Mazak Appoints General Manager for Midwest Region.

Mazak is pleased to announce the appointment of Tim Fara to the position of General Manager for the company's Midwest Headquarters and Technology Center in Schaumburg, Illinois. Mr. Fara recently joined Mazak from Kennametal (Extrude Hone), where he served as the Global Market Segment Manager for the machine tool industry.

"Tim's extensive background in metalcutting includes a strong familiarity with Mazak's diverse range of products and services," said Brian Papke, President, Mazak Corporation. "I am confident that his expertise will aid him in the continued growth and development of the Midwest region and look forward to his many contributions."

Effective immediately, Mr. Fara will assume the responsibilities of former General Manager Bill Bettis, who retired from Mazak at the end of 2008. Mr. Fara will represent Mazak throughout the upper Midwest, including Illinois, Wisconsin, Minnesota, North and South Dakota, Iowa, Nebraska, Missouri, Eastern Michigan and Northwest Indiana.

"The passion and humor that Bill has brought to our organization over the past 20 years allowed him to not only build a strong team in his region but also achieve outstanding results," said Mr. Papke. "Under his stewardship, Mazak has experienced unprecedented growth in the Midwest and we are grateful for his many contributions."

About Mazak Optonics Corporation

Mazak Optonics Corporation is a major supplier of laser-cutting systems, offering 50 laser models and leading the industry in the implementation of emerging laser technologies. The company’s 50,000 sq. ft. North American Headquarters are located in Elgin, Illinois, and feature a 30,000 sq. ft. laser technology center housing up to 18 machines for demonstrations and training. Mazak Optonics is part of Yamazaki Mazak Corporation (Oguchi, Japan), the global leader for the manufacture of machine tools and systems for the precision machining of metal parts, including CNC turning centers, horizontal and vertical machining centers, Multi-Tasking machining centers, turnkey cells and software solutions. The North American Headquarters for Yamazaki Mazak are located in Florence, Kentucky. For more information on Mazak Optonics’ products and solutions, visit www.mazakoptonics.com, email sales@mazaklaser.com or call 847.252.4500.