With its theme of “Drive Results With Innovation,” Mazak Corp. hosted the Discover 2025 technology and education event Oct. 6-10 at the machine tool builder’s North American headquarters in Florence, Kentucky.
During the press breakfast Oct. 7, Mazak President Dan Janka spoke about expectations for the U.S. manufacturing industry. According to Janka, with inflation and employment being stable, foreign investment and reshoring on the rise, favorable tax legislation implemented, and rapid growth in specific industry sectors projected, he is bullish on the near-term manufacturing outlook, which will continue well into 2026. “To prepare and be competitive," he said, "shops of all sizes need to reduce overall production costs while also increasing output.”
He added that the event features four action areas to help achieve those objectives: advanced machining, high-volume production, multitasking technology, and shop solutions.
As an example of advanced machining, Mazak offers the HCN-5000 NEO horizontal machining center. The HMC is customizable in terms of palletized systems, such as a two- or six-pallet changer option, the High-Rise Palletech system or the company’s multiple-pallet pool system that’s expandable up to 16 pallets. The machine’s standard 18,000-rpm spindle is targeted for general machining, with optional spindles available.
Janka noted that one of the offerings for high-volume production is the Syncrex series of Swiss-style machines, such as the Syncrex 12/8. The 8-axis, sliding-headstock machine handles a maximum turning diameter of 12.7 mm (0.500"). To enhance accuracy and reduce material waste, the machine can run parts in the non-guide bushing, or “chucker,” mode. It has a 15,000-rpm main spindle and a 12,000-rpm sub-spindle.
The machine’s high damping composite casting (HDCC) enhances stability and reduces vibration and thermal distortion compared to a metal casting. Mazak reports that the benefits are increased tool life, better part quality and finer surface finishes.
To increase output with single-setup part production via multitasking, one offering that was on display is the HQR-250/3 NEO turning center, which features Mazak’s Mazatrol Smooth G3 control. The machine has three turrets — two upper and one lower — and two turning spindles. The main spindle handles 80 mm (3.150") bar stock while the second one can process bar diameters up to 65 mm (2.559").
Another multitasking machine is the Integrex i-350S NEO, which Mazak unveiled at the event. The machine combines turning, milling, and, for the first time, grinding operations along with advanced automation features.
“We continue to develop and offer new technologies that your business and bottom line,” Janka stated. “For instance, skilled workforce challenges continue, and we help you plan for tomorrow with new ways to integrate automation and with innovations such as the addition of grinding to our multitasking machine technology.”
Regarding shop solutions, Janka mentioned the Ez series machines, which enable quick and easy installation, enhanced ergonomics, and reliable processing. Making its debut at Discover 2025 was VTC-Ez 25, the second vertical traveling column machine in the series. In addition to providing shops both Mazatrol conversational and G-code programming, the SmoothEz CNC together with 200-V drives allow for rapid traverse rates of 1,180 imp in X, Y and Z axes.
“In today’s everchanging political and economic landscape,” Janka said, “it’s important for manufacturers to move past distractions, block out the noise and stay the course.”
Robots continue to play a critical role in boosting productivity to remain competitive, and Mike Cicco, president and CEO of Rochester Hills, Michigan-headquartered Fanuc America Corp., addressed the topic in his keynote presentation “Driving Results With Automation.”
Because automated manufacturing facilities still require human workers, he emphasized the benefits of connecting with schools, or partnering with education, when seeking labor. As an example, Fanuc works with more than 1,600 education providers. “Now is the time to do it.”
The event also included a tour of the Mazak iSmart factory, which is in the process of being expanded for the 21st time since it was built in 1974 and where Mazak machines are used to produce parts for building other Mazak machines. On Aug. 19 this year, the company celebrated the production of its 40,000th machine built in Kentucky.
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Related Glossary Terms
- G-code programming
G-code programming
Programs written to operate NC machines with control systems that comply with the ANSI/EIA RS-274-D-1980 Standard. A program consists of a series of data blocks, each of which is treated as a unit by the controller and contains enough information for a complete command to be carried out by the machine.
- bushing
bushing
Cylindrical sleeve, typically made from high-grade tool steel, inserted into a jig fixture to guide cutting tools. There are three main types: renewable, used in liners that in turn are installed in the jig; press-fit, installed directly in the jig for short production runs; and liner (or master), installed permanently in a jig to receive renewable bushing.
- computer numerical control ( CNC)
computer numerical control ( CNC)
Microprocessor-based controller dedicated to a machine tool that permits the creation or modification of parts. Programmed numerical control activates the machine’s servos and spindle drives and controls the various machining operations. See DNC, direct numerical control; NC, numerical control.
- gang cutting ( milling)
gang cutting ( milling)
Machining with several cutters mounted on a single arbor, generally for simultaneous cutting.
- grinding
grinding
Machining operation in which material is removed from the workpiece by a powered abrasive wheel, stone, belt, paste, sheet, compound, slurry, etc. Takes various forms: surface grinding (creates flat and/or squared surfaces); cylindrical grinding (for external cylindrical and tapered shapes, fillets, undercuts, etc.); centerless grinding; chamfering; thread and form grinding; tool and cutter grinding; offhand grinding; lapping and polishing (grinding with extremely fine grits to create ultrasmooth surfaces); honing; and disc grinding.
- machining center
machining center
CNC machine tool capable of drilling, reaming, tapping, milling and boring. Normally comes with an automatic toolchanger. See automatic toolchanger.
- milling
milling
Machining operation in which metal or other material is removed by applying power to a rotating cutter. In vertical milling, the cutting tool is mounted vertically on the spindle. In horizontal milling, the cutting tool is mounted horizontally, either directly on the spindle or on an arbor. Horizontal milling is further broken down into conventional milling, where the cutter rotates opposite the direction of feed, or “up” into the workpiece; and climb milling, where the cutter rotates in the direction of feed, or “down” into the workpiece. Milling operations include plane or surface milling, endmilling, facemilling, angle milling, form milling and profiling.
- rapid traverse
rapid traverse
Movement on a CNC mill or lathe that is from point to point at full speed but, usually, without linear interpolation.
- turning
turning
Workpiece is held in a chuck, mounted on a face plate or secured between centers and rotated while a cutting tool, normally a single-point tool, is fed into it along its periphery or across its end or face. Takes the form of straight turning (cutting along the periphery of the workpiece); taper turning (creating a taper); step turning (turning different-size diameters on the same work); chamfering (beveling an edge or shoulder); facing (cutting on an end); turning threads (usually external but can be internal); roughing (high-volume metal removal); and finishing (final light cuts). Performed on lathes, turning centers, chucking machines, automatic screw machines and similar machines.
