A strategic manufacturing outsourcing specialist celebrated a major milestone this month when it delivered the 30,000th control system to Mazak UK.

PP Control & Automation has been working with the machine-tool builder for more than 27 years, and the latest partnership has seen it play a key role in the design and production of the new CV5-500, a simultaneous five-axis machining centre.

PPC&A, which employs over 200 people at its facility in Cheslyn Hay, used its expertise to support the design and build of a new configurable control system and interconnectivity solution. The concept had to facilitate both efficient build at Cheslyn Hay, and simple and effective integration when assembling the machine tools at Mazak’s facility in Worcester. The challenge was even greater when considering the need to achieve a highly competitive price point.

“The relationship dates back to 1993 when Mazak’s senior management team in Japan saw something ‘different’ in our approach and company-wide focus on quality, resulting in placement of the very first order,” explains Tony Hague, CEO of PP Control & Automation. “As the years have gone by, the relationship has become more interlinked, with PP C&A increasingly invited to be involved in the design stage of new machine builds.”

Mazak UK engineering director Dave Fisher adds: “PP C&A is one of our critical partners, supporting our ever-changing needs in both engineering and production. The relationship works because we both bring our own areas of expertise to the table, challenging and developing ideas that deliver mutual benefits and unrivalled machining performance for our customers.”

For further information www.ppcanda.com