CITIZEN AND MIYANO TO PURSUE SOLUTION PROVIDING OPPORTUNITIES FOLLOWING INCREASED STAKEHOLDING BY CITIZEN MACHINERY

By drawing together the Japanese machine tool operations of Citizen Machinery Co., a division of Citizen Holdings, and Miyano Machinery following the acquisition of 65 per cent of Miyano shares, a new umbrella powerhouse in turn-mill technology is established worldwide.

Both companies will continue to take maximum advantage in their separate sectors of turn-mill technology with CNC sliding head machining through Citizen for parts up to 32 mm diameter, and Miyano focusing on highly productive fixed-head, turn-milling up to 64 mm bar capacity together with auto-loaded chucking operations. However, both companies will benefit with the addition of a new capability through the selective sharing of development in complementary areas, production resource and transfer of technology involving each company’s respective expertise.

The latest move follows the announcement in January 2007 that Citizen acquired 29.9 per cent of the stock of Miyano through an equity and business alliance. This move has already developed significant mutual benefits to both operations, while maintaining their independence and brand identity. Both manufacturers have highly successful subsidiary companies in the UK (Citizen Machinery UK and Miyano Machinery UK) that have represented the respective brands for more than 25 years. During that time both have built enviable reputations for establishing strong market shares and high reputations within their respective user bases.

Indeed, maintains Geoff Bryant managing director of Citizen Machinery UK: “While we share common ground of turn-mill, unmanned machining technology and have many common customers in the UK, Citizen is the market leader with more than 50 per cent of the sliding head market. Our business is totally geared to support our customers.”

Adds John Stretton, general manager of Miyano Machinery UK: “Our strength is in the larger capacity bar machining sector, which demands a different approach and expertise to successfully support turn-mill technology. Miyano has a bar turning focus which differentiates us from other fixed headstock competitors. The inclusion of Citizen’s world leading, productivity-enhancing software technology that is able to significantly reduce non-cutting times, will further increase our competitive edge.”

Both UK companies have benefitted from the shared staging of events such as recent Open Houses and co-operation at MACH 2008 in Birmingham in May.