Yamazaki Mazak To Offer China-Made Machine Tools In Japan

NAGOYA (Nikkei)--Yamazaki Mazak Corp. plans to sell in Japan machine tools manufactured at a new Chinese factory, pricing them about 10% below domestically produced machines.

This would mark the first time that the company imports machine tools from China, where it already has another factory.

A plant in Dalian is slated to go fully onstream this month. All output of six models made there -- small CNC (computerized numerical control) lathes and small machining centers -- will be sold in Japan from April.

These products are now manufactured at a plant in Gifu Prefecture, but the firm will transfer production of most of those intended for Japanese clients to the new Chinese facility. Lathes made in Japan sell for between 10.4 million yen and 15.8 million yen, while domestically made machining centers are priced at 12.5 million yen to 14.6 million yen.

For the time being, Yamazaki Mazak is eyeing domestic sales of 30 units a month for the Chinese-made machines. An inspection program will hold the products to the firm's global quality standards.

Yamazaki Mazak has five overseas factories, including the new Dalian plant, and is putting in place a production network flexible enough to accommodate fluctuations in orders and other factors. For example, the U.S. is used as a supply base for the South Korean market to take advantage of a bilateral free trade agreement.

(The Nikkei, March 1 morning edition)

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