Star Micronics (Thailand) Co., Ltd. (hereinafter referred to as 'Star Micronics Thailand'), a leading Japanese manufacturer of automatic lathes, relocated to a new office with an integrated showroom in November 2023.
To commemorate the relocation and showroom opening, an official ceremony and party were held on July 6, 2024. The event welcomed over 30 guests from 20 companies, including end-users, manufacturers, and distributors.
This article not only covers the ceremony and party but also highlights the features of Star Micronics’ flagship product, the Swiss-type automatic lathe, and explores the background behind the new showroom’s opening.
Based in Thailand, Star Micronics Offers Integrated Manufacturing and Sales Services for the ASEAN Market
As a global company, it operates production facilities in Japan, China, and Thailand, supported by a network of 20 group companies (sales bases) across 9 countries.
Established in February 2005, Star Micronics Thailand serves as a sales and service hub for Southeast Asia and India, offering a wide range of lathes from mid-range to low-end models. In 2012, the company expanded its operations by establishing Star Micronics Manufacturing (Thailand) Co., Ltd., a manufacturing facility in Nakhon Ratchasima Province. Today, its integrated manufacturing and sales support system stands as one of its key strengths.
▲ Manufacturing facility in Korat (Nakhon Ratchasima)
New Showroom in Thailand: A Hub for Southeast Asia
▲ New showroom spanning approximately 200㎡
The showroom showcases a wide range of demo machines and spare parts, including the flagship Swiss-type CNC automatic lathe, the 'SB-20R Type G,' as well as other popular models of automatic lathes.
Regarding the purpose of the showroom opening, Mr. Masuda, General Manager of Machinery Business Department, at Star Micronics, stated:
"The ASEAN market, with Thailand at its center, is a crucial region for us, offering significant growth potential in our sales activities. The new showroom will not only function as a display space for our machines but also as a hub for demo processing and engineer training. By enhancing the skills of local sales engineers and strengthening our pre- and post-sales services, we aim to boost sales. Additionally, we strategically chose this location near the airport to accommodate both domestic and international visitors." (Mr. Masuda, Star Micronics)
The Swiss-Type Automatic Lathe: Packed with Star Micronics' Innovative Technology
▲ The Swiss-type CNC automatic lathe “SB-20R Type G”', the flagship product
Star Micronics' flagship product is the Swiss-type automatic lathe (also known as the spindle-moving type automatic lathe), which is ideal for precision machining of small, high-accuracy components. The term 'Swiss-type' originates from its invention in Switzerland in the 1870s, originally designed for mass-processing wristwatch parts.
Compared to general-purpose lathes, it can machine small-diameter and elongated parts with high precision, without causing material deflection. Star Micronics' Swiss-type automatic lathes are highly regarded in the industry due to the following features:
■ Slant-Type Sliding Guide Surface Structure
The machine's base and tool post are inclined (slanted), with the sliding components featuring dovetail grooves. This design ensures that the sliding surfaces make contact over a larger area, thereby enhancing the machine's rigidity. As a result, the distance between the ball screw center and the cutting point is reduced, which minimizes the moment load caused by cutting resistance.
■ Spindle Sleeve Sliding Guide Surface Structure
To efficiently process parts with short overall lengths, the guide bush device is removed, and a non-guide bush configuration is used. A guide ring, machined to match the outer diameter of the spindle sleeve, is employed. By eliminating the gap between the spindle sleeve and the guide ring surface, the machining load is supported on the sliding guide surface closer to the cutting point, enhancing the rigidity of the spindle housing.
Star Micronics Thailand employs a team of 7 specialized engineers, including Japanese nationals, who are renowned for their comprehensive after-sales service in Thailand. The team provides support in Japanese, Thai, and English, and is known for delivering flexible, customer-oriented solutions.
With the opening of the new showroom in Thailand as a starting point, Star Micronics plans to actively expand its sales efforts and strengthen after-sales services across the ASEAN region. The focus will be on increasing sales volume by prioritizing the education and training of local staff, including distributors.
▲ Japanese staff members who participated in the ceremony.
From left to right: Mr. Minami, Mr. Tanaka, Mr. Kato, Mr. Masuda, Mr. Tsutsui, Mr. Oishi, Mr. Suzuki
