Many manufacturers build CNC automatic lathes and machine tools, each with its own specialties, history, and technical strengths.
This page introduces the major manufacturers side by side in a single list.
By presenting each company's characteristics evenly — without favoring any single maker — it is intended to serve as a starting point for machine selection and comparison.
Our Editorial Policy
This site's basic policy is to present every manufacturer fairly.
The information here summarizes each company's general characteristics; for detailed specifications and the latest product information, always check each manufacturer's official website.
In This Article
Major Manufacturer Comparison Table
| Manufacturer | Main Brands / Series | Headquarters | Characteristics (General Tendencies) |
|---|---|---|---|
| DMG MORI | NLX, NTX, CTX, SPRINT, and others | Koto-ku, Tokyo and Nara City, Nara | One of the world's largest full-line machine tool builders. Strengths in a broad lineup — including AM and ultrasonic machines — and automation solutions |
| Yamazaki Mazak | QUICK TURN, INTEGREX, and others | Oguchi, Aichi | One of the world's largest full-line machine tool builders. Also offers sheet metal machinery (turret punch presses, lasers). Strengths in conversational programming controls and multitasking machines. |
| Okuma | LB, GENOS L, MULTUS, and others | Oguchi, Aichi | Full-line machine tool builder. Strength in integrated mechatronics design, developing everything in-house from the NC unit to servo motors. |
| Citizen Machinery | Cincom (Swiss-type) / Miyano (fixed-headstock) | Kitasaku District, Nagano | Lathe manufacturer. Strength in offering both Swiss-type and fixed-headstock machines, covering a wide range from small to large diameters |
| Tsugami | SS, BW, M series, and others | Chuo-ku, Tokyo | Full-line machine tool builder centered on lathes. Also produces grinders and rolling machines. Strength in a broad lineup despite lathes being its mainstay |
| Star Micronics | SR, SB, SW, SD, SX, ST, and others | Shizuoka City, Shizuoka | Lathe manufacturer. A top global market-share holder in Swiss-type machines. Strengths in high precision, high rigidity, service, and application proposals. |
| Murata Machinery (Muratec) | MW, MD, and others | Kyoto City, Kyoto | Lathe manufacturer. Strengths in gantry-loader automation and high-volume production. |
| Takamatsu Machinery | XT, X series, and others | Hakusan, Ishikawa | Lathe manufacturer. One of the few machine tool builders that produces its own collet chucks. Strengths in gantry-loader automation and high-volume production. |
| TAKISAWA | TT/TS series, and others | Okayama City, Okayama | Machine tool builder centered on lathes. Broad lineup from vertical to twin-spindle parallel lathes. Strengths in gantry-loader automation and high-volume production. Joined the Nidec group in 2023. |
| Nakamura-Tome Precision Industry | WT, JX, NTRX, and others | Hakusan, Ishikawa | Centered on lathes and multitasking machines. Strength in a broad lineup of multi-turret lathes and multitasking machines. |
* This table is a general summary based on publicly available information such as company websites and press reports.
Market shares, unit counts, headquarters locations, and similar details are as reported by each company or the press — check each manufacturer's official information for the latest accurate figures and models.
Major CNC Automatic Lathe & Machine Tool Manufacturers
Here is a cross-cutting introduction to the major manufacturers.
Each company has different specialties and strengths, so compare them from the standpoint of how well they match the parts you want to produce.
DMG MORI CO., LTD.
NLX, NTX, CTX, SPRINT series, and others- Headquarters
- Koto-ku, Tokyo and Nara City, Nara
- Specialties
- Lathes, multitasking machines, machining centers, AM, ultrasonic machining
- Characteristics
- One of the world's largest full-line machine tool builders.
Offers a broad lineup from lathes to 5-axis multitasking machines, plus AM and ultrasonic machines. Merged with Germany's DMG and maintains development bases in both Japan and Germany.
Yamazaki Mazak Corporation
QUICK TURN, INTEGREX series, and others- Headquarters
- Oguchi, Niwa District, Aichi
- Specialties
- Lathes, multitasking machines, machining centers, AM, sheet metal machinery
- Characteristics
- One of the world's largest full-line machine tool builders.
Known for its control systems, starting with the MAZATROL conversational programming unit. Offers multitasking machines in a wide range of sizes and specifications.
Okuma Corporation
LB, GENOS L, MULTUS series, and others- Headquarters
- Oguchi, Niwa District, Aichi
- Specialties
- Lathes, multitasking machines, machining centers, AM, cylindrical grinders
- Characteristics
- A full-line machine tool builder that develops everything in-house, from the NC unit (OSP) to the machine itself. It also develops its own servo motors, giving it integrated mechatronics capability spanning the NC unit through the machine body.
Also known for automation via ARMROID, which integrates a robot directly into the machine tool.
Citizen Machinery Co., Ltd.
Cincom / Miyano- Headquarters
- Miyota, Kitasaku District, Nagano
- Specialties
- Cincom = Swiss-type for small-diameter, long workpieces; Miyano = fixed-headstock for large-diameter, short workpieces
- Characteristics
- A lathe manufacturer covering a wide machining range with its two brands.
Supports a broad span of automation, from bar-feeder automation on Swiss-type machines to gantry-loader automation on fixed-headstock machines.
Tsugami Corporation
SS, BW, M series, and others- Headquarters
- Chuo-ku, Tokyo
- Specialties
- Lathes, machining centers, grinders
- Characteristics
- A full-line machine tool builder whose mainstay is lathes but whose range extends to machining centers, grinders, and rolling machines.
Offers a lathe lineup that spans a wide range of both prices and specifications.
Star Micronics Co., Ltd.
SR, SB, SW, SD, SX, ST series, and others- Headquarters
- Shizuoka City, Shizuoka
- Specialties
- Swiss-type lathes, fixed-headstock lathes
- Characteristics
- Strong in high-precision volume production of slender small parts, deploying high-precision, high-rigidity machines in Japan and worldwide.
A top global market-share holder in Swiss-type automatic lathes (per company and press announcements).
Offers a wide range of models convertible between guide-bushing and guide-bushless configurations.
Murata Machinery, Ltd. (Muratec)
MW, MD series, and others- Headquarters
- Kyoto City, Kyoto
- Specialties
- Lathes, especially twin-spindle parallel lathes
- Characteristics
- A machinery maker active in many fields, including textile machinery and logistics systems.
In its machine tool business, it offers twin-spindle parallel lathes combined with gantry loaders across a wide range of spindle sizes, providing turnkey systems for high-volume production.
Takamatsu Machinery Co., Ltd.
XT, X series, and others- Headquarters
- Hakusan, Ishikawa
- Specialties
- Lathes
- Characteristics
- A machine tool builder whose mainstay is lathes. Offers twin-spindle parallel lathes combined with gantry loaders across a wide range of spindle sizes, providing turnkey systems for high-volume production.
TAKISAWA CO., LTD.
TS/EX series, and others- Headquarters
- Okayama City, Okayama
- Specialties
- Lathes, machining centers, piston machining equipment
- Characteristics
- A long-established machine tool builder with a history of more than 100 years.
Offers a broad lathe lineup from engine lathes to multitasking machines, and also provides turnkey systems for high-volume production using gantry loaders.
Joined the Nidec (formerly Nippon Densan) group in 2023, becoming a wholly owned subsidiary.
Nakamura-Tome Precision Industry Co., Ltd.
WT, JX, NTRX, and others- Headquarters
- Hakusan, Ishikawa
- Specialties
- Lathes, multitasking machines, glass machining equipment
- Characteristics
- Known for a broad lineup of multi-turret lathes and multitasking machines. Also supports gantry-loader automation, and builds glass machining equipment used for camera lenses and similar products.
How to Think About Choosing a Manufacturer
When comparing manufacturers, it is important to look beyond name recognition and company size and focus on how well each one matches the parts you want to produce.
For high-precision volume production of slender small parts, look at makers strong in Swiss-type automatic lathes; for process integration through multitasking, look at makers strong in multitasking machines — narrowing the field by overlaying each company's specialties with your own needs is the recommended approach.
If you want to understand the differences between machine types themselves, see Types & Structures; to get a picture of how these machines are used in your industry, see Industries Using CNC Automatic Lathes.
Specific comparison criteria are covered in detail in How to Choose a CNC Automatic Lathe Manufacturer & Model.
Five Points to Check When Comparing Manufacturers
When evaluating the companies, looking at the following five aspects will help you narrow down the manufacturers that fit your business.
- Machine types they specialize in — Are they strong in Swiss-type machines, multitasking machines, or general-purpose lathes?
Does that match your part shapes? - Range of machining diameters and sizes — Do they cover the workpiece diameters and sizes you handle?
- Support and service structure — Post-installation maintenance, technical support, and parts supply.
This matters precisely because these machines are long-term investments. - Automation and peripheral integration — How far can they go in proposing automation such as bar feeders, part handling, and inspection?
- Overseas presence — If you plan to produce or expand overseas, local support capability is also a deciding factor.
Looking beyond catalog specs to this overall capability, including what comes after installation, is what leads to a manufacturer choice you won't regret.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Q. How should we choose a CNC automatic lathe manufacturer?
A. Start by clarifying the shape, precision, and production volume of your main parts, then shortlist manufacturers that specialize in the machine type that fits.
From there, compare support structures and automation proposal capabilities.
Q. Which manufacturers are strong in Swiss-type automatic lathes?
A. Manufacturers with strengths in Swiss-type machines include Star Micronics, Citizen Machinery (Cincom), and Tsugami.
Each company's features are introduced in the list on this page.
Q. Does this site recommend a specific manufacturer?
A. This site is a neutral publication that presents each company fairly.
It also carries sponsored (PR) content from Star Micronics, a leader in Swiss-type machines, which is clearly marked as PR.
The final selection is up to you, the reader, after comparing the companies.