"SPEEDIO" Fits Perfectly in Strategy to Keep Up with the Times

Ozawa Kinzoku Kogyo Co., Ltd.

(Headquarters: Nagoya, Aichi)

Ozawa Kinzoku Kogyo Co., Ltd. is a manufacturer specializing in anodizing as well as aluminum machining, including aluminum cutting, shearing, and press forming. Products machined here are used in a wide range of fields, including semiconductor production equipment, automotive parts, and machine tool parts.

Ozawa Kinzoku Kogyo has a rich history, starting in 1951. The company initially offered only anodizing, but to consolidate machining previously handled by other companies, it expanded its services to include aluminum press forming and cutting. Since then, it has provided integrated production as an aluminum specialist manufacturer, from material machining to finishing and surface treatment.

Helping SPEEDIO Evolve

When asked why the company chose the SPEEDIO Series, Chairman Ozawa explained that the decision was made to increase production capacity in response to growing demand for aluminum products.

After the 2011 Tohoku Earthquake and Tsunami, there was a growing interest in energy saving in Japan, and demand for sturdy, lightweight aluminum parts increased not only for automotive parts but also for mechanical parts and machine tools. Then, with COVID-19 and the semiconductor shortage starting in 2019, the number of semiconductor manufacturers with factories in Japan increased. As a result, the demand for aluminum products in the semiconductor manufacturing industry drastically increased. To meet this demand, the company needed to quickly produce large workpieces and high-precision aluminum parts with complex shapes. To resolve this issue, they increased the number of implemented SPEEDIO machines.

In fact, Ozawa Kinzoku Kogyo and Brother have a long-standing relationship, with the aluminum machining company having purchased Brother's first machine tool, the "TC-211" tapping center, in 1985.
Prior to that, the two companies engaged in talks about manufacturing parts for machine tools. That connection led to the company purchasing the first TC-211.

However, for a while after that, Ozawa Kinzoku Kogyo did not have the opportunity to incorporate additional Brother machine tools. The relationship between the companies remained strong, with Ozawa Kinzoku Kogyo advising Brother's engineers on actual machining methods and necessary functions and performance requirements to improve Brother's products.

In 2012, after an experience with the "TC-S2DN," Ozawa Kinzoku Kogyo once again became interested in adopting Brother machine tools. Chairman Ozawa witnessed this model used by a competitor, and the performance was better than expected. With the growing momentum for energy conservation, he decided to install the TC-S2DN, encouraged by its energy-saving performance. Since then, the company continued to install Brother machine tools, and today, they operate 14 SPEEDIO units.

Staying With the Times by Introducing SPEEDIO

One reason why Ozawa Kinzoku Kogyo selected SPEEDIO was because the company specializes in machining aluminum. Chairman Ozawa explained that the BT30 machine provides sufficient machining, as they do not handle metals other than aluminum.

While other companies' machine tools also have models with high-productivity features, such as a pallet changer, SPEEDIO not only provides that, but also allows you to achieve higher productivity with quicker movements, which is only possible with the BT30 machine.
In addition, the machine tools themselves are compact, making them easy to install in a small space, and they eliminate various types of waste, such as not wasting cutting oil and allowing quick chip cleanup, thereby contributing to improved productivity.

Ozawa Kinzoku Kogyo uses its SPEEDIO models for various uses by leveraging their unique features. The W1000Xd1 is used to machine large workpieces, while the H550Xd1 is used to machine long workpieces. In this way, the company is able to quickly manufacture large quantities of parts required by its customers. Chairman Ozawa mentioned that SPEEDIO has allowed the company to successfully ride the trend of growing demand for aluminum parts.

In an Era of Labor Shortage, Easy-To-Use Machines Are Essential

A major issue facing Ozawa Kinzoku Kogyo in the future is labor shortage. With Japan's working-age population declining due to the falling birthrate, there is a shortage of skilled workers not only in the manufacturing industry but across all sectors. Therefore, training young people is an unavoidable issue for the continuation of the company's business.
Amid this situation, SPEEDIO provides an intuitive user interface, which is perfect for workers using machine tools for the first time. According to Chairman Ozawa, it is important for its workers learning the operations of machine tools to first try operating them themselves. This makes it easier for them to take the first step.

Chairman Ozawa hopes that Brother will serve as a bridge between AI technology and craftsmen. This is because craftsmen, especially those with skills and experience, may be hesitant to adopt new technology and systems. Therefore, by introducing new technologies such as AI into machine tools in an easy-to-use way, Chairman Ozawa hopes that these craftsmen will naturally use them and find them useful.

SPEEDIO aims to provide a user-friendly and intuitive user interface to ensure efficient machining while eliminating time-consuming operations. Not only is it quick, but it is also easy to use, helping our customers solve new issues.