Nakashimada Iron Works

What Nakashimada Iron Works does

Nakashimada Iron Works (中島田鉄工所), founded in 1911 in what is now Hirokawa Town, Yame District, Fukuoka Prefecture, Japan, is a privately held specialty industrial machinery manufacturer whose core competence is the design and production of cold forging equipment—headers and formers—used to manufacture precision screws, bolts, fasteners, and micro metal components. The company holds an estimated 50% global share and 80% Japan share in headers that produce parts with diameters of 2.5 mm or less, with cumulative machine shipments exceeding 10,000 units in April 2024 across product families such as MF Micro Formers, MST Multi-Station Part Formers, NP Nut/Part Formers, BT/BTX Bolt Formers, and NS Cold Headers. Approximately 70% of components are manufactured in-house at its Hirokawa headquarters, where traditional kisage (hand-scraping) finishing is combined with vertical machining, 5-axis, multi-tasking, and EDM equipment to deliver claimed industry-leading accuracy, roundness, and machine service life exceeding 30 years. The company's products serve diverse precision-dependent verticals including aerospace, automotive, electronics/IT, watchmaking, jewelry, stationery, and apparel, with applications spanning aircraft rivets, engine bolts, micro connectors, watch crowns, pen components, and denim rivets.

Revenue is generated through multi-year, custom-quoted industrial machinery sales complemented by a substantial aftermarket business: spare parts supply for all machines ever produced (including those 40+ years old, maintained via approximately 10,000 archived drawings), full machine overhauls and electrical/control retrofits, and the TTT Solution custom tooling and mold development service, which conducts more than 100 product feasibility studies and trials annually. Go-to-market combines wholly-owned sales and service offices in Nagoya, Osaka, Tokyo, Santa Fe Springs (USA), Burgkunstadt (Germany), and Shenzhen (China) with a network of sales agents across 17 countries covering North America, Europe, the Middle East, and Asia-Pacific. A parallel space business—developed jointly with Tohoku University and validated in orbit via JAXA's "Kibo"-deployed FREEDOM nano-satellite—markets the DOM® (De-Orbit Mechanism) family of membrane-deployable debris-removal devices for small satellites, distributed exclusively through a general agency agreement signed with Space BD Co., Ltd. in October 2020 and culminating in the February 2024 on-orbit deployment of DOM2500 aboard Canon Electronics' CE-SAT-IE microsatellite. The company is led by Masahiro Nakashimada as President & CEO, holds ISO 9001 (since 1998) and ISO 14001 (since 2010) certifications, and remains family-controlled with approximately 137 employees.

Name

Nakashimada Iron Works

Legal name

株式会社 中島田鉄工所

Website

https://nakashimada.co.jp

Company type

Private

Founded year

1911

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

Nakashimada Iron Works (中島田鉄工所) is a 115-year-old Japanese specialty machinery maker that designs and manufactures cold forging headers and formers—holding 50% global and 80% Japan share in sub-2.5mm precision micro headers—serving aerospace, automotive, electronics, watchmaking, and jewelry manufacturers, with a parallel DOM® space-debris removal device business.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Industrial Cold Forging Machinery

NAICS

Turned Product and Screw, Nut, and Bolt Manufacturing (33272)

SIC

Machine Tools, Metal Cutting Types (3541)

akta.pro primary industry

Metal Cutting Tools, Tooling & Workholding (Cutters, Inserts, Chucks, Fixtures) (IMAHADAB)

Keywords

• Cold forging machines
• Header machinery
• Parts formers
• Precision metal forming
• Bolt manufacturing equipment

Headquarters

HQ city

Fukuoka

HQ country

Japan

HQ region

Asia

Offices8 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Manufacturing and Sales of Headers and Formers: Core business selling cold forging machines (headers and parts formers) used to manufacture precision screws, bolts, and miniature metal parts for various industries including automotive, aerospace, electronics, and watches.
2. Aftermarket Parts and Spare Parts Supply: Supply of replacement parts for all machines manufactured, including machines produced over 40 years ago. Near 100% replacement parts supply rate maintained. Serial number-based identification system.
3. Overhaul and Retrofit Services: Full overhaul services to restore machines to original delivery condition. Electrical/control system retrofits including monitor additions and inverter installations. Warranty period of 6 months after full overhaul.
4. Tooling/Mold Development: Custom mold development services including tool design, plasticity analysis, tool making, and tryout. Conducts feasibility studies and trials for over 100 products annually.
5. DOM Space Products: Sales of De-Orbit Mechanism (DOM) membrane-deployable devices for small satellites via Space BD general agency agreement.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

Nakashimada Iron Works designs and manufactures precision cold and warm forging press machines (headers and parts formers) used by industrial manufacturers to mass-produce screws, bolts, and miniature metal parts across aerospace, automotive, electronics, watchmaking, jewelry, stationery, and apparel applications. Its product range spans micro headers for sub-2.5mm parts, multi-station parts formers, bolt formers, and nut formers, plus a separate space hardware line — the DOM (De-Orbit Mechanism) membrane-deployable orbital debris removal device for small satellites. Revenue is supported by aftermarket spare parts supply, full overhaul and retrofit services, and custom tooling development.

Product overview

Nakashimada Iron Works is a precision manufacturing company specializing in cold forging machines (headers and formers) for producing screws, bolts, and precision metal parts, alongside space-related products. The core product line includes multiple header and former series (MF Micro Former, MST Multi-Station, NP Nut Former, BTX/BT Bolt Former, NS Cold Header, TH Part Former) with approximately 40+ distinct models. The company holds 50% global market share and 80% Japan share in headers for products under 2.5mm diameter, having shipped over 10,000 machines since 1960. The space business centers on the DOM (De-Orbit Mechanism) membrane deployment device for satellite orbit departure, with FREEDOM as the demonstration satellite. Supporting services include after-parts supply, overhaul/retrofit, and tooling development (TTT Solution). The company produces 70% of components in-house, maintaining integrated manufacturing.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• DOM: Membrane-deployable orbital debris removal device (De-Orbit Mechanism) for small satellites, with product lines DOM500, DOM1500, and DOM2500. Registered trademark of Nakashimada Engineering Works, Ltd.
• FREEDOM

Products and services

• Header / Former Cold Forging Machines High-precision cold and warm forging press machines (headers and parts formers) used by industrial manufacturers to produce screws, bolts, fasteners, and miniature metal parts. Series include MF Micro Former, MST Multi-Station Part Former, NP Nut Former, BTX and BT Bolt Former, NS Cold Header, TH Part Former, MHC Cam Header, DPH05 Vertical Header, SH051 Bi-Metal Header, MH05 Die-Shift Micro Header, and 2D3B machines.
• DOM (De-Orbit Mechanism) Membrane-deployable orbital debris removal device for small satellites, sold in DOM500, DOM1500, and DOM2500 variants. Enables satellites to de-orbit within 5 years of mission completion. Jointly developed with Tohoku University and sold via Space BD as general agent.
• FREEDOM Space Demonstration Satellite Nano-satellite jointly developed with Tohoku University to demonstrate the DOM membrane-deployable de-orbit device in outer space.
• After-Parts Supply Service Spare parts supply service maintaining approximately 10,000 machine drawings in archives and able to source parts for machines manufactured over 40 years ago using serial number lookup. Near 100% replacement parts supply rate.
• Overhaul and Retrofit Service Full overhaul service restoring cold forging machines to original delivery condition, including complete disassembly, inspection, part replacement, and adjustment. Includes electrical/control retrofits (monitor and inverter additions). Carries a 6-month warranty after full overhaul.
• Tooling Development (TTT Solution) Custom mold and tooling development service including tool design, plasticity analysis, tool making, trial production, and assembly. Conducts feasibility studies and trials for over 100 products annually, with carbide material selection expertise.

Quantifiable outcome

• 50% global market share for headers producing 2.5mm or less diameter products
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers8 records

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Four partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Space BD Co., Ltd.coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 1 October 2020General agency agreement signed in October 2020 for DOM® products. Space BD serves as the exclusive general agent for DOM membrane-deployable orbital debris removal devices for satellites.
• JAXA (Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 29 September 2014FREEDOM selected by JAXA for launch from the Japanese Experiment Module 'Kibo' of the International Space Station. JAXA partnership for space demonstration mission.
• Tohoku UniversitycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerJoint development partner for DOM (De-Orbit Mechanism) technology. FREEDOM satellite jointly developed and launched in 2017 for space demonstration of DOM technology.
• Canon Electronics Ltd.minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerDOM2500 installed on Canon Electronics' CE-SAT-IE microsatellite, launched on H3TF2 rocket in February 2024.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves10 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Komatsu Industries: Komatsu's industrial machinery division produces large presses and metalworking systems globally. While broader in scope, it competes with Nakashimada in heavy press machinery for automotive and fastener applications, particularly at the high-tonnage end of the market.
• Aida Engineering: Aida Engineering is a Japanese press machinery manufacturer producing mechanical and servo presses for automotive, electrical, and appliance applications — a domestic incumbent serving overlapping fastener/stamping end markets at greater scale than Nakashimada.
• Schuler Group: Schuler is a German global leader in press and metalforming technology, offering forging, stamping, and cold forming systems. It overlaps with Nakashimada in cold forming press machinery but serves a much broader industrial customer base at larger scale.

Direct peers

• National Machinery: National Machinery is a US-based manufacturer of cold formers and thread rollers, historically a direct competitor to Nakashimada in high-speed headers and parts formers for screws, bolts, and specialty fasteners.
• Hatebur: Hatebur is a Swiss manufacturer of cold forming machines and headers for fasteners and precision parts — a direct global peer to Nakashimada in multi-station cold formers serving automotive, aerospace, and industrial fastener markets.
• Sacma Limbiate: Sacma is an Italian maker of cold headers and thread rolling machines for fastener production, directly comparable to Nakashimada in product range, customer base (automotive, industrial fasteners), and machine class.
• Chun Zu Machinery Industry: Chun Zu is a Taiwanese manufacturer of cold forging machines (headers, formers, nut formers) directly competing with Nakashimada in the Asia-Pacific fastener machinery market, particularly for bolts, screws, and automotive parts.

Regional players

• Asahi Forge Corporation: Asahi Forge is a Japanese manufacturer of cold forged products (not machines) but operates in the same value chain, sharing customer base and end markets with Nakashimada and serving as a regional reference point for cold forging industry dynamics in Japan.
• Toho Koki Industrial: Toho Koki is a Japanese manufacturer of forging equipment and metal forming machinery with overlapping end markets (automotive fasteners, industrial parts). Comparable to Nakashimada in product class and Japanese customer base, though broader in scope.

Emerging players

• Astroscale: Astroscale is a Japan-headquartered space debris removal and satellite servicing company pursuing the same on-orbit debris mitigation market as Nakashimada's DOM product line. It is a partial peer — overlapping only in the space-debris business unit.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

Compliance2 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles11 records

Subsidiaries4 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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

M&A

Investments1 record

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

Frequently asked questions about Nakashimada Iron Works