Shibaura Machine Expands in Europe with Majority Stake in LWB Steinl

Injection moulding machines Shibaura Machine to acquire majority stake in LWB Steinl

2025-10-06 Source: LWB Steinl 2 min Reading Time

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With a planned majority stake in LWB Steinl, Shibaura Machine is expanding its footprint in Germany and Europe. The partnership combines Shibaura’s global injection moulding know-how with LWB’s specialization in vertical machines and automation.

Shigetomo Sakamoto, President of Shibaura Machine Group (left), and Peter Steinl, Managing Director of LWB Steinl, signed the memorandum of understanding in Tokyo.(Source: Shibaura Machine) — Shigetomo Sakamoto, President of Shibaura Machine Group (left), and Peter Steinl, Managing Director of LWB Steinl, signed the memorandum of understanding in Tokyo.
(Source: Shibaura Machine)

Japanese machine manufacturer Shibaura Machine has signed a Memorandum of Understanding to acquire 80 percent of the shares in LWB Steinl. By combining their expertise in injection moulding machines and automation, both partners aim to strengthen their technology and system competencies for fully automated production cells. To this end, the mechanical engineering and automation divisions will be separated from the Steinl Group and integrated into the partnership. Their sales networks also complement each other: Shibaura Machine will gain access to LWB’s European customer base, while LWB will benefit from Shibaura Machine’s established network in Asia and the United States. This expanded market access is expected to lay a foundation for long-term growth. All LWB Steinl employees will be retained, and Altdorf site (Germany) will remain operational as the European headquarters and production hub. Shibaura Machine has also secured the option to acquire the remaining 20 percent shares from the Steinl family in three years. Upon completion, the newly formed entity Shibaura Machine LWB GmbH would become a wholly owned subsidiary. Both parties have agreed not to disclose the purchase price.

By acquiring a majority stake of the mechanical engineering and automation division, the company aims to expand its product portfolio of all-electric and hydraulic injection moulding machines to include vertical injection moilding machines and automation solutions. This strategic step is designed to enable the company to offer customers new applications in the future: in addition to thermoplastics, it will also process rubber, silicone, and elastomers.

“Our global production footprint allows us to meet the diverse needs of customers worldwide. We now plan to expand it to include the Altdorf site in Germany as our European headquarters and production hub. We will leverage LWB Steinl’s State-of-the-Art technology, proven employee expertise, and well-structured delivery processes. This will strengthen our technology and system competence for fully automated production cells and enable us to offer customers in Europe market-compliant delivery times and competitive production costs, and compliance with European standards such as OPC UA and Euromap 77 and 82,” adds Holzinger.

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