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THE PEOPLE WHO POWER US: ANDREW BOWDEN

 

Tell us about your journey at Makita and how the company evolved during your time here.

I joined Makita in 1992 as Service Manager with additional responsibility to train customers and staff of Makita’s products.

 

Having joined the market in 1972, Makita was still a relatively young company in the UK in 1992, but it was growing, and we all were growing with it. It was an exciting time as we established the brand, particularly when the company moved from its original Luton office to Milton Keynes in 1993.This was the catalyst for the company to really focus on its offering and position, so that it became known for being more than just a power tool brand, but as a manufacturer recognised for innovative product development, quality and reliability and superior service.

 

My career path at the company really started to broaden with the introduction of CE marking in the UK in 1995. To enable Makita Corporation (based in Japan) to comply with the new EU directives for machine safety, I managed the implementation of CE marking and compliance across all of Makita’s UK portfolio. During this period, I took on further responsibilities in health and safety and utilised my experience to undertake more senior roles within the company including Technical Coordinator for Standards and Regulations across Europe, and my final position as Technical Director which I held for 10 years until my retirement in 2018.

 

What part of your job did you enjoy the most?

All of it! Makita is a fantastic place to work and I enjoyed every moment – particularly working with a great team of enthusiastic, forward-thinking people at every level, who were willing to go the extra mile to put Makita on the map.

 

What is the most memorable tool launch during your time at Makita?

There are a few that stand out. The launch of the 6095D 9.6V Cordless Drill in 1994, which was our best selling cordless drill of the early 1990s. The HR5000C Rotary Hammer Drill was the first Makita hammer drill that featured our Anti-Vibration Technology (AVT) a significant innovation based on the concepts around earthquake engineering and on which, I had worked closely with the global design team on its development. From here Makita continued to introduce the safest heavy-duty power tools available with lower vibration levels and dynamic dampening.

 

And of course, the launch of the 18V lithium-ion LXT platform in 2005. This was a pivotal moment in Makita’s history and provided the basis for what was to become the UK’s largest compatible cordless tool system. It was an honour to play a role in the growth of this tool platform over the years. 

 

What is your best memory?

Some memorable moments are from my visits to Japan where I worked with the global R&D team to feed into the design and development of new tools and technologies for the UK market. With an increased focus on compliance to all UK, EU and global safety standards and regulations, together we developed Anti-Vibration Technology (AVT) tools and dust extraction solutions.

 

What are you most proud of during your time at Makita?

I am really pleased to have been part of some significant achievements at Makita. I worked on a number of programmes to elevate Makita’s health and safety performance to the highest standards in the UK and Europe to meet ISO9001 certification as well as ISO14001.

 

A huge focus for me was enhancing the service offering for Makita customers beyond their purchase, so that Makita would become a trusted partner to the trade for the lifetime of their kit and I am proud that these initiatives still remain today. I introduced the 3-year warranty offer, allowing users to obtain a two-year extended warranty in addition to the standard one-year factory warranty, as well as the wider Service Care network with our dealers and authorised service agents, which supports regular repair and part replacement on any Makita tool or accessory, even models that have been discontinued or are obsolete.

 

What do you miss about working for Makita?

The working culture at Makita was fantastic and I made many friends over the years who I miss seeing every day. I keep in touch with old colleagues and the latest product launches and will always be ‘team teal blue’ through and through!

 

It is no surprise that the company continues to go from strength to strength and that is largely because of the people behind the power tools.

 

What have you been doing since you left the company?

I now live a quiet life in Crete with my ever-supportive wife June, enjoying the sunshine, the sea and long, lazy lunches in the local fish tavernas. I often find myself daydreaming about Makita – the good times and the successes, and anticipating what is next for the company.

 

To read more about Makita’s history, click here.

To read more about Makita’s 50 years in the UK, click here.