Asahi Machinery
Asahi Machinery is a 108-year-old Japanese industrial machinery manufacturer specializing in automatic die-cutting machines (Carton Master, #1 Japan share), folder gluers (Gluer Master), and proprietary Push Type Synchro Cutters for paper, corrugated board, and specialty film processors.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1917
- HeadquartersTakaishi, Japan
- Headcount101–250
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingHardware or Manufacturing
What Asahi Machinery does
Asahi Machinery Co., Ltd. (旭マシナリー株式会社) is a privately held Japanese industrial machinery manufacturer founded in 1917 (originally as Asahi Ironworks Co., Ltd., a subsidiary of Toyo Pulp, now Oji Paper) and headquartered in Takaishi, Osaka. The company designs, manufactures, and sells three core product lines for the paper processing and packaging industry: Carton Master automatic platen die-cutting and creasing machines (sheet sizes up to 2100x1300mm, speeds up to 7,500 IPH), Gluer Master automatic folder gluers (supporting E-flute through A-flute corrugated), and Push Type Synchro Cutters (precision sheeters operating at up to 400m/min with ±0.1-0.3mm accuracy for paper, laminated board, and specialty films including LCD polarizers). Carton Master holds the #1 market share in Japan, developed through a 1970 technical partnership with UK-based William Crosland.
The company monetizes through one-time capital equipment sales plus aftermarket service, spare parts, and refurbished used machine sales. Pricing is quote-based, varying by machine specification, sheet size capacity, speed rating, and optional features (PCC preset control, AAS camera correction, servo feeders). Distribution is entirely direct: headquarters in Osaka, Tokyo sales office in Toda (Saitama), Shizuoka office, plus wholly-owned subsidiaries Korea Asahi Machinery (Incheon, est. 1988) and Asahi Machinery Europe GmbH (Montabaur, Germany, est. 2002). No third-party resellers or distributor channels are used. The customer base spans paper processing and corrugated box manufacturers, paper mills, LCD polarizing film manufacturers (Korea, China), and printing companies.
The business is operated by a senior management team led by President Masashi Watano and Chairman & CEO Kohei Takahashi, with approximately 120 employees and registered capital of 100 million yen (reduced from 220M in January 2020). Asahi Machinery also operates Asahi Engineering Co., Ltd. (wholly owned engineering subsidiary, est. 1995), won the Sasaki Award from Japan TAPPI in 1995 for the Push Type Synchro Cutter, and maintains a 2004 technical partnership with NANTAI Industrial (Foshan, China) for AP1600M2 production in China.
Asahi Machinery firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Asahi Machinery
- Legal name
- 旭マシナリー株式会社
- Website
- https://asahi-mac.co.jp
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1917
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 101–250 employees
- Short description
- Asahi Machinery is a 108-year-old Japanese industrial machinery manufacturer specializing in automatic die-cutting machines (Carton Master, #1 Japan share), folder gluers (Gluer Master), and proprietary Push Type Synchro Cutters for paper, corrugated board, and specialty film processors.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Asahi Machinery industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Industrial Paper Processing Machinery
- SIC
- Special Industry Machinery (No Metalworking Machinery) (3550)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Cartoning & Case Packing Systems (IMAHAOAB)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Cartoning, Case Packing & Tray Loading Machines (IMALAOAE), Folding Carton & Paperboard Packaging Printing (IMALAKAH)
Keywords
Where Asahi Machinery is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Takaishi
- HQ country
- Japan
- HQ region
- Asia
Offices5 records
Markets served
Asahi Machinery business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Hardware or Manufacturing
- Cost components
- Supply Chain, Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- Heavy Machinery Sales: One-time sale of automatic die-cutting machines, folder gluers, and synchro cutters to paper processing and manufacturing companies. Equipment ranges from compact models to large industrial machines weighing up to 70 tons.
- After-sales Service and Spare Parts: Maintenance, repair, and spare parts supply for installed machinery, including used machine refurbishment and sales of peripheral accessories.
- Used Machine Sales: Company refurbishes and sells its own used machines with complete factory overhaul.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Other | Multi-year contract | Custom machinery pricing based on specifications and configuration |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels4 records
Marketing channels4 records
Asahi Machinery product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Asahi Machinery designs, manufactures, and sells industrial paper processing machinery, including automatic die-cutting and creasing machines (Carton Master series), automatic folder gluers (Gluer Master series), and proprietary Push Type Synchro Cutters for precision cutting of paper, corrugated board, and specialty films. The company also provides after-sales maintenance, spare parts, and refurbished used machines to support the installed base of equipment.
Product overview
Asahi Machinery is a Japanese industrial machinery manufacturer specializing in paper processing equipment. The product portfolio centers on three core product lines: Carton Master (automatic die-cutting and creasing machines) covering models from AP-1060 through AP-2100 with various sheet sizes and speeds up to 7500 i.p.h.; Gluer Master (automatic folder gluers) including the AGM-550-2100 series supporting multiple flute types; and Push Type Synchro Cutters (sheeter devices) for precision cutting at speeds up to 400m/min. These products serve the corrugated board, paper, and film processing industries, with the Carton Master and Gluer Master forming an integrated carton-making line (cutting and gluing). The company achieved top domestic market share in Japan for its Carton Master series and has installed over 150 Push Type Synchro Cutter units worldwide.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Carton Master Automatic Die-cutting and Creasing Machines Series of automatic die-cutting and creasing machines covering sheet sizes from 1,060 mm up to 2,100 mm, with speeds reaching up to 7,500 i.p.h. and maximum die-cutting pressure of 450 tons on the AP-2100 L/R model. Configurations include gripper and spike-type feeders, with optional spike transfer between cardboard and A-flute corrugated on a single platform. Features include PCC (Preset Computer Control) for setup-time reduction, AAS (Auto Sheet Alignment System) using high-sensitivity correction cameras, servo-driven feeders, and remote control operation. The series handles thin paper, coated board, laminated board, and corrugated board from E-flute to A-flute, serving industrial carton manufacturers, corrugated converters, and printing companies.
- Gluer Master Automatic Folder Gluers (AGM-550 to AGM-2100) Automatic folder gluer machines for large corrugated board applications, offered in a range of sizes from AGM-550 to AGM-2100. The series uses a high-rigidity construction for stable production and supports E-flute, B-flute, C-flute, A-flute, and combinations. Maximum belt speed reaches 180 m/min, and the machines are designed to integrate with the Carton Master die-cutting series to form a complete carton-making line. Equipped with remote control capability for safe and efficient operation. Intended for corrugated box manufacturers requiring high-volume gluing of large shipping containers and folding cartons.
- Push Type Synchro Cutter (Sheeter Device) Proprietary push-type synchronized cutter system using a top rotor with knife and a bottom plain roll combination, achieving cutting surfaces not possible with conventional 2-blade, guillotine, or punching methods. Handles paper, coated paper, board, laminated sheets, urethane sheets, optical films, and polarizer films across a cut basis weight of 10 to 2,000 g/m², at speeds up to 400 m/min and tolerance of ±0.1 to ±0.3 mm. Disposable Thomson blades enable replacement in approximately 20 seconds. Over 150 units installed globally at paper mills, corrugated converters, and LCD polarizing film manufacturers.
Companies that use Asahi Machinery
Customer profileNamed customers5 records
Segments3 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
Asahi Machinery technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature6 records
Asahi Machinery partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
One partnership is on record.
- William Crosland Co., Ltd. (UK)coreTechnical partnership established in June 1970 with William Crosland Co., Ltd. (now Simon Container Machinery Co., Ltd.) for CartonMaster development. This flagship product now holds #1 market share in Japan.
Scale indicators5 records
Recent moves14 records
Expansion highlights4 records
Asahi Machinery competitors and assessment
Company assessmentBroad incumbents
- Heidelberger Druckmaschinen: German printing and packaging press manufacturer serving commercial printers, packaging converters, and label producers. Adjacent in packaging machinery but broader portfolio focused on printing presses rather than specialty die-cutting.
- Komori: Japanese printing press manufacturer with packaging machinery extensions. Comparable as a Japanese-based industrial machinery peer serving paper and packaging customers, though Komori's core is offset printing rather than die-cutting.
- Mitsubishi Heavy Industries: Japanese diversified industrial conglomerate with packaging machinery operations in its Printing & Packaging Machinery division. Broad incumbent in the same Japanese industrial machinery ecosystem serving paper and packaging customers.
Direct peers
- Bobst: Swiss global leader in packaging and printing machinery with extensive die-cutting, folder-gluer, and converting equipment lines. Directly comparable to Asahi in die-cutting and carton-making machinery, but with broader portfolio, deeper R&D, and global service network.
- KAMA: German maker of automatic die-cutting machines for folding cartons, labels, and specialty applications. Direct peer in mid-format automatic die-cutting technology with overlapping customer base in commercial packaging converters.
- BHS Corrugated: Global supplier of corrugated box-making machinery including corrugators, flatbed die-cutters, and converting equipment. Direct peer in heavy industrial machinery serving corrugated box manufacturers.
- Marquip / BW Papersystems: Manufacturer of corrugated machinery including sheeters, slotters, and die-cutters used by corrugated box plants. Direct peer in heavy-duty corrugated board processing equipment that competes with CartonMaster for the same customer base.
- Italwork: Italian manufacturer of corrugated and folding-carton converting equipment including die-cutters and folder-gluers. Direct European peer in the same converting machinery category.
- Standard Horizon (Standard Finishing / Horizon): Manufacturer of bookbinding, paper processing, and packaging finishing equipment including folder-gluers and die-cutting-adjacent machinery. Direct peer in finishing/folder-gluer space for paper and packaging converters.
- Young Shin Machinery: Korean manufacturer of die-cutting and creasing machines serving corrugated and folding carton converters. Direct regional competitor, especially relevant given Asahi's Korean subsidiary and shared customer base in Asia.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks7 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Asahi Machinery social profiles
Digital presenceAsahi Machinery financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Asahi Machinery leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles9 records
Asahi Machinery subsidiaries and ownership
Company hierarchySubsidiaries3 records
Asahi Machinery funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Asahi Machinery M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Asahi Machinery
What does Asahi Machinery do?
Asahi Machinery designs, manufactures, and sells industrial paper processing machinery, including automatic die-cutting and creasing machines (Carton Master series), automatic folder gluers (Gluer Master series), and proprietary Push Type Synchro Cutters for precision cutting of paper, corrugated board, and specialty films. The company also provides after-sales maintenance, spare parts, and refurbished used machines to support the installed base of equipment.
Is Asahi Machinery a public or private company?
Asahi Machinery is a private company. It is classified as unknown and is currently operating.
When was Asahi Machinery founded?
Asahi Machinery was founded in 1917. It employs 101 to 250 people.
Where is Asahi Machinery based?
Asahi Machinery is headquartered in Takaishi, Japan, in the Asia region.
How does Asahi Machinery make money?
Three revenue lines are on record. Heavy Machinery Sales are the primary driver. The others are after-sales Service and Spare Parts and used Machine Sales.
Who are Asahi Machinery's main competitors?
Broad incumbents on record are Heidelberger Druckmaschinen, Komori and Mitsubishi Heavy Industries. Direct peers are Bobst, KAMA, BHS Corrugated, Marquip / BW Papersystems, Italwork, Standard Horizon (Standard Finishing / Horizon) and Young Shin Machinery.
Does Asahi Machinery have an API?
No public API is recorded for Asahi Machinery.
What industry is Asahi Machinery in?
Asahi Machinery's product category is Industrial Paper Processing Machinery. Its primary akta.pro industry code is IMAHAOAB, Cartoning & Case Packing Systems, with a secondary code of IMALAOAE, Cartoning, Case Packing & Tray Loading Machines. Its SIC code is 3550.