Yamazaki Mazak opens museum dedicated to machine tools

The Yamazaki Mazak Corporation celebrates the far-reaching impact of machine tools on everyday life with the opening of the Yamazaki Mazak Museum of Machine Tools in Minokamo, Japan.

Open to the public in late 2019 on the occasion of the company's 100th anniversary, the museum showcases the intrinsic link between Mazak's history and the evolution of technology.

Yamazaki Mazak Corporation celebrates the enormous impact of machine tools on everyday life with the opening of the Yamazaki Mazak Museum of Machine Tools in Minokamo, Japan.

Visitors are taken from tools of the 18th century to the modern era of connectivity and automation. Visitors will also see an automated production line that uses innovative IoT technology to produce machine parts for use in manufacturing processes. It is a reminder of how far technology has advanced and intended to inspire the next generation of engineers and industrial decision makers .

The museum also highlights the status of machine tools as the "mother of all machines" that produce the parts needed to keep vital equipment operational in very important industries, including aerospace, medical and automotive.

Open to the public in late 2019 to mark the company's 100th anniversary, the museum showcases the intrinsic link between Mazak's history and the evolution of technology, taking visitors on a journey from its 18th-century origins to today's highly advanced and innovative machine tools.

This museum displays several traditional machines in working condition as well as products that play a crucial role in the production of such things as automobiles, airplanes and a steam train. Carefully restored in collaboration with manufacturers from around the world, these machines and parts offer insight into the heritage of a wide range of industries. The museum also showcases the integral contribution that machine tools have made to continued innovation and technological advances within these industries. In addition, the museum features an educational corner where children enjoy hands-on learning and discover more about technology.

The museum is completely sustainably built. It is located 11 meters underground in a renovated assembly plant for Mazak laser cutting machines and uses geothermal energy to regulate the internal temperature. As a result, the electrical consumption needed to heat and cool the museum is much less than that of an above-ground facility of similar size.

The museum's exhibits highlight the status of machine tools as the "mother of all machines" that produce the parts needed to keep vital equipment operational in very important industries, including aerospace, medical and automotive.

"Machine tools provide absolutely essential support for manufacturing worldwide, which means they are also vital to the daily operation of life," said Richard Smith, Managing Director of the European Group at Yamazaki Mazak Europe. "The Yamazaki Mazak Museum of Machine Tools is a fitting tribute to the enormous contribution of this' mother of all machines' to technological progress and their impact on society as a whole.

"Since these machines are primarily used for industrial production in factories, the general public may not be aware of their existence and widespread use. Through this unique museum, opened to celebrate our 100th anniversary, we hope to showcase the importance of machine tools for the next generation and how Mazak has been an integral part of the ongoing development of the underlying technology."