XYZ Machine Tools unveiled its Robo-Tend mobile machine-tool automation system to customers at two recent customer days held at its facilities in Devon and Nuneaton. Both events were well attended, with the new system receiving strong interest among companies looking to increase productivity and reduce overheads.

“In developing Robo-Tend the brief was to create a simple, easy-to-use robotic automation system that would appeal to a wide range of customers, especially those who may not have considered automation as an option previously,” says Nigel Atherton, managing director of XYZ Machine Tools. “Therefore, it was pleasing that many of those in attendance recognised this, with comments that it was one of the simplest systems they had seen.”
For further information www.xyzmachinetools.com

Filtermist is investing in a new distribution centre in Shropshire to help meet growing demand for products. The company, which is part of the Absolent Group, has taken on a 30,000 sq ft unit just a few minutes’ walk from its purpose-built headquarters on the T54 Business Park in Telford.

Impressive organic sales growth and an acquisition trail that has seen the company purchase the DCS Group and Kerstar Ltd in the past six months, resulted in the decision to create a central facility that would be responsible for Filtermist’s logistics operations. The move will further enhance stock control and delivery lead times, as well as release additional capacity to increase the firm’s metal fabrication footprint.
For further information www.filtermist.co.uk

Hexagon Manufacturing Intelligence has appointed Maja Foster as the global marketing director for its Production Software business.

Joining the company after seven years at machine-tool manufacturer Mazak, including the last three as European marketing manager, Foster brings a wealth of metalworking industry experience to her new role, in which she will be setting marketing strategies for all product lines under the Production Software umbrella.
In addition to her marketing responsibilities, Foster will also lead product management, a specialist team tasked with gathering market intelligence, performing market analysis and defining future product content and direction. After completing three degrees – MEng in Structural Engineering, BEng (Hons) in Civil Engineering, and BSc (Hons) in International Business and Marketing – Foster has worked for British, German and Japanese B2B organisations, holding senior marketing positions for 13 years.
For further information www.hexagonmi.com/products/production-software

To celebrate the company’s 100-year anniversary, Yamazaki Mazak UK hosted a day of festivities and fun for all of its Worcestershire employees and their families at Drayton Manor Theme Park.

In total, over 1,000 people were treated to a day out. Adults and children alike enjoyed themselves on the rollercoaster and rides, and helped themselves to an organised buffet as a thank you for all their efforts in helping Mazak reach this major milestone. Mazak’s European headquarters and manufacturing site, based in Worcester, produces more than 1000 machine tools every year.
Richard Smith, European group managing director at Yamazaki Mazak, says: “Despite its size and global manufacturing capability, Mazak remains a family business both in terms of its ownership and culture. A family day out at Drayton Manor Theme Park was the perfect way for us to celebrate our
centenary together.”
For further information www.mazakeu.co.uk

Peter Falkner has been recruited by XYZ Machine Tools to take on the role of service manager, with a target to streamline service activities and make them more accessible and visible to customers.

The move comes after the company achieved a record turnover in its 2018/19 financial year, which has increased demand on XYZ’s service team due to the number of machines being commissioned.
Joining from the power generation sector, Falkner worked in service orientated engineering/project management roles for a business that generated around 75% of its £250 million turnover from service support. At XYZ he has been tasked with developing a more proactive approach to service, with increased customer interaction. An online portal and app-based user interface form part of that plan.
For further information www.xyzmachinetools.com