SB Machine Tools

What SB Machine Tools does

SB Machine Tools is a private U.S.-based importer and distributor of precision CNC machine tools, headquartered in Elk Grove Village, Illinois. The company operates as the machine tool division of Nippon Steel Trading Americas, Inc., a subsidiary of the Nippon Steel Trading conglomerate, and serves as the exclusive North American importer for six Japanese and Taiwanese machine tool manufacturers: Nomura (CNC horizontal boring mills, Japan's oldest HBM builder since 1917), Dainichi (heavy-duty CNC flatbed and roll turning lathes from Osaka, in business over 80 years), Shimada-Kitako (4-spindle CNC lathes with zero load-time architecture), Shimada (multi-spindle automatics including 2-, 6-, and 8-spindle CNC lathes and bar machines), Joen Lih (surface, rotary, vertical, conventional, and semiconductor/wafer grinding machines), and Jagular (centerless, internal, and cylindrical grinders).

The technical differentiation of SB Machine Tools' portfolio rests on the proprietary architectures of its represented manufacturers. Notable features include Shimada-Kitako's zero load-time multi-spindle design in which two spindles machine while two are simultaneously loaded/unloaded, Nomura's 20-step nitride-hardened spindle manufacturing process producing spindles 300% straighter than Japanese Industrial Standards (HRC 67+ hardness), Dainichi's ultra-rigid one-piece bed construction for heavy-duty and large-part machining (up to 110,000 lbs supporting capacity on DR100 roll lathes), Jagular's high-frequency internal grinding spindles reaching 120,000 RPM with ±0.001mm positioning accuracy, and Shimada's cam-less CNC 6/8-spindle automatics claimed to process 4-5x faster than general-purpose CNC lathes. The company integrates third-party CNC controllers across its lines, including Fanuc, Siemens SINUMERIK 810D, Mitsubishi, Syntec, and Delta Easy CNC, and pairs machines such as the Shimada-Kitako HS4200i with Fanuc LR-Mate 200iD robot arms for automated part loading.

SB Machine Tools operates a direct enterprise field sales model, selling quote-based capital equipment to U.S. manufacturing industries. Revenue derives primarily from one-time hardware sales of CNC machines (Shimada-Kitako, Shimada, Nomura, Dainichi, Joen Lih, Jagular product lines), supplemented by value-added services including installation support, operator and programming training delivered via an in-house classroom and showroom at the Illinois facility, test cutting, process demonstration, automation integration assistance, and preventative maintenance programs. Geographic scope is limited to North America, and marketing is conducted through major industry trade shows (notably IMTS 2026 with pre-show specials on five named models), the company's product website, and direct engagement with manufacturers in aerospace, automotive, energy, semiconductor, and general precision machining sectors. Pricing is not publicly disclosed and is quote-based on machine configuration, options, and accessories.

Name

SB Machine Tools

Legal name

SB Machine Tools

Website

https://sbmachinetools.com

Company type

Private

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

SB Machine Tools is the exclusive North American importer and distributor of precision CNC machine tools from six Japanese and Taiwanese manufacturers (Nomura, Dainichi, Shimada-Kitako, Shimada, Joen Lih, Jagular), serving U.S. manufacturing industries with capital equipment sales and full lifecycle service support.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Industrial CNC Machine Tools

NAICS

Machine Tool Manufacturing (333517), Metalworking Machinery Manufacturing (33351)

SIC

Machine Tools, Metal Cutting Types (3541), Special Industry Machinery (No Metalworking Machinery) (3550)

akta.pro industry

PRIMARYIMAHADAA

CNC Machine Tools (Turning, Milling, Machining Centers)

Industrials, Manufacturing & Construction/Industrial Machinery & Heavy Equipment/Machine Tools & Metalworking Equipment

SECONDARYIMAGACAH

Motion Control Controllers & CNC/Robot Drives (Motion Controllers, Multi-axis)

Industrials, Manufacturing & Construction/Electrical Equipment & Industrial Electronics/Motors, Drives & Motion Control (Motors, VFDs, Servos)

Keywords

• CNC machine tools
• Multi-spindle lathes
• Horizontal boring mills
• Precision grinding machines
• Industrial machinery distribution

Headquarters

HQ city

Elk Grove Village

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Supply Chain, Operations, Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. CNC Machine Tool Sales: SB Machine Tools generates revenue through the sale of CNC machine tools including multi-spindle lathes, horizontal boring mills, and precision grinding machines. These are one-time capital equipment sales to U.S. manufacturing industries with prices quoted based on configuration, options, and machine specifications.
2. Service, Training & Support: The company provides value-added services including installation support, operation and programming instruction, test cutting, process demonstration, hands-on setup training (both in-house and in-plant), automation integration assistance, and preventative maintenance programs.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels2 records

Core offering

SB Machine Tools is an importer and distributor of precision CNC machine tools from Japanese manufacturers, serving U.S. manufacturing industries. The company sells multi-spindle CNC lathes (Shimada-Kitako, Shimada), horizontal boring mills (Nomura), heavy-duty CNC flatbed and roll turning lathes (Dainichi), and precision grinding machines (Joen Lih, Jagular), backed by installation, training, and preventative maintenance services.

Product overview

SB Machine Tools is a machine tool importer and distributor serving North American manufacturing industries. The company offers a portfolio of complementary CNC machine tools from Japanese and Taiwanese manufacturers. The product line includes multi-spindle CNC lathes (Shimada-Kitako 4-spindle horizontal/vertical lathes, Shimada 2/6/8-spindle automatics), horizontal boring mills (Nomura table-type and floor-type HBMs), heavy-duty CNC lathes (Dainichi flatbed and roll turning lathes), and precision grinding machines (Joen Lih surface/rotary/vertical grinders and Jagular centerless/internal/cylindrical grinders). These products serve diverse manufacturing applications from high-volume production turning to precision grinding and heavy-duty boring operations.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Shimada-Kitako: Four-spindle vertical and horizontal CNC lathes with zero part loading/unloading time.
• Shimada
• Nomura
• Dainichi
• Joen Lih
• Jagular

Products and services

• Shimada-Kitako 4-Spindle Horizontal CNC Lathe (HS4200n / HS4200i)
• Shimada-Kitako 4-Spindle Vertical CNC Lathe (VT4-350)
• Shimada 2-Spindle CNC Lathes (2SI-6 / 2SI-8 / 2SI-10)
• Shimada 6-Spindle CNC Bar Machines (B6 Series)
• Shimada 6-Spindle (CN660) and 8-Spindle (SS-8) CNC Automatics
• Nomura Table-Type Horizontal Boring Mills (HBA-110 / HBA-135 Series)
• Nomura Floor-Type Horizontal Boring Mills (BN-135QF / BN-150QF)
• Nomura CNC Facing and Contouring Centers (FB-70TR3 / FB-100PR5)
• Dainichi CNC Flatbed Lathes (M/TL/W Series)
• Dainichi CNC Lathes with Guidance Function (DL Series)
• Dainichi CNC Roll Turning Lathes (DRNC Series - DR80 / DR100)
• Joen Lih CNC Surface and Profile Grinders
• Joen Lih Conventional Surface Grinders
• Joen Lih Rotary Surface Grinders
• Joen Lih Vertical Surface Grinding Machine (JL-100VG)
• Joen Lih Semiconductor/Wafer Grinding & Polishing Machines
• Jagular Centerless Grinders
• Jagular Internal Grinding Machines
• Jagular Internal and Cylindrical Grinding Machines
• Jagular Cylindrical Grinders
• SB Machine Tools Service, Training & Support

Quantifiable outcome

• Nomura spindle straightness is 300% better than Japanese Industrial Standards require
• +3 more outcomes

Segments1 record

Ideal customer profiles1 record

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration7 records

Feature7 records

Partnerships

Seven partnerships are on record, tiered parent, flagship and core.

• Nippon Steel Trading Americas, Inc.parentOthersSB Machine Tools is the machine tool division of Nippon Steel Trading Americas, Inc. This parent company relationship provides organizational backing and alignment with a major Japanese trading company.
• Nomura (Japan)flagshipChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorExclusive North American importer and representative for Nomura CNC Horizontal Boring Mills. Nomura is Japan's oldest HBM builder since 1917, producing 4-6 inch table type and floor type horizontal boring mills with exceptional precision (spindles 300% straighter than JIS standards).
• Dainichi (Osaka, Japan)flagshipChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorExclusive North American importer for Dainichi CNC Lathes. Dainichi has specialized in designing and manufacturing robust, heavy-duty flatbed lathes for over 80 years, known for ultra-rigid one-piece bed construction and large-part capacities.
• ShimadaflagshipChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorImporter of Shimada Multi-Spindle Lathes. Shimada developed Asia's first 6-spindle automatic and offers world-leading cam-less CNC 6 and 8-spindle automatics, as well as 2-spindle indexers.
• Joen LihcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorExclusive North American representative for Joen Lih Surface Grinders, including CNC surface grinders, conventional grinders, rotary grinders, vertical grinders, and semiconductor/wafer grinding and polishing machines.
• JagularcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorExclusive North American representative for Jagular Centerless Grinders, including CNC and precision centerless grinders, internal grinders, internal & cylindrical grinders, and cylindrical grinders.
• Shimada-KitakoflagshipChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorExclusive North American importer for Shimada-Kitako 4-spindle horizontal and vertical CNC lathes featuring ZERO load time architecture with high-speed automatic part loading systems.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• Methods Machine Tools: Methods Machine Tools is one of North America's largest importers and distributors of precision CNC machine tools from Japanese and Taiwanese builders (e.g., Nakamura-Tome, Fanuc, Kiwa). It is the most direct comparable to SB Machine Tools in business model, customer base, and value-added services footprint.
• Productivity Inc: Productivity Inc. is a Midwest-based machine tool distributor representing multiple Japanese and Taiwanese builders (e.g., Okamoto surface grinders, Takisawa lathes). It directly competes with SB in the same Illinois/Midwest industrial corridor on grinding and lathe product lines.
• Citizen Machinery America: Citizen Machinery America imports and supports Citizen's Swiss-type CNC lathes and multi-spindle turning centers in North America. It is highly comparable to SB's Shimada and Shimada-Kitako multi-spindle and high-precision turning offerings for similar production machining customers.
• Hartwig: Hartwig is a large North American distributor of CNC machine tools from multiple Japanese and European builders, with extensive field service and parts coverage. It competes with SB for the same mid-market and enterprise industrial customers and represents a meaningful threat on broader line-card opportunities.
• Yamazen Inc. Yamazen is a Japanese trading company with a US machine tool division importing and distributing CNC equipment (including Brother, Takisawa, and other Japanese builders). Its parent-affiliated trading-company structure closely parallels SB's Nippon Steel Trading Americas backing.
• Tsugami / Rem Sales: Rem Sales is the exclusive North American importer for Tsugami precision Swiss-type and multi-spindle CNC lathes. Its business model — exclusive Japanese brand importer + service + applications support — closely mirrors SB Machine Tools' structure and target customers.

Broad incumbents

• Haas Automation: Haas Automation is the largest US-based CNC machine tool builder, producing vertical machining centers, lathes, and horizontal machines sold direct. It competes with SB on price-sensitive CNC lathe and grinding segments, particularly through its domestic-manufactured cost advantage.
• DMG Mori USA: DMG Mori is a leading global manufacturer and direct distributor of CNC turning, milling, and additive machines with significant North American operations. It competes with SB in horizontal boring, heavy-duty lathe, and multi-axis turning applications.
• Okuma America Corporation: Okuma is a major Japanese CNC machine tool manufacturer with direct US distribution (Charlotte, NC). Its product portfolio (MULTUS, LB, LU lathes; MACHINING CENTER) overlaps with SB's Dainichi and Nomura lines for industrial precision turning and boring customers.
• Mazak (Yamazaki Mazak Corporation): Mazak is a global Japanese CNC machine tool manufacturer with large-scale direct operations in North America (Florence, KY). It overlaps heavily with SB's multi-spindle lathe, horizontal boring, and heavy-duty turning product categories and competes for the same industrial end-customers.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/SBMachineTools1
• Facebookfacebook.com/profile.php
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/sb-machine-tools---india

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

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 SB Machine Tools