Congressman, NASA administrator visit Mazak campus

Mazak Corp. recently hosted NASA’s new administrator James Frederick “Jim” Bridenstine and Rep. Thomas Massie of Kentucky at its Florence, Kentucky, North American Manufacturing Headquarters. The administrator and congressman made a special trip to Mazak after attending a high-level round-table event with Mazak President Dan Janka, representatives of local aerospace manufacturers, and educational leaders as well as three Ohio state congressmen and other area politicians. The event highlighted the large number of aeronautical-based companies that operate within the Greater Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky region and rely on suppliers such as Mazak for new and innovative manufacturing technology.

At Mazak, Bridenstine and Massie toured the company’s Mazak iSMART Factory as well as its National Technology Center. The two paid particularly close attention to Mazak’s HYBRID Multi-Tasking systems, which incorporate multiple part-processing capabilities such as additive manufacturing (AM), friction stir welding (FSW) and Auto Gear (AG) automated gear production. These and other Mazak technologies coincide with Bridenstine’s round-table presentation on NASA and his plans for the agency, including incorporating technology that will enable astronauts to make a return trip to the moon by 2024 for potentially a year-long stay.

According to Janka, “Mazak has long held a prominent role in the aerospace industry as well as other segments. This is why Rep. Massie invited us to attend the aerospace round table and why he and Jim were eager to tour our manufacturing operations. Both were extremely impressed, especially with Mazak’s work in digital connectivity and cybersecurity along with our automation technologies, including those we’re using in our own plant. But what really caught their attention was the use of Mazak machines to make Mazak machines, which we’ve been doing since the plant’s opening. The entire team here at Mazak is honored to continue contributing to the American space program, and we look forward to seeing what NASA accomplishes next.”

Left to right: Dan Janka, president of Mazak Corp., Chuck Birkle, Mazak vice-president sales and marketing, Rep. Thomas Massie of Kentucky, Joe Wilker, advance multi-tasking manager at Mazak, and James Bridenstine, NASA administrator, during a recent visit to Mazak Florence, Kentucky, North American Manufacturing Headquarters.