K.I SEIKI CO., LTD.

K.I SEIKI was founded in 1969 by Chairman Itsuo Kitabatake, the father of President Kitabatake. Initially, the company manufactured electrical and automotive components, but after the oil crisis, it expanded into the manufacturing of mold parts. Currently, mold parts and FA-related parts account for the majority of the company’s total production.

In addition to the head office factory in Saitama Prefecture, the company operates three factories in Kobe, Angyo, and Tochigi. The company has maintained steady growth over the past two fiscal years, with particularly strong performance in the previous fiscal year. President Kitabatake attributes this to “not just increased orders resulting in improved operating rates, but also the mutual cost reductions achieved through the introduction of the latest laser processing machine and the MULTIPLEX W-200.”

A total of 67 Mazak machines distributed across the company’s factories support production to meet the robust demand. The first machine introduced was the CNC turning center QUICK TURN, which Chairman Itsuo, who was looking for a large turning center to process mold parts, was very satisfied with the performance of the MAZATROL NC system installed.

“The MAZATROL is relatively easy to operate, so its greatest strength is that it allows new employees to become productive members of the workforce in a short period of time. By standardizing on Mazak machines, compatibility between programs, fixtures, and tools is achieved. I think it is also an advantage that workers can switch between different machines without any confusion,” said Managing Director Masanori Oki.

K.I SEIKI’s “one-stop production system” was devised to meet the strict delivery deadlines required by their major clients. In order to reduce the risk of process delays that occur when outsourcing to partner factories, they have increased the in-house production rate for all processes from blank input to delivery (cutting, sheet metal processing, welding, finishing, assembly, packaging, etc.), and have built a unique production system that is unmatched by other companies.

“By managing all processes in-house, we can significantly shorten production lead times and ensure consistent quality. We can quickly understand our production capacity which has dramatically improved the speed at which we can respond to quotes. I think these are the reasons why our business partners highly value us,” said President Kitabatake.

For Mazak, President Kitabatake is not only a major customer, but also reliable alumnus. After working as a trainee at the Minokamo Plant, President Kitabatake worked as a service representative. His experience has led to the company’s expertise in various machining methods and fixture designs. His familiarity with the machines has also contributed in building the flexible operation of the “one-stop production system.”

“While the ‘one-stop production system’ contributes to improved business performance, it also carries the risk of causing employees to ‘stop thinking’ due to their work turning into routine work. To avoid this, it is essential to provide guidance that ensures employees do not miss opportunities to learn basic machining knowledge, such as the characteristics of tools,” said Tochigi Plant Manager Yoshihiro Tsukada.

Based on this belief, the plant is actively utilizing the learning services of Mazak to strengthen its technical education process. In the fall of 2025, the plant will introduce the STX-2412 fiber laser processing machine to replace its previous CO₂ laser processing machine. The foundation that supports the “one-stop production system” is being strengthened, with significant reductions in running costs and a doubling of cutting speed.

Regarding the outlook for the future, President Kitabatake stated, “While strengthening our mass production field, where competition with overseas companies is fierce, we would like to further hone our ‘high-mix, low-volume production’, which requires technological capabilities and speed.” He has set a policy of focusing on building a strong organization that can respond to new environmental changes and improving the engineering capabilities of the employees who will be responsible for that.