Yamazaki Mazak 5G

Worcester-based factory Yamazaki Mazak set to become a 5G factory testbed.

12:13 20 September 2018

Yamazaki Mazak, a Japanese machine tool builder based in Worcester, is set to trial 5G technology after it was awarded £4.8million grant by the UK government in March. The UK government’s testbed programme in the region focuses on robotics, cybersecurity for 5G, augmented reality and big data analytics. 

 

The Yamazaki Mazak, which is part of the Worcestershire 5G consortium, was chosen for the 5G testbed programme mainly for its work in industry 4.0 industrial applications, which are key areas where 5G could potentially add significant value. One of the company’s notable innovations is its Computer Numerical Control (CNC) technology designed to gather and analyse data to effectively increase production and efficiency.  

 

Marcus Burton, of Yamazaki Mazak, said: “Manufacturers across the UK and beyond are now reaping the productivity rewards of greater connectivity among their industrial equipment. Industry 4.0 centres on the key design principals of interoperability of machines and devices, greater data transparency, technical assistance and decentralised decision making. We are starting to see these factors become more commonplace among UK manufacturers, but current internet speeds can only take us so far.”

 

He added: “The 5G Testbed represents a hugely exciting opportunity to drive further productivity growth, and facilitate even faster data transfer and analysis for manufacturers.”