Ikegai

What Ikegai does

Ikegai Corporation (株式会社池貝) is a private Japanese industrial manufacturer founded in 1889, historically recognized as Japan's first lathe producer. The company operates through three divisions — Machine Tools, Industrial Machinery (focused on extruders for plastics and rubber processing), and Diesel Engines — and is headquartered in Namegata, Ibaraki prefecture. It employs approximately 200 staff on a non-consolidated basis and around 1,000 on a consolidated basis, with a registered capital of 90 million yen, reflecting its post-restructuring corporate structure. Customers span aerospace, shipbuilding, steel, automotive, railway, heavy electrical, semiconductor, and marine industries, served directly in Japan and through the SNK (Shin Nippon Koki) group distribution network across the US, Germany, China, Korea, Taiwan, Thailand, and India.

The company's competitive position rests on proprietary mechanical and process technologies: hand-scraping (kisage) precision techniques, U-axis mechanisms, planetary gear reducers, the EX100S control platform with data logging and remote maintenance, and visualized barrel technology for extrusion. Core products include CNC lathes, machining centers, HM-series honing centers, single- and twin-screw extruders, and medium- to large-scale diesel engines. Equipment is designed for multi-decade service lives (30–35 years), with continuous overhaul and aftermarket service as a structural revenue stream.

Revenue is generated through quotation-based sales of high-value capital equipment, supplemented by aftermarket parts, service, and overhaul contracts. The company sells both directly and through dealer channels. The corporate history includes a 2001 court-led restructuring and subsequent recapitalizations by Shanghai Electric Group (2004) and Fair Friend Group (2014), which established cross-border manufacturing in China and Taiwan-linked distribution. Leadership is led by CEO Zhang Chunhua and COO Nakanishi Akira, with Chinese capital influence evident in the ownership and strategic direction.

Name

Ikegai

Legal name

Ikegai Corporation (株式会社池貝)

Website

https://ikegai.co.jp

Company type

Private

Founded year

1889

Operating status

Operating

Short description

Ikegai Corporation is a 135-year-old Japanese manufacturer of machine tools, plastic and rubber extruders, and diesel engines, serving aerospace, automotive, shipbuilding, and industrial customers through direct sales and the SNK distribution network across Asia, Europe, and North America.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Ibaraki

HQ country

Japan

HQ region

Asia

Offices15 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Supply Chain, Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Machine Tools Manufacturing and Sales: Design, manufacture, and sale of CNC lathes, machining centers, CNC boring and milling machines, and honing centers. Includes conventional lathes and special purpose machines for rail, material, and shipbuilding industries.
2. Industrial Machinery Manufacturing and Sales: Production and sale of single screw and twin screw extruders, plus production equipment for pellets, sheets/films, pipes/tubes, and deformed molding. Includes Plastic Center for material development and testing.
3. Diesel Engine Manufacturing and Sales: Marine diesel engine production and sales through Ikegai Diesel Corp subsidiary.
4. Repair and Maintenance Services: Full overhaul, retrofit, and maintenance services for machines. Service centers at each location with technicians for breakdown repairs, relocation, and long-term after-sales support. Gearbox overhaul services available.
5. Installation and Setup Services: Equipment launch support including test runs and adjustments at assembly plant prior to shipment, enabling smooth equipment installation and production start for customers.

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Ikegai Corporation manufactures and sells three core product lines: machine tools (CNC lathes, machining centers, boring and milling machines, honing centers, and special purpose machines for rail, shipbuilding, and material processing), industrial machinery (single and twin screw extruders plus production equipment for pellets, sheets/films, pipes/tubes, and deformed molding), and marine diesel engines via its Ikegai Diesel Corp subsidiary. The company also provides repair, overhaul, retrofit, and installation/setup services through dedicated service centers and the SNK international network.

Product overview

Ikegai manufactures three main product lines: Machine Tools (工作機械), Industrial Machinery (産業機械), and Diesel Engines. Machine Tools include lathes (conventional engine lathes AM20, CNC vertical lathes VT, universal CNC lathes TU, chucker lathes TC, large horizontal bed CNC lathes AU/ANC, TNC, RNC/TNC-S), special purpose machines (wheel lathes WL, notching machines KN, crankshaft lathes CJL), honing centers HM, U-centers TVU, and horizontal boring machines BNC and NB. Industrial Machinery includes screw-type extruders: single screw extruders (FS, GS, SX, VS, COMBI) and twin screw extruders (PCM/PCM-HTS, SKPCM, GT, GTR, GTC), plus production equipment for pellets, sheets/films, pipes/tubes, and deformed molding. The Digital Solution includes the EX100S control system for integrated extruder and molding machine control, and the Plastic Center for material R&D. Founded in 1889, Ikegai is a Japanese manufacturer with over 130 years of history.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• VT Series CNC Vertical Lathes Single column CNC vertical lathe capable of face milling, boring and outer diameter turning. Features ram-type turret with minimal tool interference, high-rigid box structure column, and high-horsepower efficient table drive. Targeting heavy manufacturing applications.
• TU Series Universal CNC Lathe/Turning Center Universal-type CNC lathe/turning center with heavy-duty cutting capability for large-diameter center workpieces and chuck workpieces.
• TC Series Chucker CNC Lathe Chucker-type CNC lathe/turning center specialized in chip processing with Ikegai's unique horizontal turret. Features 12-corner turret minimizing tooling interference, high-rigid bed, and excellent chip processing.
• AU(ANC) Series Large Horizontal Bed CNC Lathe Horizontal two-guideway CNC lathe for boring and tip machining with great accessibility to workpiece center. Big cross-slide permits excellent approach to workpiece center.
• TNC Series Large Horizontal Bed CNC Lathe Large three-guideway CNC lathe with compact footprint where carriage and tailstock work in different guideways, avoiding interference and allowing easy machining of workpiece edges.
• RNC/TNC-S Series Large Horizontal Bed CNC Lathe Horizontal four-guideway CNC lathe available in separated (RNC) or integrated (TNC-S) saddle and work bed configurations. RNC offers high precision machining while TNC-S delivers extreme rigidity for heavy-duty roughing.
• WL Series CNC Wheel Lathe CNC wheel lathe enabling integrated machining of wheels with axle. Designed for rail industry applications.
• CJL Series Crankshaft Lathe Lathe specialized for medium and finishing turning of crankshaft journals. Designed for shipbuilding industry with swing over bed of 3000mm.
• HM Series Honing Center Multi-tasking honing machining center combining high-efficiency boring machining and high-precision honing finishing. Built into machining center functionality.
• TVU Series Vertical U Center Vertical U center machining center with U-axis mechanism pursuing space saving. Capable of turning internal and external diameters with NC control of tool edge in radial direction.
• BNC Series CNC Horizontal Boring Machine CNC horizontal boring machine equipped with U-axis mechanism and built-in face plate. Supports panel-mounted workpieces.
• NB Series CNC Horizontal Boring and Milling Machine CNC horizontal boring and milling machine with excellent operability. Features include table sizes from 950x1050mm to 1600x1800mm and load capacity from 2500 to 10000kg. Used for automotive, heavy electric, semiconductor, and general machining applications.
• AM20 Engine Lathe Engine lathe developed by Ikegai, the first developer of Japan-made lathes. A product of lengthy tradition and expertise, offering fast, strong, and precise lathe operations with ergonomic design and superior durability.
• KN Series Notching Machine Special machine capable of processing all types of knots or patterns. Designed for material processing applications.
• FS Series Single Screw Extruder Standard model extruder with over 40 years of production history and 3,000 units manufactured in Japan. Applied to film, sheet, tube, pipe, irregular shape, and granulation. Features Ikegai's original planetary gear reducer.
• GS Series High Load Extrusion Extruder High load extrusion extruder capable of handling difficult forming applications. Features high torque via Ikegai-designed helical gear reducer for stable extrusion of polycarbonate and high inorganic filler content resins.
• SX Series Two-Stage Screw Extruder Extruder capable of low temperature and high discharge of olefin resins. Features forced feed grooves on cylinder inner surface and two-stage screw construction enabling twice the extrusion volume of conventional extruders.
• VS Series Versatile Extruder Versatile extruder usable as auxiliary extruder for two-color extrusion or as stand-alone molding machine. Handles wide variety of resins with easy combination with other extruders.
• COMBI Combined Extruder Combined extruder of FS and VS extruders in the same frame. Allows combination of three or more extruders with VS extruder available in diagonal, horizontal, and vertical types.
• PCM/PCM-HTS Twin Screw Extruder Fully engaged, high-speed twin screw extruder with wide range of controllable kneading capabilities and high energy efficiency. L/D can be freely selected. High torque/high speed version available.
• SKPCM Tandem Twin Screw Extruder Extruder enabling stable molding of recycled and biodegradable resins by combining twin screw extruder for kneading and single screw extruder for extrusion in two-stage configuration.
• GT Twin Screw Extruder Proven twin screw extrusion with co-directional rotation. Used for composite sheet molding of filler, paper, etc. with olefin resins.
• GTR PVC Dedicated Extruder PVC dedicated and power-saving extruder with different direction rotation. Used for wood powder composite manufacturing, olefin resin fillers, and rigid PVC pipe molding.
• GTC Different Direction Rotation Extruder Different direction rotation extruder optimal for rigid PVC molding and compounds production. Handles rigid/flexible PVC pellets, ABS reinforcing agent dispersion, wood powder compounds, and foaming agent kneading.
• Pelletizing Equipment Pelletizing equipment using various pelletizing methods to meet various raw materials. Offers optimal equipment configuration according to resin characteristics.
• Sheet/Film Manufacturing Equipment Sheet and film manufacturing equipment featuring Ikegai's T-die series. Includes high-productivity lines for automotive sound insulation sheets to building material sheets with co-extrusion and multi-layer extrusion support.
• Pipe/Tube Extrusion Equipment Pipe and tube extrusion equipment from large-diameter polyethylene pipes via vacuum molding to medical tube molding. Suppresses spider marks through optimal flow path design.
• Deformed Molding Equipment Deformed molding equipment from irregular molding to deformed coating using crosshead die. Features high-accuracy temperature control for stable molding with EX100S system integration for quality control.
• Marine Diesel Engines Marine diesel engines for vessels and power generation applications, produced and sold through Ikegai Diesel Corp subsidiary. Technology alliance with Daimler-Benz for high-speed diesel engine technology established in 1960.
• Plastic Center (R&D and Testing Service) Research and development center for verifying screw shape and operating conditions affecting resin properties and molding. Offers resin + additive blending, pellet prototyping, and sheet/film/tube/pipe prototyping. Equipment includes 6 single screw extruders (30-90mm), 7 twin screw extruders (30-80mm), and various forming equipment.
• Repair, Maintenance, and Overhaul Services Full overhaul, retrofit, and maintenance services for Ikegai machines. Service centers at each factory and sales office with technicians for breakdown repairs, relocation, and long-term after-sales support. Gearbox overhaul services available.

Quantifiable outcome

• FS extruder: Over 3,000 units manufactured in Japan over 40 years
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers11 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature6 records

Partnerships

Eight partnerships are on record, tiered core.

• Shin Nippon Koki Co., Ltd. (SNK)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2016Group company joined in 2016. Handles machine tool sales and service, particularly in western Japan at Shinodayama Factory. Also serves as Osaka Office location for Ikegai operations.
• SNK America Inc.coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorSales and service partner for Ikegai machine tools in the United States. Offices in Chicago (Mount Prospect, Illinois) and Los Angeles (Brea, California) providing sales and service support for North American customers.
• SNK GmbHcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorSales partner for Ikegai products in Germany and Europe. Located in Goppingen, Germany providing regional sales coverage.
• SNK Nanjing Technology CorporationcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorService partner in China providing maintenance and support services. Located in Nanjing's Zijin Entrepreneur R&D Center.
• SNK Engineering Korea Co., Ltd.coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorSales and service partner in South Korea. Located in Anyang-si, Gyeonggi-do providing regional support.
• SNK EG Taiwan CorporationcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorSales partner in Taiwan. Located in New Taipei City providing regional distribution.
• SNK Thai Co., Ltd.coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorSales partner in Thailand. Located in Bangplee, Samutprakarn providing Southeast Asian market coverage.
• SNK India Private LimitedcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorSales partner in India. Located in Ghaziabad, Uttar Pradesh providing South Asian market presence.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Nakamura-Tome Precision Industry: Japanese specialist in high-precision CNC lathes and multi-tasking turning centers — closely comparable to Ikegai's lathe portfolio and similar mid-sized specialty positioning in the CNC turning market.
• Toshiba Machine (Shibaura Machine): Japanese manufacturer of injection molding machines, extruders, and machine tools — comparable to Ikegai across both industrial machinery (extrusion/plastics) and machine tool product divisions.
• Yamazaki Mazak: Japan-based global CNC machine tool manufacturer offering lathes, machining centers, and multi-tasking machines serving aerospace, automotive, and heavy industry — directly comparable to Ikegai's machine tool portfolio across overlapping customer verticals.
• Coperion (Hillenbrand): German twin-screw extruder and compounding equipment maker serving plastics, chemicals, and food — directly comparable to Ikegai's PCM twin-screw extruder and production equipment lines for similar plastics processing customers.
• Makino Milling Machine: Japanese manufacturer of horizontal machining centers and specialty milling machines serving aerospace and die/mold — comparable to Ikegai in precision machining center offerings and shared enterprise industrial customers.
• DMG MORI: Japanese-origin global CNC machine tool leader offering lathes, machining centers, and additive manufacturing — comparable to Ikegai across CNC lathe/machining center segments and similar industrial customer base, though at materially larger scale.
• Okuma Corporation: Japanese CNC machine tool maker specializing in lathes, machining centers, and grinders with proprietary OSP control — directly comparable to Ikegai in CNC lathe product category and shared heavy-industry customer base.
• Japan Steel Works: Japanese heavy industrial manufacturer with twin-screw extruder business serving plastics and rubber processing — comparable to Ikegai's industrial machinery division across screw extruder product categories.

Broad incumbents

• DN Solutions (Doosan Machine Tools): Korean CNC machine tool manufacturer offering lathes, machining centers, and mill-turn machines at competitive pricing — comparable in CNC lathe/machining center categories but with much broader general-market focus versus Ikegai's specialty positioning.
• Yanmar (Yanmar Holdings): Japanese diesel engine maker with marine and industrial engine lines — comparable to Ikegai Diesel Corp's marine diesel engine business across similar shipbuilder and maritime operator customers.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/@ikegai
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/ikegai

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 records

Subsidiaries4 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Ikegai