Takamatsu Machinery has as its slogan: “People make the company.” This slogan is backed up by a highly trained corps of employees who are serious in their efforts to create “profit making machines” for use in a wide range of industries. Their products are renowned for accuracy, rigidity and longevity. The company is ISO 14001 certified—the international standard for environmental management systems.

Three Takamaz products were selected as the Grand Prize Winners of the 4t h Ishikawa EcoDesign Award in 2014. This award is given for “superior products (workmanship) and services (activities)” that promote a sustainable society, for their symbiotic relationship with nature, such as carbon reduction, as well as for resource recycling and environmental conservation. The products recognized for the awards were:

• USL-300 CNC Comb Type Lathe

• USL-480 CNC Comb Type Lathe

• XW-30 CNC 2 Spindle 2 Slide Precision Lathe

As part of the Takamaz Quality Assurance Program, all products undergo a rigorous Accuracy Test. All the basic machine motions are exercised for 24 hours to ensure operational perfection. Then, after all optional units are installed, the machine is tested again, along with a loader and peripheral equipment. Testing is completed in a clean room for precision measurements. The clean room temperature is held at 23 degrees Celsius (+/- 1 degree) and humidity is controlled at 50% (+/- 5%). Finally, a pre-delivery check provides a thorough inspection. Even “the slackness of a single screw is corrected at this stage.”

Takamatsu Machinery has created a corporate entity that can flexibly respond to the needs of its customers. This is demonstrated in the way it actively collects data about its products and the needs of its customers, then utilizing that information in the engineering process for product improvement.