Citizen Machinery's global expansion delivers increasing prominence for UK operations

This will increase output of CNC sliding-head, sliding-head without guidebush and fixed-head turn-mill centres to more than 600 units a month and is the biggest investment by Citizen in its machine tool operations since the acquisition of Miyano fixed-head turning centres in 2010. To implement the merger of the brands worldwide, the UK sales and service operation headquartered in Watford was used as the 'model' and rolled-out as a 'strategic hub' for Citizen's European business. The importance of the UK's operation has strengthened since then and will do so more. "To support our position as a strategic hub for Europe, we have been able to increase our technical team to the benefit of our UK customers and improve our geographical coverage to give faster levels of customer support," explains Geoff Bryant, Citizen Machinery UK's managing director. "In addition, with our role as a strategic hub for Europe, a senior staff member from the Japan headquarters will be based at our premises to enhance links to the production units throughout SE Asia." As part of the increased responsibility for the UK and its key role in Europe, Citizen Machinery UK has been charged to increase its software development role for the group. At MACH 2012 this week, stand 5550, will feature a kiosk with the latest interactive catalogue created by the team at Watford, which uses touch-screen display to provide details of the company, its product range and optional equipment. From its launch at the exhibition, it will be translated and used by the Citizen sales network around the world. Already, its CNC Wizard low-cost programming aid software developed at Watford has been well received by customers around the world for Citizen installations and is due for world release covering Miyano machines after the MACH launch of this new version.