Proactive capital investment in Japan; Makino to build new plant

December 28, 2023

Although machine tool orders in Japan are in an adjustment phase, manufacturers are aggressively investing in facilities in anticipation of medium- to long-term demand growth.

Citizen Machinery expands production capacity at its Tohoku Kitakami Plant (the highlighted area is the new building to be expanded).

Makino Milling Machine is constructing two new buildings at its Fujiyoshida Plant in Fujiyoshida City, Yamanashi Prefecture, with a total investment of 21 billion yen, scheduled to start operation in January 2026. One building would be an assembly plant producing a wide range of machines from large to small machining centers (MCs) and electric discharge machines. The other building would house a sheet metal processing and painting shop, as well as a laboratory building and a logistics warehouse. With this round of investment, the company aims to build an integrated production system from part machining to assembly and increase its total annual production capacity in Japan by 20% from the previous level.

Matsuura Machinery’s Takefu Plant after expansion (the new building to be expanded is shown at the far end)

Citizen Machinery (Nagano, Japan; President: Keiichi Nakajima) plans to expand the production area at its Kitakami Plant in Kitakami City, Iwate Prefecture, which manufactures Miyano brand fixed-headstock CNC automatic lathes. The company plans to increase its maximum production capacity by 20% from the current level by March 2025.

Matsuura Machinery (Fukui, Japan, President: Katsutoshi Matsuura) also plans to expand its Takefu Plant in Echizen City, Fukui Prefecture, and integrate its MC assembly operations into the Takefu Plant by January 2024.