A DIRECTOR of a Yamazaki Mazak has been presented with an MBE

Marcus Burton has been given the award for services to export and inward investment in the New Year Honours List.

Mr Burton, who serves as non-executive director for Yamazaki Mazak UK Ltd, whose European headquarters and manufacturing plant are based in Worcester, was previously European group managing director for seven years from 2010 to 2017.

Mr Burton said: “I have accepted this honour on behalf of everyone who has played a part in Mazak’s success in Europe."

“I regard it as recognition of the enormous contribution of the Yamazaki family and the Japanese executive in support of British manufacturing, all of the workforce in Worcester and the UK and European management teams.”

Upon leaving the University of Birmingham with a first class honours degree in Production Engineering and a Masters degree in Machine Tool Technology, Mr Burton started his career in metrology, including 15 years with Brown and Sharpe (USA) before joining Mazak in 2005.

In addition to his duties as non-executive director he is also president of the Manufacturing Technologies Association (MTA) and Chairman of the Economic Committee of CECIMO, the European association representing the common interests of the machine tool industry.

Yamazaki Mazak is a leader in the development of machine tool technology to help businesses improve their manufacturing productivity.

Yamazaki Mazak UK celebrated its 100th anniversary last year with with a day of fun activities at Drayton Manor Theme Park for employees and their families.

The company celebrated its centenary by treating more than 1,000 people to a day at the theme park.