Dr. Akihiro “Aki” Kitamura represents the third generation of his family to serve
as the president of Kitamura Machinery Co., the premier manufacturer of horizontal,
vertical and 5-axis machining centers. As president, Dr. Kitamura is responsible
for overseeing both Kitamura Machinery Japan and Kitamura Machinery USA. Dr. Kitamura
joined the company in 1984 as Chief Engineer. He became General Manager of Kitamura
Machinery USA in 1986, and was promoted to President of that division in 1989. He
took on the additional responsibilities of President of Kitamura Machinery Japan
in 2003.
Dr. Kitamura sets the strategic direction for research and development that has
resulted in the company receiving more than 300 patents and patents pending in precision
machining design. Dr. Kitamura is also responsible for setting the vision behind
the company motto, “Limitless Creativity,” which underscores Kitamura’s commitment
to consistent product development that produces the most technologically advanced
and reliable machining centers in the world.
He has elevated the company’s machining centers to new levels of quality, precision,
and performance by combining leading-edge research and technology with hands-on
attention to detail and craftsmanship. This latter attribute is evidenced by Kitamura
Machinery’s continued use of hand scraping of all contact surfaces. Kitamura’s extremely
precise machining centers enable customers to supply high value-added services to
their clients, generating better margins than other commodity-level conventional
machines on the market today.
Founded in 1933, Kitamura was one of the world’s first machine tool manufacturers.
It is celebrating its 75th anniversary as an international company, building machining
centers for the world’s largest manufacturers. Kitamura Machinery USA is headquartered
in Wheeling, IL.
Dr. Kitamura is also a regular contributor to RIKEN, the world-renowned natural
sciences and engineering research institute that is part of Japan’s Ministry of
Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology. In addition to his participation
in RIKEN’s high-level research, Dr. Kitamura also presents his findings at various
international manufacturing conferences and is a member of the Japan Society of
Mechanical Engineers (JSME).
Dr. Kitamura has been awarded both a Bachelors and a Masters degree in Mechanical
Engineering from Nihon University in Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo. In March 2008, he received
his Doctorate of Philosophy in Engineering from the highly distinguished Osaka University
in Suita, Osaka.