Mazak Corp. will be expanding its Midwest Headquarters and Technology Center near Chicago in a year-long project, citing improving demand for its machine tool products and technical services. According to its statement, the expansion “represents Mazak’s continuous investment in American manufacturing and coincides with other recent investments.”

The news follows Mazak’s recent announcement that it is increasing production at its CNC machine manufacturing plant in Florence, Ky., following a series of expansion of that operation. It intends to raise output to 130 machines per month by midyear, and hopes to be producing 150 machines per month by the end of 2011.

Mazak also unveiled at a new technical center in Houston recently.

“The vibrant manufacturing market and our long-term commitment to customers in the Midwest convinced us to accelerate our expansion plans of our Technology Center in Illinois,” stated company president Brian Papke. “In line with our new Southwest Headquarters and Technology Center in Houston and a new $9-million investment in our Kentucky plant, the goal of the Midwest expansion is to continuously serve our customers with solutions for improved manufacturing productivity to competitiveness of North American manufacturing.”

The Midwest Technology Center is in Schaumburg, Ill. Mazak aims to add a new auditorium space, more seminar rooms, and an area for customer turnkey projects and test cuts. Machine tool technology demonstration space will be expanded, too. The manufacturer is targeting April 2012 for opening the modernized location.