Marubeni Corporation has acquired 100% of the outstanding shares of TOLUS Group AG, a Switzerland- and Austria-based distributor of machine tools, peripheral equipment and automation systems, making it a wholly owned subsidiary. The acquisition marks Marubeni’s full-scale entry into the machine tool sales business in the European market and strengthens its global platform in advanced manufacturing solutions.
The global machine tool industry plays a critical role in supporting manufacturing sectors ranging from automotive and aerospace to medical devices, electronics and precision engineering. The market is estimated to be valued at approximately USD 90–100 billion and is expected to continue expanding, driven by rising demand for automation, productivity improvements and high-precision manufacturing capabilities.
Europe represents one of the world’s largest machine tool markets, with Switzerland and Austria recognized for their advanced manufacturing industries, including luxury watches, medical equipment and automotive components that require highly accurate machining technologies. TOLUS has more than five decades of experience supplying machine tools from leading Japanese manufacturers across Switzerland and Austria. The company has delivered more than 5,000 machines to customers in industries requiring advanced precision machining. In addition to machine tool distribution, TOLUS has developed expertise in engineering solutions, including the design and implementation of automation systems that improve production efficiency and support labour optimization.
Marubeni has been involved in the global machine tool business for more than 70 years, supplying Japanese-made machine tools to customers across markets including the United States, Mexico, Vietnam, Brazil and India. Over the years, the company has strengthened its engineering capabilities to provide customers with integrated production solutions that improve manufacturing processes and operational performance.
Through the acquisition of TOLUS, Marubeni aims to combine its international experience and engineering capabilities with TOLUS’s regional expertise to deliver advanced machine tools and automation solutions to European manufacturers. The company will focus on supporting industries producing high-value products that require precision machining and advanced production technologies.
The acquisition aligns with Marubeni’s Mid-Term Management Strategy GC2027, which emphasizes the development of scalable, high-value platform businesses across growth sectors. The company expects demand for precision machining technologies to increase further with the expansion of generative artificial intelligence, semiconductor manufacturing and next-generation hardware industries. The advancement of physical AI is also expected to drive demand for high-precision components used in robotics and automated systems.
By expanding its machine tool business platform in Europe, Marubeni will continue to provide Japanese manufacturing technologies and engineering solutions to global customers while contributing to improved productivity, technological innovation and the continued development of the manufacturing sector.
