is applicable to a wide range of machines, including Webster & Bennett models 36, 48, and 72, Bullard vertical borers, and other makes of vertical turning equipment. If you have a machine that you think might be a candidate for retrofit, contact us for a no-obligation assessment.

    Reconditioning & Rebuild

    Our reconditioning service restores used and worn vertical turning machines to their original factory accuracy. Using traditional hand-scraping techniques, precision measurement, and decades of engineering experience, we return machines to production-ready condition. Reconditioning is the answer when a machine’s control system is still functional but its mechanical accuracy has degraded through years of service.

    The reconditioning process includes:

    • Full geometric inspection and baseline measurement — documented for reference
    • Complete strip-down and component assessment — every part inspected and categorised
    • Hand-scraping of slideways to restore accuracy — the craft that defines machine reconditioning
    • Bearing and component replacement — worn parts renewed with quality components
    • Reassembly, alignment, and testing — verified at every stage
    • Certification of geometric accuracy — proof that the machine meets specification

    Reconditioning can be combined with a CNC retrofit for a complete machine overhaul — addressing both mechanical wear and outdated controls in a single project. This approach delivers a machine that performs like new at a fraction of the replacement cost, with the reliability of modern controls and the accuracy of freshly scraped slideways.

    We also provide ongoing maintenance support for machines we have reconditioned or retrofitted, ensuring they continue to perform to specification over the long term. Scheduled service visits, telephone support, and access to spares are all part of our after-sales service.

    Why VTT-WB

    When you work with VTT-WB, you are choosing a partner with deep, focused expertise in vertical turning technology. Here is what sets us apart from general machine tool dealers and service providers:

    Specialist Knowledge

    We do not spread ourselves across every type of machine tool. We focus on vertical turning machines — and that focus gives us a depth of knowledge that general dealers and service providers cannot match. From Webster & Bennett heritage machines through to the latest CNC turning centres, we know these machines inside out. When you describe a problem, we understand it. When you need a part, we know what fits. When you need advice, we give you the benefit of decades of specific experience.

    Webster & Bennett Heritage

    As the recognised authority on Webster & Bennett vertical borers, we hold extensive parts inventory, technical manuals, and the engineering knowledge to keep these legendary machines productive. For operators of W&B machines, we are the first call for parts, service, and support — and we have the stock and the knowledge to back that up.

    Sector Experience

    We understand the specific requirements of the sectors we serve — from the documentation and traceability demands of nuclear and defence work to the precision requirements of aero engine manufacturing. Our customers trust us because we understand their world, not just their machines. We work to customer quality systems, provide appropriate documentation, and design solutions that meet sector-specific standards.

    Complete Service

    From initial assessment through to ongoing maintenance, we provide a complete service lifecycle for vertical turning machines. Supply, reconditioning, retrofit, parts, and support — all from one supplier, with continuity of knowledge throughout. You do not need to deal with multiple suppliers for different aspects of your machine’s lifecycle.

    UK-Based, Global Reach

    Based in Birmingham, we serve customers across the UK and internationally. Our engineers travel to customer sites for assessments, installations, and ongoing service work. Wherever your machine is, we can support it. Our central Birmingham location (B6 7LG) provides good transport links across the UK motorway network.

    Practical, Honest Advice

    We will tell you what your machine needs — not what is most profitable for us to sell. If reconditioning is the right answer, we will say so. If a retrofit makes more sense than a new machine, we will recommend it. If your machine has reached the end of its economic life, we will tell you that too. Our reputation is built on trust, and we protect it by giving honest advice — even when it does not lead to the largest sale.

    Competitive Pricing

    Because we focus on vertical turning machines, we have the inventory, the expertise, and the processes to work efficiently. We do not carry the overheads of a general machine tool business, and we pass those savings on to our customers. Whether you are buying a new machine, a rebuild, a retrofit, or parts, you will find our pricing competitive.

    Whatever your vertical turning machine requirements — new machines, rebuilds, retrofits, parts, or advice — we are here to help.

    Call Iain Exeter on 07808 789597 (iain@vtt-wb.com) or Petr Gabrhelik on 07808 789598 (peter@vtt-wb.com), or visit our contact page to send an enquiry.

    Explore our site: Vertical boring machines | CNC vertical turning lathes | Webster & Bennett | CNC retrofit | Reconditioning | Used machines | How vertical boring works

    More reading: browse all VTT-WB guides, including rebuild or replace? how to decide.