Thermal error is the main source that affects the accuracy of machine tools. In order to reduce thermal error of machine tools, the thermal compensation and thermal suppression methods are commonly used in the machine tools industry. The accuracy of compensation method depends on the accuracy of the thermal error mathematical model and the influence of environmental temperature variations. For the thermal suppression method, the generated heat from heat sources in the machine tool is removed by heat exchange with the circulating coolant or ambient conditions to reduce the thermal error. This article investigates the thermal suppression effect on the machine tools' thermal error reduction and machining accuracy enhancement. A series of investigations on the thermal error reduction effects were conducted including environmental temperature control, coolant temperature control, coolant flow rate control and cooling channel design for a spindle. Moreover, actual machining experiments were carried out to verify the effect of thermal suppression on the accuracy of machine tools.