FLORENCE, Ky., August 20, 2013 – Mazak Corporation recently named Minneapolis, Minn.-based Kurt Manufacturing Company, Industrial Products Division, a leading provider of workholding solutions, to its exclusive Value Inspired Partner (VIP) technology program that brings total manufacturing solutions to Mazak customers.
As a certified VIP, Kurt will collaborate with Mazak on R&D and integration efforts to create more innovative products and turnkey processes for the U.S. manufacturing market. The two companies will also work together to create training programs and seminars on workholding-related topics for presentation at Mazak technology and education events across the country, including the DISCOVER 2013 event that will take place Oct. 8 – 16 at Mazak Corporation headquarters in Florence, Ky.
“For more than 50 years, Kurt has been dedicated to providing the ultimate in high- productivity, high-precision workholding as well as shown a strong commitment to customer satisfaction through continuous improvement,” said Brian Papke, president of Mazak Corporation. “Mazak shares this same dedication when it comes to the manufacture and support of its machine tools. Because there are so many parallels in the way our two companies do business, I look forward to using this VIP partnership as a springboard for setting new machine tool and workholding standards for quality, repeatability and accuracy.”
Currently, Mazak produces more than 100 models of turning centers, multi-tasking machines, and vertical machining centers, which includes 5-axis designs, at its Kentucky-based North American Manufacturing Plant. The intent of such variety is to give its customers the best cost of ownership as well as endless part-processing possibilities. Kurt follows a similar philosophy by having more than 500 different workholding products for its customers to choose from, including CNC vises, 5-axis vices, rotary table workholding, static milling chucks, clamping systems and tombstones.
“It is a true honor to have Kurt named a certified Mazak VIP provider,” said Steve Carlsen, CEO of Kurt. “I’m excited to see what new technologies and solutions this partnership will bring for the benefit of our customers. The manufacturing world is continuously changing so there is always a need for new innovative, machine tool and workholding designs, and I look forward to what our two companies can achieve together.”
Launched in 2010, the Mazak VIP program brings together reputable producers of complementary technologies for Mazak machines. In order to become a Mazak VIP, members must exceed customer expectations in terms of products, services and support as well as maintain a culture of ethical business practices.
For more information on the Mazak VIP program and Kurt Manufacturing Company, Industrial Products Division, please visit MazakUSA.com/VIP and www.kurtworkholding.com.
About Kurt Manufacturing Company
A 100 percent employee owned company, Kurt is an advanced technology solutions provider of Kurt AngLock Vises, Custom Engineered Workholding, SPC Data Collection, Gaging and Automation. Kurt pioneered the development of precision workholding for CNC machines in the late 1950s with the world-famous AngLock® vise. Today’s Kurt workholding products include CNC vises, 5-Axis Vises, Rotary Table workholding solutions for VMCs, and ToolBlox tombstones providing increased versatility for machining stations. These products integrate with Kurt’s high-density workholding towers and other devices to provide the ultimate in high productivity and high precision workholding. For more information about Kurt and its product lines, visit www.kurtworkholding.com.