Power tools manufacturer is latest recruit to MTC

JAPANESE power tool manufacturer Makita has become the latest firm to join up to Coventry’s Manufacturing Technology Centre.

The company, whose UK base is in Telford, will work with MTC specialists in a move aimed at developing the next generation of power tools for industry, construction and the growing outdoor power tool market.

The link-up also means that MTC engineers will have the opportunity to work with some of the world’s most advanced production tools.

Makita was founded in 1915 in Nagoya City as an electric motor specialist. It moved into the professional power tool sector and became a market leader. The UK manufacturing facility in Telford, which opened in 1992, now produces 63,000 power tools every week – 80% of which are for export.

Mark Earles, contracts manager for Makita UK, said: “This is a two-way street. We can provide our innovative production tools used by multi-national brands in the automotive, aerospace and technical manufacturing industries where precise torque requirements are mandatory and automatic data recording is essential.

“This gives the MTC’s engineers first-hand experience with Makita’s advanced production tools. At the same time Makita gets exposure to the latest and experimental manufacturing processes. In this way we can design tools to meet future needs and the engineers grow to understand the depth of capability in Makita to solve varied challenges.”

MTC chief executive Dr Clive Hickman said: “Makita joins partners from many sectors of industry determined to advance the high-tech skills of the future generations of manufacturing engineers for the benefit of British industry. We look forward to working with Makita’s engineers and experts here at the MTC.”