Highlights from Mazak's DISCOVER 2023

Dan Janka, president of Mazak USA kicked off the second day of DISCOVER 2023 asking an important but simple question manufacturers should be asking themselves. “How do you stay competitive when you’re faced with skilled labor shortages, rising wages, high interest rates, and soaring energy costs? That’s a tough challenge. Yesterday’s technology isn’t going to secure tomorrow’s success. Manufacturers need to continue to learn more, to do more, and to make more – and they can do that with Mazak. That’s the theme of this year’s DISCOVER 2023.”

He went on to note that there’s no doubt “the future is going to be challenging, but it holds several opportunities that we already see emerging in the U.S. manufacturing. For example, manufacturers are increasing their efforts to re-shore and near-shore and increased foreign and government investment is at an all-time high. We heard at a forecasting conference sponsored by AMT about the boosts in the industry sectors such as semiconductor, EVs, medical, aerospace, defense, and infrastructure. These positive factors are going to help manufacturing minimize the impact of any potential mild recession we might experience in the upcoming year.”

Because of these challenges, Janka notes that shops of all sizes must invest to overcome these challenges to be able to compete effectively in these growing industries. One place to start was by attending DISCOVER 2023 where visitors saw the technologies that enable today’s shops to take full advantage of those opportunities and position themselves to compete as manufacturing expands. This year’s DISCOVER 2023 featured the latest machine tool advancements including multitasking and full 5-axis capability. And of course automation was on full display – whether it’s a simple bar feeder, a cobot, or a full multi-level palletized system – technology highlighted solutions for machine productivity including digitalization to monitor processes, increase asset utilization, and optimize process operations.

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Janka went on to note how, “growth in automation is at an all-time high to overcome the labor shortage and increase productivity. Mazak provides every level of automation that includes our multitasking machines that integrate automation for complete Done-In-One part processing without human intervention. This includes machines from our multitasking technology lineup from the Integrex, Variaxis, and Multiplex series. These machines allows shops to produce more parts with fewer machines – and that’s how you compete in today’s environment.”

To take the multitasking concept a step further, Mazak also spotlighted its hybrid multitasking machines which combine additive and secondary processes such as friction stir welding, hot wire laser deposition, and high precision gear cutting in single machine platforms for even more efficient production.

Attendees could also view simple cost-effective machine tending demonstrated with Mazak’s EZ series machines featuring the Mazatrol SmoothEz CNC, and easy to use, easy to teach cobots for loading and unloading parts. For fully automated production, Mazak featured its horizontal machining centers with Smooth AI controls, paired with the Palletech automated system.

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“At DISCOVER 2023 [attendees saw the] industry’s widest range of machines with full simultaneous 5-axis capability. These range from our compact cost-effective VC EZ series up to our high production VHP 160 horizontal profiler with an innovative table changer. Among Mazak’s many advancements in machine tool technology, the Syncrex series of Swiss-style machines has taken the industry by storm. The Syncrex series with MAZATROL Smooth ST eliminates the barriers to entry into Swiss machining, ensuring fast and easy setups for shops that are willing to make the leap into Swiss-style machining,” Janka noted, explaining how this opens the door for job shops to expand their production capabilities as well as their businesses.

Along with advanced machining, technology, and automation, highlighted at the event were digital manufacturing solutions that are critical to a shop’s success now and in the future. Mazak’s digital conductivity is a must for safe and secure machine monitoring and data collection that’s crucial for optimizing processes and increasing machine utilization. Whether a shop wants to capitalize on simple digital solutions through MT Connect or gain much needed cybersecurity through our SmartBox, Mazak showcased a range of proven hardware and software solutions for every production application.

Finally, attendees had the opportunity to explore the Mazak Kentucky campus, the centerpiece of which is the Mazak iSMART FACTORY. Visitors saw Mazaks building Mazaks in real time and learned how Mazak Digital Solutions and machine connectivity can elevate output and profitability.