4 Companies Hold Private Shows in Osaka – Promoting Automation and Labor-Saving Solutions

Four major manufacturing companies – Okuma, Sodick, Okamoto Machine Tool Works, and TOKYO SEIMITSU (commonly referred to as ACCRETECH) – hosted private shows on February 6 and 7 near Esaka Station on the Osaka Metro Midosuji Line. With all four companies’ offices and showrooms within walking distance, the event provided an efficient opportunity for visitors to explore various manufacturing solutions. Each company showcased its latest technologies, focusing on automation and labor-saving innovations. 

Debut of new models in western Japan 

The MS-320H horizontal MC, also exhibited at JIMTOF 2024, made its Western Japan debut at Okuma’s show.

The Esaka area in Suita City, Osaka Prefecture, is a hub of sales offices and showrooms for Factory Automation manufacturers within a one-kilometer radius. With Esaka Station just two stops from Shin-Osaka Station, the area offers convenient access for visitors. 

Every year in early February, companies with offices in Esaka hold private shows simultaneously. Since the venues are within walking distance, visitors can efficiently explore a wide range of products, making it a popular annual event. 

Okuma held the “2025 Okuma Osaka Machine Fair,” which featured the first presentation in western Japan of the “MS-320H,” a compact horizontal machining center (MC) that made its debut at JIMTOF 2024. The MS-320H features a vertical table and chip conveyor directly below the machining point, enabling immediate chip evacuation for long-term continuous machining. It also features minimal coolant consumption to optimize environmental sustainability. At the fair, the model was displayed in a mass production setup, integrated with a loader and work stocker to demonstrate automation for reduced labor dependency. The “OMR20” mobile collaborative robot was also introduced as a solution for automating high-mix, low-volume production. 

In addition to the MS-320H, Okuma displayed automation-enhancing solutions, including the “ARMROID,” a robot installed inside machine tools, and the OMR20 collaborative robot. The company also emphasized its integration of CAD/CAM software with automation. Matsuura Machinery and C&G Systems co-exhibited with Okuma, displaying sample workpieces produced using Okuma’s machine tools in combination with CAD/CAM software. 

Laser processing and injection molding solutions

Sodick showed sample workpieces machined with the LSP4040 femtosecond laser machine.

Sodick hosted the “Private Show 2025” focusing on laser processing and injection molding solutions. 

The company showcased sample workpieces machined with the “LSP4040” femtosecond laser machine launched last year. Femtosecond lasers can minimize heat-affected zones, reducing the risk of workpiece cracking. The LSP4040 features customizable specifications, such as the stroke of the laser movement, allowing for customized configurations to fit available factory space and specific operational needs. 

For injection molding, Sodick introduced the “Nendy-E,” a melt shear viscosity measurement device, along with the “Molding Navi Class-AI,” a mold condition support system. 

The Nendy-E provides on-site measurement of melt viscosity. It can be attached directly to injection molding machines by replacing the nozzle, making it compatible with both Sodick and non-Sodick injection molding machines. 

Sodick also showcased its machining lineup, including the “UX450L” vertical MC, “LPM325” metal 3D printer, “AL400G iG+E” wire EDM and “AL40G+” die-sinking EDM. 

“In the past, we held this event only in even-numbered years,” said a manager from Sodick’s West Japan Sales Division. “However, our younger employees expressed a strong desire to hold it annually. This year is our first odd-year event, and we hope to hold it every year in the future.” 

Focus on time savings and labor efficiency 

Okamoto Machine Tool Works exhibited its best-selling PSG63SA1 surface grinder.

Okamoto Machine Tool Works organized the “Osaka Sales Office Private Show,” which featured four grinding machine models, including its best-selling “PSG63SA1” surface grinder. 

The PSG63SA1 is based on the conventional “PSG-DX” series, adding automatic wheel dressing and shift plunge grinding, which allows the wheel to shift positions during plunge grinding. The user interface has also been upgraded from selector switches to a touch screen for improved ease of use. 

The model on display was equipped with the “Quick Touch” on-machine measuring unit (optional), demonstrating automated workpiece measurement for labor savings. 

Other models on display included the “PSG64CA-iQ” surface grinder for large workpieces, the “OGM250EX III” cylindrical grinder with automatic dressing and correction feed functions, and the “HPG500NC” CNC form grinder. 

“The key themes of this show were reducing machining time and labor requirements,” said the Osaka Sales Office Manager. “While the economic outlook in the Kansai area remains uncertain, we hope this event will generate more orders.” 

Automation in measurement and inspection 

ACCRETECH displayed metrology solutions with products highlighted at JIMTOF 2024.

ACCRETECH hosted the “ACCRETECH Tokyo Seimitsu Private Show 2025,” which featured surface roughness, contour measurement and other solutions. 

The company exhibited the “SURFCOM NEX 200 DX2”, a hybrid surface roughness and contour measurement system with more than double the measurement range of previous models. It enables efficient, single-pass measurement of inclined and uneven surfaces. Also on display was the optional ±45° automatic tilt drive unit, introduced at JIMTOF 2024, which enables easy measurement of heavy or difficult-to-tilt workpieces. 

The “SURFCOM TOUCH,” a compact surface roughness measuring device, was also exhibited. It features an optional barcode scanning function that automatically configures measurement settings by scanning a pre-recorded 2D code. This feature eliminates the need to manually set measurement conditions for each workpiece. 

“Our private shows also offer on-site machine sales,” said a manager of the company’s domestic sales department. “Many visitors come specifically to make short-term purchases. While the market environment in the Kansai area remains unclear, the recovery of the aerospace industry is a positive development.”