Says Richard Smith, managing director UK and Ireland sales division: "2014 was a record sales year for the UK business, with a very strong final quarter in particular. Growth has been driven by the strength of the UK's manufacturing sector, specifically aerospace, and a very buoyant oil and gas sector, which continues to invest in new technology."
The UK is not only an important destination for Mazak machine tools but also home to the company's European manufacturing plant, at Worcester, where around 100 machines are manufactured every month for both UK domestic customers and export markets.
Smith says growth has been achieved across the entire Mazak range, but singles out multi-tasking and the Smart range as particular drivers. "In terms of machine type, we are seeing continued strong growth in multi-tasking machines. This is growth that is being propelled by the UK's manufacturing base adopting the latest technologies in order to maintain its competitive advantage.
"We have also seen significant growth in our entry-level machine sales, such as the Quick Turn Smart. I believe the UK's subcontract manufacturing base is recognising more and more that Mazak can supply it with affordable entry-level machining solutions and then grow with them as their companies develop and they move into more sophisticated machining techniques, such as multi-tasking and simultaneous 5-axis machining."
