Leading Japanese textile solutions provider SHIMA SEIKI MFG., LTD. of Wakayama, Japan, showcased a special version of its P-CAM® R multi-ply computerized cutting machine dedicated to the production of car seats for the first time at a private exhibition held over two days on Thursday, July 2 and Friday, July 3 at the Kariya City Industrial Promotion Center in Aichi Prefecture.
Kariya City, known as the heart of Japan’s automotive industry, was an ideal location to unveil a model dedicated to the production of automotive-related products. The event attracted a larger-than-expected audience, setting a record for the highest attendance at a SHIMA SEIKI private exhibition, with 120 companies and approximately 260 visitors over the two-day event. The lively atmosphere reflected the strong interest of the automotive industry, one of the key sectors supporting Japan’s economy.
SHIMA SEIKI entered the computerized cutting machine market with its P-CAM® series in 1991. Although a late entrant to the market, the company quickly earned a loyal customer base due to the machines’ high productivity and reliability. Today, P-CAM® holds the largest share of the Japanese domestic computerized cutting machine market.
In 2022, with the mission of providing the world’s best cutting technology for the global market, SHIMA SEIKI developed the next-generation flagship P-CAM® R. The prototype was unveiled at JIAM 2022, the Japan International Apparel Machinery & Textile Industry Trade Show, while the production model was officially launched at JIAM 2024. Building on the advanced efficiency, productivity, quality, and safety of the P-CAM® R, SHIMA SEIKI has now developed a dedicated version specifically designed for car seat production, which was presented at the Kariya exhibition.
The dedicated car seat production model of P-CAM® R features a dual-head design that enables simultaneous cutting and drilling, significantly improving the efficiency of the frequent drilling operations required in car seat manufacturing. During drilling, a dust suction and ejection system minimizes the scattering of drill debris during the pickup process.
In addition, seat materials often include urethane foam layers for cushioning. Excessive suction force used to secure such materials during multi-ply cutting can cause uneven compression and potentially affect product quality. To address this issue, the P-CAM® R is equipped with an automatic suction control function that adjusts the suction level according to the fabric, ensuring optimized cutting performance.
During the private exhibition, visitors experienced these features through live demonstrations on the actual machine. Test-cutting services were also offered, allowing visitors to bring their own materials to evaluate processing quality, compatibility, and how the P-CAM® R could be integrated into their existing production lines. These demonstrations proved highly popular among manufacturers seeking greater labor savings and factory automation.
In addition to the live machine demonstrations, informative panel displays highlighted the features of the dedicated car seat production model, providing visitors with a deeper understanding of the product and its capabilities.
The P-CAM® R, including the dedicated car seat production version, is scheduled for overseas sales, making Japan’s best-selling computerized cutting machine technology available to manufacturers around the world.
