Mazak increases staff investment as UK operations gather pace

Yamazaki Mazak has made a series of investments in people and performance as its UK operations continue to regather momentum. 

With over 20 years’ experience in the machine tool sector, Brian Edmondson has assumed the role of Area Sales Manager for the Midlands, having previously been Mazak’s Area Sales Manager for the North West. Brian brings with him a wealth of technical expertise and hands-on engineering knowledge to now support customers in the West Midlands, Herefordshire, Worcestershire and Gloucestershire.

Brian will be responsible for serving the needs of Mazak customers operating across a wide variety of market sectors, ranging from general subcontracting through to automotive, aerospace and medical. Among Brian’s key responsibilities will be helping a number of customers transition into simultaneous 5-axis machining following the launch and demand for Mazak’s UK-designed and built CV5-500 machining centre earlier this year.

Jason Butler, General Sales Manager – Southern Region at Yamazaki Mazak, comments: “Brian truly embodies Mazak’s core values of customer support, technical knowledge and professionalism, and the breadth of his expertise will undoubtedly strengthen our position in the Midlands. Given the sheer variety of industrial sectors that are active within the region, not to mention it being home to our European Headquarters and Manufacturing Plant, this appointment is of significant strategic importance to Mazak. I know our Midlands-based customers will be in very capable hands with Brian.”

Over the last three months, Mazak has also significantly invested in staff training and development. Throughout April and May, a further five of the company’s UK Project & Applications Engineers successfully attained a PRINCE2® Foundation qualification. PRINCE2® is a process-based method for effective project management, and is recognised internationally as one of the leading qualifications for directing, managing and delivering high-value projects. This further strengthens the UK Project Engineering & Applications department, with nine engineers having now attained a PRINCE2® qualification.

Mazak has also reopened the doors of its Worcester European Technology Centre (ETC). Visitors are encouraged to book in advance to allow Mazak to manage the number of people in attendance at any one time in line with UK Government social distancing guidelines. The ETC will feature a selection of machines from Mazak’s Multi-Tasking, 5-axis, Turning, Horizontal, Vertical and Laser Processing Machine portfolios, including UK-made machines such as the CV5-500, VTC-800/30SR and VCN-530C. A number of machines on display will also be available for immediate delivery. Mazak’s regional sales representatives are able to discuss specific requirements and details of finance packages available through Finance For Industry. Customers may also be eligible for support via the Government’s Coronavirus Business Interruption Loan Scheme (CBILS).

Alan Mucklow, Managing Director UK & Ireland Sales & Service at Yamazaki Mazak, commented: “While the past few months have undoubtedly been a major challenge for the UK manufacturing industry, we have started to see some confidence return to our customers. In order to ensure that Mazak is able to adapt to the new world that we now find ourselves in, we took the decision to heavily invest in training and development for all areas of the business over the last few months. As our work begins to once again gather momentum, I am delighted to be able to safely re-open the doors of our ETC, and very much look forward to welcoming our customers back into the heart of our UK and European operations.”

Please visit www.mazakeu.co.uk to book a visit or virtual session, or contact a Mazak sales representative to discuss availability.