Mazak plans $3.5 million expansion in Kentucky

Machine tool manufacturer Mazak Corp. (www.mazak.com), a division of Japan-based Yamazaki Mazak Corp., said it could break ground as early as May on a $3.5 million expansion of its manufacturing facility on Dixie Highway in Florence, Ky. The announcement was made by Mike Vogt, Mazak’s vice president of human resources and general affairs. The expansion marks the company’s 15th of its Florence operations in the past 30 years.

Vogt said the 38,000-square-foot expansion will be constructed by Fort Thomas-based builder Paul Hemmer Companies. Mazak doesn’t expect to add new positions along with the expansion, but Vogt said the investment “further secures” the more than 550 positions currently at the facility. The plant produces 115 to 130 machine tools a month, which puts the 420,000-square-foot plant at near capacity. In addition to machine tools, the company produces a variety of parts for its products.

Mazak anticipates spending about $7 million in 2008 in new manufacturing technology to maintain its competitiveness.