At Somia, we are always on the lookout for opportunities to explore how AI can reshape industries and drive efficiencies. Recently, we had the pleasure of visiting the Tsubaki Nakashima plant in Pinerolo, Italy, to learn more about their processes and identify potential areas for AI integration.

About Tsubaki Nakashima

Tsubaki Nakashima is a global leader in the manufacturing of industrial precision components. Established in 1917, the company initially specialized in chains and has since expanded into Power Transmission Units, Components, and Automotive Parts. Today, Tsubaki Nakashima is renowned for its high-quality standards and innovative solutions in manufacturing and selling industrial precision balls, rollers, ball screws, and other components used across a wide range of industries such as robotics, home appliances, and transportation equipment.

Collaboration and Key Partners

We were graciously invited by Sebastiano Rizzo, Global Director of Quality and Laboratory, and Franco Dutto, HR & ESG Internal Advisor to visit Tsubaki Nakashima’s facility in Pinerolo and focus on their steel ball production for high-precision applications. The plant is home to the company’s Central Laboratory, a hub of excellence in research and development, where cutting-edge analysis tools are employed to advance manufacturing processes. We were particularly interested in how AI could be implemented to further optimize production, enhance quality control, and boost overall efficiency.

During the visit, we had the opportunity to collaborate closely with Fabio Di Michele, the head of production, who is leading the digitalization of the plant. Fabio’s team has already made impressive strides in automating several aspects of the manufacturing process, leveraging digital solutions to monitor and evaluate performance in real-time.

Meeting Insights 

Our sessions at the plant were highly productive, giving us a clear understanding of the bottlenecks in their current processes. We explored how AI, especially through advanced deep learning models, could address these challenges, facilitating automation and improving decision-making at key stages of production. We are confident that implementing a tailored AI strategy can lead to cost reductions, enhanced product quality, and greater customer satisfaction.

The discussions also centered on building a strategic partnership between Somia and Tsubaki Nakashima, with the aim of rolling out a series of AI-driven projects that align with their overall corporate strategy while delivering measurable results.

Looking Ahead

We had insightful discussions with Maurizio De Luca, President of the Europe Region at Tsubaki Nakashima, who is leading the AI-oriented transformation of the plant. Our collaboration with the company enables us to develop real-world AI applications that not only demonstrate the transformative impact of AI but also leverage the outputs from their digitalization efforts. We are excited to continue working together to drive meaningful innovation in their manufacturing processes.