20 years in business is a long time and they were crowned by a memorable event. On the 2, 3 and 4 October 2024, we celebrated the 20th anniversary of CMZ France over three days packed with technical expertise, a large showroom of CNC lathes, and time for some fun as well. Find out all about it!
The story goes back two decades, when we took a decisive step in our expansion plan and decided to create CMZ France with Laurent Loustalot, sales manager of the French subsidiary. “A small office and an old Xantia” says Laurent, “but since then, it has not stopped growing”. France was a market with great potential. We were clear about that from the start. The presence of highly demanding sectors like the aeronautics, medical and automotive industries made the country a unique opportunity for our international expansion plan.
20 years later we have consolidated our position in the market. This milestone would not have been possible without the efforts of over 25 people who make up CMZ France and the extensive sales network supporting the whole country.
The French market is one of the most important markets for the CMZ group as it represents a high percentage of our total turnover. In the last 20 years we have delivered a total of 1,750 lathes in the country, with a total accumulated value of €179,860,582. In 2023 alone, the machines delivered totalled 18.8 million euros and, if we compare the current sales situation with last year, there has been an increase of 1.94%. These data are evidence of the high demand for CMZ lathes in the country.
With the aim of increasing our production capacity, over the last year we made numerous investments. We currently have the capacity to manufacture 800 lathes a year. With the purchase of a plot of over 22,000 m2 in Berriz (Vizcaya), where we’re going to build our eighth plant, we are aiming to consolidate a production capacity of 1,000 machines a year.
The first day of the event began with an exclusive meeting for the sales network. In this first session we presented the sales results and objectives for the coming years, and the different projects we are working on. The conference was chaired by Laurent Loustalot and Aitor Zumarraga, CMZ’s general manager also took part.
France is a market in which the strengthening of the sales network has been key to providing support for all our customers. An example of that is the Haute-Savoie area, a department with a long tradition in the precision industry, where we have strengthened our presence with a significant sales presence, to be consolidated by new projects in the coming months. This first meeting provided a space for thanking and listening to the sales network, one of the company’s fundamental pillars.
On Wednesday afternoon the event was officially opened to the general public. From that moment on, all attendees had free access to the showroom and were able to enjoy the broad range of CNC lathes live. A unique opportunity to learn first-hand about the technology in our machines and all the details of our growth in the French market over the last two decades.
Thursday was the big day. In the morning, customers, suppliers, the media and collaborators were invited to a press conference Laurent Loustalot acted as master of ceremonies and introduced the sales directors from our European subsidiaries: Germany, Italy, the United Kingdom and Denmark. Michael Librizzi, head of the after sales service in France, also took the floor and highlighted in his intervention the value of the company having its own specialised technical support service. This is a factor that sets us apart and reinforces our commitment to integral control of the process. Aitor Zumarraga closed the press conference sharing news about what we intend to do in the coming months.
Ainhoa de la Iglesia, director of CMZ applications, gave a technical workshop where she presented the infinite automation possibilities of our Gantry Loader range. The presentation was a knowledge area in which our colleague highlighted the automation solution capabilities that CMZ offers in an industry where maximising productivity is the main challenge for all companies.
After being in business for 20 years, you meet a lot of people along the way, many of whom joined the event, exceeding all expectations. Almost 400 customers, friends and suppliers came to Vaulx-Milieu during the sessions.
The protagonists of this event were our lathes. We organised a large showroom which we dressed in its finest: the entire range of CMZ machines, for attendees to see.
Among the lathes on display, visitors could enthuse over the top selling series represented by a TA-20-YS-640+GL20II. This machine with Gantry loader is part of a highly configurable series with three bed lengths: 400, 640 and 1100. Thanks to the Gantry Loader GL20II, up to 2 parts weighing 10 kg each can be loaded. An optimum way of automating the process of loading and unloading parts.
The TD series was also present with the models TD-30-YS-800 and TD-45-Y-2200. High precision lathes for larger parts have turrets that can reach up to 12,000 rpm. Who said large means slow?
Finally, rounding up the multiturret lathes, specifically designed for high production, are models TTS-46-46-T1Y-T2Y and a TTL-66-66-T1Y-T2Y. Both machines, equipped with 2 turrets and 3 channels, permit the use of 3 tools at the same time.
On Thursday afternoon, we put the icing on the cake. Know-how and technology gave way to fun at around 6pm: customers, suppliers and colleagues enjoyed a jazz show with cocktails A highly satisfactory way of ending a great day.
All good things must come to an end and so, Friday 4 October, a day with a great influx of visitors, brought the celebration of CMZ France’s 20th anniversary to a close. Three days of memories, projects, analysis and sheer technical delight in the context of celebrating the subsidiary’s 20th anniversary.
Many thanks to all our customers, collaborators, friends, employees and suppliers for joining the event and staying by our side over these two decades. Here’s to celebrating more birthdays together!
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