With its UK operations continuing to regain momentum, Worcester-based Yamazaki Mazak UK Ltd (www.mazakeu.com) has made a series of investments in ‘people and performance’.

Brian Edmondson, who has over 20 years’ experience in the machine tool sector, is now area sales manager for the Midlands (he was previously area sales manager for the North West).

He has a wealth of technical expertise and hands-on engineering knowledge, and he will be supporting customers from a wide variety of market sectors in the West Midlands, Herefordshire, Worcestershire and Gloucestershire.

Among his key responsibilities will be helping customers make the transition to simultaneous five-axis machining after the launch of Mazak’s UK-designed and built CV5-500 machining centre earlier this year.

Jason Butler, general sales manager (southern region) at Yamazaki Mazak, said: “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.”

Mazak has also made significant investments in staff training and development over the last three months. Throughout April and May, five more of the company’s UK project and applications engineers gained a PRINCE2 Foundation qualification, which is recognised internationally for the directing, managing and delivering of high-value projects. Nine of the company’s engineers have now attained this qualification.

Mazak has also re-opened the doors of its Worcester European Technology Centre (ETC). Visitors are asked to book in advance to allow the company to manage (in line with social distancing guidelines) the number of people
visiting at any one time.

The ETC features a selection of machines from Mazak’s comprehensive machine portfolios, including UK-made machines such as the CV5-500, VTC-800/30SR and VCN-530C.

Alan Mucklow, managing director UK and Ireland (sales and service) at Yamazaki Mazak, said: “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.

“To ensure that Mazak can adapt to the new world 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.”

The details of booking a visit or a virtual session can be found at the Web site (www.mazakeu.co.uk).