Mazak commitments support Canadian manufacturing

Despite the tumultuous recent past of the manufacturing sector, it is still a strong market with lots of potential for growth, says Ray Buxton, general manager of Mazak Canada, Cambridge, ON.

And Mazak is backing its belief with a strong commitment to the Canadian market and to its future growth through a series events in the coming months.

The company will open its doors for the Skills Canada and Skills Ontario Competition, CNC Machining, in May.

On Febaruy 3, Mazak partnered with Sandvik Coromant for the tooling company’s Art of Milling events, inviting manufacturers to its Cambridge facility for the presentation. It plans to hold another seven across the country this year. (See the photo gallery and news story “Picasso meets metalworking at Art of Milling event.”) http://www.canadianmanufacturing.com/canadianmetalworking/news/industrynews/article.jsp?content=20100208_132537_11744

On April 7 and 8, it will hold an open house. Then in June, Mazak is taking a select group of Canadian customers to the company’s North American headquarters and manufacturing facility in Florence, KY.

Buxton says that the events are part of the company’s philosophy that a machine tool builder doesn’t simply sell a tool in today’s market. “it’s about solution-based selling and we have to offer customers ways in which they can improve their productivity.”

On May 17 through to May 21, Mazak will host the Skills Ontario and the Skills Canada competition. Buxton says Skills Canada approached the company to provide machinery for the competitions.

“Due to power availability and floor loading concerns at the main event location at RIM Park in Waterloo, ON, Mazak also offered our Technology Center as the CNC competitions location.”

He says that the CNC competition alone attracts more than 2000 people per day “and the size and capabilities of our facility as well as its proximity to RIM park make this an ideal fit.”

Buxton adds that “Mazak Canada is committed to help attract young people into our industry. The positions in our industry are highly paid and involve working with sophisticated computer controlled equipment. Both competitors and visitors to the competition will be able to view some of the most complex machine tools in the industry operating in our facility and view our world class training facilities.”

He says that delegates will be able to gain a better appreciation of the metalworking industry and help “dispel many popular myths and misconceptions.”

“We are often asked by our customers—with a smile—if we can supply them skilled personnel to go along with the machine they are buying. By providing extensive training programs in Canada coupled with our commitment to help attract students to our field, we are attempting to meet our customers request.”

Mazak Canada has committed to host the Skills Competition machining events in its facility in Cambridge through to 2012.

The Canada-only trip to Florence, KY, in June is a first for Mazak, says Buxton.

“We’re planning a Canada-only trip for select customers across Canada. We want to let our customers know the strength of Mazak in North America. We’re as strong as the sum of our total parts which means we’re able to utilize the resources of 650 different people who are specialists in different areas, including application engineers who are ready to help customers.”

He adds that the milling events and other events planned for the year are part of the company’s commitment to support the Canadian manufacturing industry.

Buxton says that machine tool suppliers have to bring more to the market in today’s environment. Mazak, for example, ensures that all of its machine tools sold in Ontario comply with Ontario’s Regulations for Industrial Establishments for pre-start health and safety. The company’s Kentucky-made machines are CSA-approved and within the next 6-12 months the Japanese machines will also be CSA-approved. As well, all of the company's Kentucky-made machines are equipped to accept 575 v, the standard for most Canadian plants.

www.mazakcanada.com