Makita is one of, if not the largest manufacturer of power tools in the world with factories in Brazil, China, Romania, Dubai, Germany, the US, and the UK.
The company was founded on 21st March 1915 as Makita Denski Seisakusho by Mosaburo Makita. The early days of the company was selling and repairing light fixtures, motors and transformers. In 1935, they began to specialize in electric motors, and even began to export them around the world. By 1938, the company had changed its name to Makita Electric Works.
In 1958, they introduced their first power tool – a hand operated electric planer. This proved to be a decisive point in the fortunes of Makita. A few months later, they released a hand-held chaser which began a trend that is still evident today as a specialist manufacture of power tools.
As part of a massive international expansion drive in the early 1970s, Makita opened their first UK offices in 1972 after offices were established in the US and France. Only a few short years later, Makita launched the 6010D – a rechargeable drill using a nickel cadium battery. It was a decisive moment in the company’s history.
Since then, Makita has continued to establish a strong presence in the UK with a national network of distributors, merchant partners and even establishing four dedicated Factory Service Centres along with training centres across the UK. Makita have since become the only power tool manufacturer to provide dedicated training and product repair facilities in London, Glasgow, Milton Keynes and more recently, a new 32,000 square-foot facility in Wigan.
In December 1989, to further cement its footing in the UK, Makita established ‘Makita Manufacturing Europe Ltd.’ Just some 19 short months later, production began of power tools began in Telford’s 12.5acre site with just 50 staff. Today, with over 400 staff, over 20 nationalities, covering an enlarged 24,071m² site, the Shropshire factory is now responsible for producing over 1 million tools a year. 60% of these are exported across Europe, 10% to the rest of the world, while the remaining 30% stays here.
Kevin Brannigan, Marketing Manager at Makita said,
“We are delighted to be marking our 50th year of trading in the UK. We are incredibly proud of what we have been able to achieve since 1972 – and the vast array of cordless products and new technologies that we can offer tradespeople to aid their productivity and efficiency on site.”
Makita have also established a dedicated training team with facilities to assist tradespeople, apprentices even retailers to fully understand the brand, the technology and the best practices to using their incredible range of products. The wide range of courses cover anything from new tools through to Health and Safety focused courses accredited by City & Guilds.
Hideyuki “Hugh” Terajima, Managing Director of Makita UK has said,
“Today we are seeing growing demand for our products, market excitement with regular new product launches and we are strengthening our commitment to customers across the country by delivering innovative, powerful products and best-in-class services.”
Today, Makita offers the world’s largest range of 18V, cordless power tools in the world. With over 270 unique power tools within this range along, Makita have pushed their technology and products further with 40V XGT Max, Brushless motors, AVT (Anti-Vibration Technology), the Mini 4-Stroke Engine (MM4) and now, 80V XGT MAX.
Covering a phenomenal range of areas, Makita’s reach has extended beyond power tools to include clothing, storage, hand tools, lasers, compressors, generators, fans, to radios, gardening tools and even food chillers. With over 100 years of experience, the company’s dedication to and investment in product development has resulted in a vast range of cordless machines that deliver the flexibility and safety needed for regular, professional use.
Today, as one of the market leaders in all manner of tools, Makita personifies reliability, durability and incredible power. They strive for innovation in products to fulfil the needs of professional tradespeople around the world.
From everyone at ITS, we would like to wish Makita UK a very happy anniversary, toast their good health and fortune, and to many more years working together.