Citizen and Miyano merge in 2011

Both product brands will be retained under managing director Geoff Bryant (pictured) with the headquarters in Bushey, Watford and the existing operational base in Brierley Hill, West Midlands. All the 35 staff will join the merged operations with the expectation to recruit additional people during 2011 to further strengthen the technical support team on applications and service. Mr Bryant said: "With our existing structure and relationship as sole suppliers of world leading machine technology in both production disciplines through Citizen CNC sliding head and Miyano CNC fixed-head technology, we are winning orders due to our open-minded application strategies. As a single company we are able to put forward the respective advantages of each machine type in the best interest of the customer application." The Citizen sliding head machines have a bar capacity up to 32 mm and the Miyano fixed-head up to 64 mm. However, Miyano has the added capability to supply chucking and billet machining plus a range of advanced solutions around turn-key automation packages. The strengthened working relationship between the two machine tool brands has already resulted in important technology transfers giving improved flexibility and the ability to reduce cycle times further. This will become more beneficial to customers during 2011 when both machine brands will be launching influential key models able to further drive down the cost of turn-milled part production with the focus on speed of setting and improved machine utilisation with the extended capability for consistent machining cycles.