Published 6/20/2011

Mazak “Re-Ups” in the Southwest

The machine tool builder, located in Houston for 30 years, has opened a new, larger Southwest Technology Center to reaffirm its commitment to that area’s machining businesses.

Derek Korn

Editor-in-Chief, Production Machining magazine

“We’re re-upping in Houston.” That’s what Brian Papke, president of Mazak Corp., said about investing in a larger Southwest Technology Center during the June open house for the new facility. Mazak has had a presence in Houston since 1978. However, the new 30,000-square-foot building reaffirms the company’s commitment to that area’s machining businesses, many of which serve the oil and gas industries. This commitment is demonstrated by the company’s focus on providing process-oriented solutions to customers’ specific needs rather than simply supplying machine tool equipment.

The new facility provides more room for customer training, technology seminars and cutting demonstrations on the types of large-model machines that area’s shops typically require. The facility also has ample space for service and applications support for these bigger machines as well as large Integrex multitasking machines ranging from simple turning centers with milling capability to sophisticated five-axis units equipped with multiple spindles and turrets.

The facility has a 100-seat education and conference area to accommodate meetings, regional seminars and training events presented by Mazak and members of the company’s “Value Inspired Partner” program. It will also serve as a regional service hub with 20 field service engineers and five phone support engineers, several of whom are bilingual to meet the diverse language needs of the region.

The open house in June featured various new machine, cutting tool and accessory technologies designed to improve productivity. There were also presentations on a number of topics such as Mazak’s “Five Levels of Multitasking.” Equipment on display included the company’s Orbitec-20 machine for turning valves and other big parts; medium- and large-sized Integrex multitasking machines with both horizontal and vertical spindle orientations; and a selection of two- and three-axis turning centers with turning, milling and Y-axis capabilities. Two of the machines featured at the open house will be displayed at the upcoming EMO Hannover show in September (the Orbitec-20 and QuickTurn Nexus 450-II MY). This is significant because it will be the first time that machines designed at Mazak’s U.S. headquarters in Florence, Kentucky will be displayed at EMO.

Senior managing director for Yamazaki Mazak, Takashi (Tak)Yamazaki (center), made the trip from Japan to celebrate the open house for the new Southwest Technology Center.