XYZ Machine Tools has announced the appointment of Howard Bamforth to the role of export sales director, with the key focus of developing the potential for XYZ’s range of ProtoTrak-controlled machines across Europe, Africa and the Middle East. Bamforth has 28 years’ experience in the machine tool business, including time working on machine design and development, project engineering, customer service/satisfaction and sales, both through distribution and direct with customers. He joins at an exciting time for the company, with XYZ just concluding what looks like being its seventh consecutive year of record sales.
For further information
www.xyzmachinetools.com

After a slack final quarter in 2017, the subcontract manufacturing market seems to be shrugging off concerns about Brexit. The value of the UK contract and subcontract market rose by nearly 11% in the first quarter of 2017 compared with the final quarter of 2016, according to the latest Qimtek Contract Manufacturing Index (CMI) figures. Machining proved particularly strong in the first quarter of 2017 – up 15% on Q4 2016. It was down by 8% though compared with a particularly strong period for machining in the first three months of 2016. Fabrication more than held its own, up 13% on the previous quarter and 19% on the equivalent quarter last year.
For further information
www.qimtek.co.uk

Yamazaki Mazak is taking part in the 2017 Get Up to Speed (GUTS) Engineering and Manufacturing event at the Magna Science Adventure Centre, Rotherham, on 26 April. The event, which is in its seventh year, is aimed at profiling the opportunities available to young people in the north of England who are keen on exploring a future career in engineering or manufacturing. Mazak, which runs an extensive apprenticeship programme from its European headquarters in Worcester, will also be exhibiting at the event.
A team of engineers will be on hand to provide visitors with insight into the world of advanced
CNC metalcutting.
For further information www.getuptospeed.org.uk www.mazakeu.co.uk

A new £1m factory extension has been unveiled by PP Control & Automation as the company singled its intention to double sales from £20m to £40m by 2021. The company, which works with machine builders around the world, has added a further 1000 sq m of production space to its existing 4,500 sq m facility in Cheslyn Hay, Staffordshire, in order to facilitate growth in new technology markets and interest from a wider international customer base.
For further information
www.ppcanda.com

Yamazaki Mazak has appointed Richard Smith (pictured centre) as its new managing director for all of the company’s European operations. He takes over from Marcus Burton (left), who will remain with the company in a new non-executive role. Smith, who takes up his new position this month, first joined Mazak in 1987 as a graduate production engineer, and over the past 30 years has undertaken a number of key roles in manufacturing, purchasing, customer service and product management. His most recent position was deputy group managing director Europe (operations), and before that as managing director – UK and Ireland sales division.
Smith will be supported by Bruno Munier (right), who recently assumed the role of deputy European managing director – sales. Munier joined the business from SandvikCoromant, where he worked for 19 years, reaching the position of Europe and Middle East (EMEA) president. He will be responsible for overseeing the sales and marketing strategy for Mazak’s European operating companies.
For further information www.mazakeu.co.uk