Yamazaki Mazak sets out to help domestic customers, after earthquake and tsunami

Reports in the Chicago Sun-Times, confirmed by Yamazaki Mazak in the UK, state that the company has set up a task force to support customers over the coming months in bringing their machines back into full operation. There are some 6,000 Mazak machines in the affected area, the paper reported, adding that they are involved in the manufacture of parts for aerospace, automotive, construction equipment and artificial hips and knees. Mazak's five manufacturing plants are unaffected, Damien Cleugh, European marketing manager, told Machinery, although two of its northern Technical Centres, in Sendai and Tsukuba, were mildly affected, but back in operation within 24 hours. The Chicago Sun-Times report adds that a team from Mazak's US operation may go to Japan to aid in the parent company's efforts to help its customers. Image: Torinoumi, on the eastern coast of Japan, before the disaster on 5 September 2010 and after the tsunami on 12 March 2011 - the images were acquired by the German Optical RapidEye and radar TerraSAR-X satellites Mitsui Seiki, reporting through its US office, has said: "Employees and their families are all accounted for and safe. Our factory only experienced very minor damage that has been inspected and addressed already. We are continuing to support our customers, and our deliveries remain on schedule." Mori Seiki has posted news on its website indicating that all its employees and their familes are safe. Its Iga, Nara and Taiyo Koki factories and its Nagoya head office are not damaged, with only minor damage to buildings at Chiba and Isehara (Magnascale) factories, which will be repaired "in a week". Machine deliveries will suffer "no serious delay", it says, but the company is investigating the situation with respect to its suppliers. The company is contacting its domestic customers and is offering immediate support. Fanuc has issued a statement, with Tom Mathias, president of Fanuc FA Europe saying: "Over the next several weeks, the picture for Fanucwill become clearer, but this is what we know now. Fortunately for the company and most importantly, none of our employees were injured during last Friday's events. In addition, there was no structural damage to the production facilities at our global headquarters in Oshinomura (Yamanashi prefecture), Japan, located over 400 km southwest from the earthquake's epicenter. We will continue to assess and closely monitor the situation as information becomes available." It goes without saying that all companies making statements are offering their deepest sympathies to all those touched by the dramatic events.