EDITORIAL ROUNDUP

Mazak creates new north-south sales structure

Yamazaki Mazak says it is implementing a new UK sales structure to support growing market demand for British-built machinery and bring the team even closer to its customer base.The structure, which includes the promotion of several experienced employees, will comprise of dedicated sales teams for the north and south of England under two newly appointed general sales managers: Brian Edmondson (photo, right)in the north and Alan Reeve (left) in the south. Both will report to UK sales director Jason Butler (centre).

The new structure is taking shape in advance of the impending retirement of long-serving UK general sales manager, Tony Creamer, whose career will draw to a close at the end of this month.In the north of England, Edmondson will enjoy support from Karl Hargreaves, Mark Ireland, Joe Trozzo and Stephen Bower, with newly appointed Liam Slack in an area sales engineer role.In the south, Neil Coggins, Tim Ponter and John McNally will support Reeve, with Steve Livett gaining promotion to area sales manager.
For further information www.mazakeu.co.uk

Emag names Markus Clement as new CEO

On 1 April 2023 Dr Heinz-Jürgen Prokop handed over the CEO position of machine tool manufacturer Emag to Markus Clement, who has held various company positions over the past 24 years. “I’m looking forward to this new challenge, because EMAG is a great company and I can see many positive development opportunities in the interest of our customers. I feel certain that with the new product and technology developments, as well as extremely committed employees, the Emag Group has the right solutions on offer for the demands of the future in the field of productive precision manufacturing.”
For further information www.emag.com

Renishaw hosts innovation strategy launch

The Welsh Government recently announced its new innovation strategy for Wales at the Miskin facility of Renishaw. During the launch event at the company’s manufacturing site near Cardiff, the Welsh Government outlined its aspiration to become an innovation-based nation and bring better healthcare, jobs and prosperity for businesses and local communities.

At the event, the Minister for Economy, Vaughan Gething, outlined the Welsh Government’s vision of an innovation strategy for a stronger, fairer, greener Wales, with its plans to cover four mission areas: education; economy; health and wellbeing; and climate and nature. To support this strategy at the event, Renishaw showcased its STEM education centre for local schools, spoke to visitors about its £65m investment to increase manufacturing capacity with a focus on sustainability, and gave tours of its advanced manufacturing facility.
For further information www.renishaw.com

New training centre at MTC Liverpool

The Manufacturing Technology Centre’s Liverpool facility is to be the base for a new advanced manufacturing training centre delivering skills to businesses and learners in Liverpool and the northwest.Courses offered will include a new Level 2 Lean Manufacturing Operative apprenticeship. The one-year apprenticeship programme includes subjects such as lean manufacturing, production, quality control, problem solving, workplace organisation, and health and safety.

The centre will also deliver an HNC in Engineering course over a two-year period. The programme aims to empower students to develop the specialist knowledge and skills to help their organisations effectively harness the power of new and emerging manufacturing technologies.Both courses begin in October with further programmes announced soon.
For further information www.the-mtc.org

Unison’s Steve Haddrell doubles up Nukon Lasers UK

Steve Haddrell, key account manager at Unison Ltd – inventor of all-electric tube manipulation -is now sales director at sister company, Nukon Lasers UK. In addition to his fulfilling his new role, Haddrell will continue to support Unison’s tube-bending machinery customers in the Midlands and south of England. Nukon Lasers UK became the exclusive UK and Ireland distributor for Nukon’s European-made fibre laser sheet and tube-cutting machines in autumn 2021. Previously working for 600 Group’s laser division and Yamazaki Mazak’s optonics division, Haddrell has been akey account manager at Unison since 2009.
For further information www.nukonlasers.co.uk