Germany-based Leifeld Metal Spinning (www.leifeld.co.uk) and Japan-based Nihon Spindle Manufacturing Co, Ltd (www.spindle.co.jp/en) — two market-leaders in the development and production of spinning machines and flow-forming machines in non-cutting, chipless metal forming — have joined forces.

This strategic integration is expected to strengthen the international competitiveness of both companies, which complement each other with their technologies and market coverage. The brands and company locations will remain unaffected.

Nihon Spindle Manufacturing Co has acquired all the shares of Leifeld Metal Spinning AG, effective from 29 May. The previous owner is the investor Dr Georg Kofler who had been in talks about a possible acquisition with Nihon Spindle, a subsidiary of the Japanese conglomerate Sumitomo Heavy Industries Group, since the beginning of last year. The closing has now taken place, after both parties signed the share purchase agreement in October 2019.

Nihon Spindle Manufacturing was founded in 1918 and has its roots in the manufacturing of spindles for the textile industry. Today, the company is known as one of the leading spinning and flow forming machine manufacturers world-wide.

Oliver Reimann, CEO of Leifeld Metal Spinning AG, said: “The main business areas of the company are industrial machinery, HVAC (heating, ventilation and air conditioning), as well as environmental technology.

"There is no better partner for us than Nihon Spindle Manufacturing. I am convinced that this is the right way to lead Nihon Spindle and Leifeld to further growth. Our customers and our employees will both benefit from this collaboration.

"We are very pleased to combine the strengths of both companies in order to be able to keep on offering our customers new and innovative solutions in the future, and thus clear added value."

Leifeld Metal Spinning develops and manufactures machine tools for non-cutting, chipless metal forming, and is active world-wide in the automotive industry, aerospace technology, the energy industry, as well as in various consumer and industrial goods sectors.

Hiroshi Arito, President of Nihon Spindle Manufacturing Co, said: "With Leifeld, we gain an experienced partner with valuable know-how and an exemplary corporate culture. Leifeld’s long tradition provides a stable foundation and a high level of innovative strength, which we now want to reinforce and expand together.”

Dr Kofler was the owner of Leifeld Metal Spinning AG for twelve years and now intends to focus on the media industry once again: "I look back on an instructive time and a particularly successful investment with great affection.

“My major thanks and respect go to the employees of Leifeld Metal Spinning, who have built up the company's global technological leadership with their expertise and passionate commitment. I am happy to put Leifeld into competent hands and could not imagine a better partner for the company."