Yamazaki Mazak UK has reported a highly successful year for machine sales in 2023, marked by its largest-ever machine order. The company’s achievements were fueled by a robust pipeline of high-value large project wins, emphasizing its competence in project management, engineering support, and turnkey solutions. The success was further reinforced by a highly attended December Open House, which attracted over 700 visitors over four days.
In the course of the year, Mazak secured its largest-ever machine order in the UK market, achieving strong sales for 5-axis machines, Multi-Tasking machines, and the QT series of turning centers. The year 2023 also marked the 35th anniversary of the introduction of Mazak’s flagship INTEGREX machine series.
Alan Mucklow, Managing Director UK, Eire, and National Distributors at Yamazaki Mazak, attributed the success to the strengthening of the sales team and the comprehensive service and support offerings. The company expanded its service group, investing in more engineers and introducing two service apprentices to build skills for the future.
Mucklow emphasized the increasing importance of service in the industry, stating, “It’s no longer just about the machine but how you back the sale up once it has left the factory. Mazak now has the largest service and support department in the UK and offer the same level of service and support commitment throughout our product range, from a simple 2-axis lathe through to the most sophisticated machining center.”
The performance was buoyed by strong showings in key sectors such as aerospace, defense, and medical, along with the recovery in the energy sector and subcontracting. Yamazaki Mazak also achieved its most successful year for UK laser machine sales, partly attributed to the NEO range of laser processing machines, known for combining ultra-fast cutting speeds with exceptional accuracy.
Looking ahead, Mucklow expressed optimism for the UK manufacturing sector, noting improved economic conditions and order pipelines for subcontractors. The company is witnessing a surge in enquiries and machine orders, driven by reshoring trends and the need for quick machine specification and orders. Mucklow highlighted Mazak’s efforts to shorten lead times on key UK-built machines and provide innovative finance solutions to enable customers to access the latest technology swiftly and easily, positioning the company to capitalize on the ongoing recovery.