Mazak was demonstrating the increasing strength of its Florence, KY, manufacturing facility. Eight of the machines on show in the company’s booth were designed and built in the U.S., and that number will expand in 2013. Sales for the company have exceeded those of 2008 this year.

Meantime, at a press conference early in the show, DMG Mori Seiki provided details of its continued success in North America and around the world, noting that in the past year, they have seen an 8.8% growth in their business – 11% in Canada, 8.6% in the U.S., and 5.2% in Mexico. Although the European crisis has yet to be solved, DMG CEO Rudiger Kapitza noted that the solution was “on its way.” The company predicts increasing stability in 2013.

DMG Mori Seiki had 16 U.S. premiers of machines at the show, including the jointly designed and developed Milltap 700 machining center. The partnership has sold 1,000 of these machines since its launch at the most recent EMO show.

Kapitza was also enthusiastic about the new Mori plant in Davis, CA, which will have its grand opening later this year. “It is the most modern factory I have seen, with very high quality machining and very flexible production processes,” he said. He believes the team from DMG’s Pfronten facility will be able to learn much from the new facility. The first machines being manufactured at the Davis campus are the NHX 4000 series horizontal machining centers.

The cutting tool business is also experiencing growth. Kennametal CEO Carlos Cardoso notes that the company experienced 10% organic growth over the past year, and is looking at 5-7% growth this year.

Watch for more video coverage of the show over the next couple of weeks on the MP&P homepage.