History & Milestones

Over the years, Mazak has positioned itself as one of the world’s most recognized leaders in the manufacturing industry. The company has brought revolutionary change and innovation to the North American machine tool market by continuously investing in and expanding its operations for the benefit of its customers.

2018 Mazak expanded its HYBRID Multi-Tasking technology lineup, including the Kentucky-built and designed VC-500A/5X AM HWD Multi-Tasking Machine. With HOT WIRE technology developed in collaboration with Lincoln Electric, the VC-500A/5x AM HWD offers a high-speed additive solution and programmable welding automation with full 5-axis milling capabilities. Brian Papke, chairman of Mazak Corporation, was inducted into the Northern Kentucky Business Hall of Fame.

2017 Mazak debuted the UD-400/5X high-accuracy 5-axis machining center, a powerful solution for precision micromachining for the mold and die industry. The Yamazaki Mazak Headquarters in Oguchi, Japan, joined the company's Florence, Kentucky-based facility as the second Mazak iSMART Factory™ and announced plans for a third at its Minokamo campus. The Preci facility, a new 6,000-square-foot home for service technicians and applications engineers trained to assist with the local aerospace and automotive industries, opened in Querétaro, Mexico.

2016 Brian Papke, long-time company president, accepted a new position as Chairman, and Daniel Janka, former executive vice president, has been named company president. In addition to pushing the Mazak SmartBox and SMOOTH TECHNOLOGY further forward, Mazak debuted the HYBRID Multi-Tasking VARIAXIS j-600 AM, adding additive-manufacturing technologies to subtractive machining to advance the DONE IN ONE® concept. The Dallas Technical Center opens, joining the existing Southwest Technology Center in Houston to offer specialized support to regional manufacturers in the defense, aerospace, medical, automotive, energy and construction industries.

2015 Mazak completes the expansion of its now 536,000-square-foot Kentucky Manufacturing Plant, putting the company’s North American headquarters and manufacturing campus at 800,000 square feet. Mazak also receives ISO 9001:2008 recertification for both its manufacturing plant and spindle rebuild operations. Among the earliest adopters of the Industrial Internet of Things, or IIoT, Mazak proves its leadership status in digital resource productivity via the Mazak iSMART Factory™ concept and introduction of Mazak SmartBox, a revolutionary end-to-end platform for easy, secure entrance into IIoT. Mazak adds new programming functions to its MAZATROL Smooth CNCs that allow its Multi-Tasking machines to effectively perform gear hobbing and skiving operations. Mazak also begins showcasing a new four-step closed-loop production process for cost effectively machining tight-tolerance gears in hours, instead of days.

2014 Mazak celebrates 40 years of manufacturing in Florence, Kentucky, as well as unveils its Mazak iSMART Factory™ concept, which focuses on free-flow data sharing and plant-wide connectivity. As part of the Mazak iSMART implementation, Mazak invests $30 million in its Kentucky Manufacturing Plant, with $19 million spent on new capital equipment. Mazaks introduces the INTEGREX i-400AM, its first HYBRID Multi-Tasking machine with additive capabilities. Mazak introduces its SMOOTH TECHNOLOGY process-performance platform alongside the MAZATROL SmoothX, which gets dubbed the world’s fastest CNC. Cincy Magazine names Mazak a MANNY Award winner for its manufacturing excellence in product innovation.

2013 Mazak begins 100,000-square-foot expansion of its Kentucky Manufacturing Plant. Mazak receives the “Growth Award” from the Cincinnati USA Partnership for Economic Development for continuous investment in its manufacturing campus and local area growth.

2012 Mazak completes its National Technology Center expansion, moving the National Service and Customer Training departments into the 100,000-square-foot facility. Mazak receives a 2011 “Boeing Performance Excellence Award” for superior supplier performance. Northern Kentucky Chamber of Commerce honors Mazak with a “2012 Greater Cincinnati International Trade Award” for being a champion in global commerce.

2011 Mazak installs second V-140N 5-axis machining with a 10m table and incorporates three new Laser FMS Systems as replacement equipment inside its Kentucky Manufacturing Plant. Mazak receives a 2010 “Boeing Performance Excellence Award” for superior supplier performance. The Greenspoint District near Houston, Texas, names the Southwest Regional Headquarters and Technology Center “Company of the Year.”

2009 Kentucky Manufacturing Plant receives ISO 9001:2008 certification.

2007 Mazak Canada relocates to Cambridge, Ontario, and expands as the Canada Technology Centre. Mazak installs the first V-140N 5-axis machining center with a 6m table inside its Kentucky Manufacturing Plant.

2006 Mazak relocates Northeast Regional Headquarters and Technology Center to Windsor Locks, Connecticut. Mazak renovates and expands its Parts Center, adding a new automated storage system and renaming the facility the North American Parts Center. Mazak expands its National Technology Center from 33,000 to 69,000 square feet.

2002 Mazak Mexico relocates to Monterrey, Mexico, and expands Mexico Technology Center.

2000 Mazak relocates Atlanta Technical Center to Suwanee, Georgia, where it becomes the Southeast Regional Headquarters and Technology Center. Mazak replaces a six-unit V-100 FMS line with four new V-100N 5-axis machining centers inside its Kentucky Manufacturing Plant.

1998 Mazak replaces the paint equipment inside its Kentucky Manufacturing Plant and expands operations with a new powder paint system.

1996 Mazak opens its National Technology Center in Florence, Kentucky.

1995 The Agility Forum honors Mazak for having the “Best Agile Practice” in manufacturing. Mazak receives “The Philip B. Crosby Award” for global competitiveness.

1994 Mazak enters into a technical sponsorship agreement with Penske Racing South.

1992 Mazak introduces the first U.S.-designed VTC-41M vertical machining center at IMTS.

1990 Mazak more than doubles the size of its Kentucky Manufacturing Plant with new FMS systems, new sheet metal fabrication systems and a paint shop.

1988 Manufacturing Engineering magazine claims Mazak has “One of the 10 Best Manufacturing Plants.” Mazak relocates Chicago Technical Center to Schaumburg, Illinois, to expand capacity.

1983 Mazak adds FMS System to its Kentucky Manufacturing Plant.

1982 Mazak opens Los Angeles Regional Technical Center.

1981 Mazak opens Hartford, Atlanta, and Houston, Texas, Regional Technical Centers.

1980 Mazak opens Chicago Regional Technical Center.

1974 Mazak moves to Florence, Kentucky, and begins its North American manufacturing efforts.

1968 Mazak enters the U.S. market in Long Island, New York.