Japanese Cutting-Edge
Solutions for Metalworking
Japanese Cutting-Edge
Solutions for Metalworking
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December 30, 2024
Takashi Teramachi, President and COO of THK
A wave of new presidents has taken office at various factory automation manufacturers in 2024. In January, Takashi Teramachi took over as president and COO of THK. In an interview following his appointment, he expressed his ambition to transform the company into a “manufacturing service provider” that contributes to society. In April, Hideo Ina, who was appointed president of Citizen Machinery (Nagano Prefecture, Japan), outlined his approach by saying, “Our goal is to improve customer satisfaction and expand sales by encouraging repeat business from customers.”
Several companies announced new presidents at their annual shareholder’s meetings in June. At Kitagawa, Kimio Okano became the first president from outside the founding family. Meanwhile, Yoshihito Kondo, who built his career in production engineering at Toyota Motor, was appointed president of JTEKT.
In a time of continued uncertainty, expectations are high for these new leaders to guide their companies to future success.
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Several FA-related organizations and companies celebrated key anniversaries in 2024.
In May, the Japan Precision Measuring Instruments Manufacturers Association celebrated its 70th anniversary with a grand ceremony. The association’s chairman, Hitoshi Yoshida, who also serves as chairman and CEO of Tokyo Seimitsu (ACCRETECH), was optimistic about the next decade, saying, “Advances in data utilization and the growing demand for precision measuring instruments are tailwinds for our industry. The future looks bright.”
Among companies, tool distributor IDAKA (Nagoya City, Japan) celebrated its 100th anniversary in March. Mitutoyo (Kawasaki City, Japan) celebrated its 90th anniversary with ceremonies in Utsunomiya City in May and in Hiroshima Prefecture in June. In addition, small-diameter drill specialist Saito Seisakusho (Tokyo, Japan) celebrated its 90th anniversary with a gala in June.
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From July 4 to 6, Robot Technology Japan (RTJ) 2024, a specialized exhibition for industrial robots and automation systems, was held in Tokoname City, Aichi Prefecture.
The event featured 244 exhibitors and 1,320 booths, attracting 46,405 visitors over the three days. Both the size and number of visitors exceeded those of the inaugural 2022 event. With the demand for automation in Japan’s manufacturing and logistics sectors continuing amid a labor shortage, the venue buzzed with active business negotiations.
The next RTJ is scheduled for early summer 2026, promising further advances in automation technology.
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Two key machine tool trade shows were held in 2024, one in the U.S. and the other in Germany.
The International Manufacturing Technology Show (IMTS 2024) was held September 9-14 in Chicago, Illinois. The event featured 1,737 exhibitors and attracted 89,020 registered attendees, marking a significant recovery in momentum from the pandemic-hit previous edition.
Meanwhile, AMB 2024 was held from September 10-14 in Stuttgart, Germany, with 1,244 exhibitors and 65,584 visitors. Many Japanese manufacturers participated in both exhibitions, showcasing their latest products and technologies alongside their European and Asian counterparts.
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The global machine tool industry continued to undergo significant restructuring in 2024.
In October, United Grinding Group, a Swiss grinder manufacturer, announced the acquisition of GF Machining Solutions (GFMS), a division of Swiss-based Georg Fischer specializing in EDM, machining centers, and laser processing machines.
In November, DMG MORI announced that it would fully acquire TAIYO KOKI, further consolidating the group’s operations. This followed the merger of Swiss companies Starrag and Tornos in 2023, reflecting the trend toward consolidation among machine tool manufacturers.
The year also saw mixed fortunes for major manufacturers. South Korea’s DN Solutions initiated an IPO process in October, targeting a listing in early 2025. Meanwhile, US-based Hardinge Group filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection in July, sending shockwaves through the industry.
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The Japan International Machine Tool Fair (JIMTOF 2024), the largest machine tool exhibition in Japan, was held November 5-10 at Tokyo Big Sight in Tokyo, Japan.
With 1,262 exhibitors (175 more than the previous edition) and a record 5,743 booths, the event was the largest in its history. Attendance reached 129,018 unique visitors (162,670 including repeat entries), surpassing the last JIMTOF in 2022 but slightly below pre-pandemic levels. The bustling venue was filled with energy as exhibitors and visitors engaged in enthusiastic business discussions.
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