Makita UK has opened its first regional Factory Service Centre (FSC) & Training Academy in Glasgow and has been awarded national responsibility for the secure environment of servicing its 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 both 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 across the UK.
“The protection of our staff is paramount and that is why we have made this substantial investment,” says Norman Dodds, Manager of Service & Training at the Glasgow FSC.
The Factory Service Centre & Training Academy covers nearly 1000m³ on South Street in the G14 area. It will deliver 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.
According to the company, training is a cornerstone of Makita’s marketing success ensuring that both authorised distributors and operators are fully conversant with the power tools, how to obtain the best performance from the machines and how to maintain them for efficiency and productivity. Makita offers a full itinerary of training courses covering the product range. A key course: The Correct and Safe Use of Handheld Power Tools, is a City & Guilds accredited course which offers either a user certificate or instructor certificate upon successful completion of the course.
The theory element of courses is held in a lecture theatre, followed by the essential hands-on practical work which is carried out in specially adapted and fully equipped training workshops. Courses, including Health & Safety related and Correct Use, are of one to two 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,” reports Norman Dodds. “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.”
