History

1926

Kakusaburo Okamoto established the Okamoto Special Purpose Machine Tool Works as a privately owned company.

1930

With its own technology, the Company developed an automatic spur gear grinding machine (Model ASG-2), regarded until then as the most difficult grinding machine to develop.

1935

Incorporated as Okamoto Machine Tool Works, Ltd. with Head Office at Ginza 3-chome 4-banchi, Kyobashi-ku, Toyko.

1936

Started production of Bevel Gear Shaper Model BGC-3.

1950

Started production of spinning pump for man-made textile. Capital 150 million Yen.

1953

Developed column crossfeed type Surface Grinding Machine Model PSG-6.

1957

Government requisition of Head Office and Yokohama Plant completely cancelled. Developed Internal Grinding Machine Model IGM-IE. Development and production set-up for all types of machine tools, including surface grinding machines, completed. Capital increase to 30 million Yen.

1961

Opened Nagoya Sales Branch. Developed Gear Grinding Machine Model SHG-2 with worm-type grinding wheel.

1962

Developed column crossfeed type Surface Grinding Machine Model PSG-10. Capital increased to 150 million Yen.

1964

Developed Automatic Slicing Machine Model ASM-2.

1966

Exported PSG-6F and 15B to U.S. for the first time. Contracted to export 21 machines, including PSG-5B, to the Soviet Union. Received Gold Medal at 3rd Japan Best Machine Show.

1967

Opened Hiroshima Sales Branch. Participated in Japan Machine Fair in Taipei. Displayed products at Machine Shows in Chicago and Los Angeles.

1968

Started production of Gear Grinding Machine Model SHG-3. Expanded Plant No. 1 to undertake mass production. Developed the world’s first NC Profile Grinding Machine Model NFG-5. Exhibited SHG-3 and NFG-5 at 4th International Trade Fair, generating tremendous interest.

1969

Exhibited at Peking Japan Industrial Fair. Expanded Plant No. 2 for assembly of large machines. Installed Fujitsu’s computer and pushed rationalization. Capital increased to 280 million Yen. Developed Automatic Slicing Machine Model ASM-10 with inner cutting edge type wheel.

1972

Exhibited SHG-360 and other machines at Chicago Fair. Established subsidiary Okamoto Corporation.

1973

Technical assistance provided to Taiwan. Established subsidiary Okamoto (Singapore) Private Ltd. in Singapore. Gear Division of Hiroshima Plant was made independent and incorporated as Okamoto Gear Co., Ltd.

1974

Aggregate production of IGM passes 1,000 mark (January). 15 Technical trainees arrive from Singapore. Overseas Business Department established. Set up Super Accurate Machine Design project.

1975

Hiroshima Plant was separated and incorporated as Okamoto Machinery Co., Ltd. Service Division was separated and incorporated as Okamoto Engineering Service Co., Ltd.

1979

Completed prototypes of Precision Surface Grinding Machines Model PSG-52UN and 63UAN. Sales reached 9,300 million Yen.

1980

Developed NC Internal Grinding Machine IGM-1 ENC. Developed Precision NC Surface Grinding Machine PSG-3010M. Completed large-size Machining Center HMC-3000 and started exporting to U.S.A.. Sales reached 12,200 million Yen.

1982

Annaka Plant in Gunma Prefecture completed and started production. Exhibited products at 11th International Machine Tool Fair. Prime Minister of Singapore visited Okamoto. (Singapore) Sales reached 20,000 million Yen. Capital increased to 1,000 millionYen.

1983

Nagano and Shizuoko Sales Branches opened. Yokohama Plant moved and Atsugi Plant started production. Issued Swiss-franc denominated bond. Exhibited fully automatic slicing machine ASM-160A and others at Semicon Japan. Adopted new Okamoto Production System.

1985

Issued domestic convertible bonds. Capital increased to 3.15 billion Yen. New Atsugi Plant completed. 50th Anniversary of Okamoto.

1986

Okamoto Machinery Co., Ltd., Okamoto Gear, and Sanyo Okamoto merge to form the new Okamoto new Okamoto Machinery Co., Ltd. Okamoto Corporation opens new sales and manufacturing facility north of Chicago, IL.

1987

Swiss FRANC denominated bonds reissued. Okamoto starts to sell Maegerle Bros. of Switzerland under an exclusive sales agreement. Established Okamoto subsidiary – Okamoto (Thai) Co. Ltd.

1990

Established the Okamoto European sales and service facility headquartered in Frankfort, Germany, Okamoto Machine Tool Europe.

1993

Okamoto introduces OGM Series Cylindrical Grinders.

2008

Okamoto introduces ACC-CaiQ Column Series Surface Grinders.

2009

Okamoto Corporation moves headquarters to new facility in Vernon Hills, IL

2012

Okamoto introduces large capacity ACC-iQ Series Double Column Surface Grinders

2013

Okamoto introduces new control software package for OGM and IGM models with FANUC Oi-Td control.

2014

Okamoto introduces UGM large capacity Vertical ID/OD Grinder.