Machine tool builder Mazak Corporation plans to expand its National Technology Center and Center for Multi-Tasking and Manufacturing Excellence, both in Florence, Ky., to deliver “significantly enhanced applications support and training opportunities” to its customers. The improvements will allow Mazak to demonstrate larger machines and more expansive process solutions, including complete turnkey manufacturing systems.
The project will increase the National Technology Center from 69,000 to 100,183 square feet of space. The Center opened in 1996 and was doubled in size in a 2006 expansion. Now, Mazak plans to add seven new high-bay areas, a second story of offices to create space for six dedicated customer-training rooms, and more square footage in the technology demonstration area.
Additional workspace for Mazak’s National Service Department will be added, too. Mazak has added 30 new applications engineers recently to keep up with demand for more technical support.
The value of the upcoming expansion was not announced. It follows soon after Mazak expanded its National Parts Center in Florence, where the company has its U.S. headquarters and manufacturing center. Last year, it initiated plans to increase production volumes for its machine tools, and reportedly is completing up to 135 units per month now.
“Manufacturing in the United States is growing, and there are ever-increasing opportunities to collaborate closely with our customers to develop innovative solutions that increase their productivity, efficiency, and equipment utilization,” explained Mazak president Brian Papke.
The National Technology Center anchors eight Mazak Regional Technology Centers across North America, and in that way is at the core of Mazak’s customer support program. The expansion will allow the Center to collaborate more extensively with the regional centers and distributors’ technical centers, to provide the engineering, and the space, needed to meet current demand for larger manufacturing systems.
“Mazak is committed to doing everything we can to provide manufacturers with access to the most advanced technology and support, which is made possible through our Technology Centers. And as manufacturing continues to grow in North America, we intend to provide our customers with a wide variety of training so they can fully realize the benefits of highly productive new Mazak machines,” Papke said.
