A laser focus
Submitted by:
Sara Waddington
Established more than a century ago in Japan, Yamazaki Mazak (or Mazak) is a global, family-owned specialist in laser-cutting equipment. With 15 Technology Centres around Europe and its European Laser Headquarters in Milan (Italy), its focus is on offering solutions to the major challenges faced by machine-tool users.
Founded in 1987, The European Manufacturing Plant in Worcester (UK) is one of Mazak’s most advanced manufacturing facilities with machines and automation solutions. It manufactures over 1,000 machine tools every year, with over 50 different machine types supplied to customers across Europe and beyond. Worcester is also home to Mazak’s European Technology Centre, where its customers can view the latest machining technologies, test cut components and discuss their own applications and machining challenges.
On 21 May 2025, ISMR attended a special laser event Open House at Mazak’s Worcester facility for sheet metal and tube-cutting professionals. Industry specialists outlined trends in laser automation; smart factory strategies; advanced CAD/CAM programming and gas mix efficiency in cutting applications. Mazak’s key technology partners showcased complementary solutions from press brake automation to tooling and more. Mazak also held factory tours and live demonstrations of its latest laser systems and automation cells, in a real manufacturing environment, for visitors.
Gaetano Lo Guzzo (Director Laser Business Europe, Mazak) outlined various global sheet metal market and technology trends to ISMR during the event.
The OPTIPLEX 3015 NEO
Mazak has made significant investments in its UK manufacturing facility, installing two identical 6KW OPTIPLEX 3015 NEO fiber laser machines. The two lasers are tended by two Mazak CSTD Double Tower systems, to feed the sheet metal, and a robotised Mazak Smart Manufacturing Cell (with six-axis robot) for parts sorting. The Double Tower system can hold up to 21 pallets each.
“We decided to hold this Open House to highlight our recent installation of the laser machines in our Worcester factory (completed earlier this year). We have now completed the installation of twin OPTIPLEX NEO 6kW machines, with new automatic storage and load/unload/sorting system. These two new units have now replaced all four of our CO₂ laser-cutting systems in Worcester and have greatly reduced energy consumption and increased productivity. Not only has this investment demonstrated the potential to reduce overall power consumption by 67%, but the enhanced automation has also helped to cut machine waiting times (further improving productivity through unmanned operations),” Gaetano Lo Guzzo (Director Laser Business Europe, Mazak) told ISMR.
At the heart of Mazak’s automation is Smooth System Control, an integrated line controller designed to manage the entire cutting and handling process from a single point of operation.
To read the rest of this article in the July/August issue of ISMR, see https://joom.ag/41wd/p24