Yamazaki Mazak has reported its strongest MACH exhibition in recent years, with demand led by UK-built machine tools and interest from subcontractors and SMEs preparing for new investment.
The company said visitor numbers on the first day set the tone for a strong week, with enquiries pointing to renewed appetite for manufacturing technology across the general subcontract market. Mazak’s stand at MACH 2026 featured nine machine tools, spanning entry-level machining, advanced Multi-Tasking systems, and automation-supported production.
The new CV5-700 made its UK exhibition debut at the show. The machine extends Mazak’s UK-made CV5 series of 5-axis machining centres and can process workpieces up to 700 mm in diameter, 450 mm high, and 400 kg in weight. At MACH, the machine live-cut an aluminium rotor blade hub, demonstrating the capacity-to-footprint ratio available from the larger CV5 platform.
The INTEGREX j-200 NEO, now also manufactured at Mazak’s Worcester facility, attracted interest from companies moving beyond turreted lathes into integrated milling, drilling, and multi-faced machining. Built for high-mix, low-volume work, the machine combines a compact milling spindle with a built-in Mazak motor delivering 18.5 kW and 59.7 Nm.
Further up the Multi-Tasking range, the INTEGREX i-350 NEO AG showed Mazak’s combination of turning, milling, gear cutting, and grinding in a single set-up. Consolidating those operations can reduce cycle times, improve surface finish, and limit the dimensional variation introduced by multiple set-ups across separate machines.
“My key takeaway from MACH 2026 is that the UK manufacturing community is ready to step forward and invest,” said Alan Mucklow, Managing Director UK & National Distributors at Yamazaki Mazak. “A record level of Monday enquiries was followed by robust interest throughout the rest of the week, and I was pleased to see this positive sentiment echoed by many of the other exhibitors I spoke to.”
Automation formed a major part of the stand, including the newly launched MULTI PALLET POOL with expanded pallet stocker. Palletised automation can increase spindle utilisation while allowing manufacturers to manage mixed batches, labour constraints, and delivery pressure without committing every job to high-volume production.
Cyber security was another focus. Mazak’s on-stand Solutions Centre drew visitors seeking guidance on the EU Cyber Resilience Act, which will affect connected products and machinery from 2027. The company also confirmed that its iCONNECT information hub will be available as standard on all UK-made machines, with new machine users receiving 12 months’ free access to Machine to Mazak remote technical support.
Manufacturers unable to attend MACH can arrange to view many of the displayed machines at Mazak’s European Technology Centre in Worcester.
