Makita UK has opened its first regional Factory Service Centre (FSC) & Training Academy in Glasgow’s Govan commercial district, to support what the brand says is its rapidly expanding market penetration in Scotland and Northern England.
The FSC has become the national service centre for servicing Makita’s comprehensive range of dust extraction machines. To carry out maintenance or repair functions on an extractor approved for use with Class L, M or H dust particulates, the repair facility must protect the technician working on the machine as well as the workshop environment from dust contamination, should material escape from the extractor. The FSC facility will now handle all dust extraction servicing for the brand right across the UK.
“The protection of our staff is paramount and that is why we have made this substantial investment,” said Norman Dodds, Manager of Service & Training at the Glasgow FSC.
The 1,000m³ facility is located on South Street in the G14 area and delivers technical repairs and maintenance services for the full range of Makita products, including all mains and cordless construction machines and the rapidly expanding range of grounds care tools, including petrol engine products.
Training
Makita said training is a cornerstone of its marketing success, ensuring authorised distributors and operators are very familiar with the range, how to obtain the best performance from the machines and how to maintain them. A key course on offer is 'The Correct and Safe Use of Handheld Power Tools' which is a City & Guilds accredited course. Upon completion either a user or instructor certificate is awarded.
The theory element of courses is held in a lecture theatre, followed by essential hands-on practical work in specially adapted and fully equipped training workshops. Courses, including Health & Safety related and Correct Use, are 1-2 days duration.
Any CITB certificated courses, which may include a combination of in-house and on-site training, relate to Abrasive Wheel training; an instructor’s course or user course. Gas Nailer user training, chainsaw cross cutting and service courses, are also available.
“We are receiving a very warm welcome from all sectors of the power tool industry in this part of the world,” Dodds added. “I foresee that we will need to increase our staff and in particular our training personnel as demand grows from both employers and operators who can now benefit from this convenient location.”
