Tiem Factory
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2012
- HeadquartersTokyo, Japan
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingHardware or Manufacturing
Tiem Factory firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Tiem Factory
- Legal name
- ティエムファクトリ株式会社
- Website
- https://tiem.jp
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2012
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Tiem Factory industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Advanced insulation materials
- NAICS
- Polystyrene Foam Product Manufacturing (32614)
- SIC
- Plastics Foam Products (3086)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Aerogel & Vacuum Insulation Panels (VIPs) (IMADAGAG)
Keywords
Where Tiem Factory is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Tokyo
- HQ country
- Japan
- HQ region
- Asia
Offices3 records
Markets served
Tiem Factory business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Hardware or Manufacturing
- Cost components
- Technology or R&D, Personnel, Infrastructure, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Supply Chain
Revenue model
- Aerogel Material Sales (Monolith, Powder, Granule): Direct sales of SUFA in various physical forms — monolith plates (UAP), powder, and granule — to enterprise customers for thermal insulation applications in construction, automotive, and electronics. Sales to partners for integration into their products (e.g., Matex's madolino window products, Aoki Asunaro's insulated concrete).
- Technology Licensing — Solar Thermal Panel: Exclusive manufacturing and sales rights for SUFA monoliths in the solar thermal panel field were licensed to Sanyo Kagaku Industries (三洋化成工業株式会社), who received an exclusive right to manufacture and sell SUFA monoliths for solar thermal panel applications.
- HERA BARRIER Film Product Sales: Sales of HERA BARRIER (ヘラバリア), a multi-functional transparent window film incorporating SUFA powder dispersed in an adhesive layer, providing solar regulation, condensation reduction, UV blocking, and shatter protection.
- Co-development and Custom Formulation Services: Bespoke SUFA formulation development and mixing with other materials (e.g., concrete, nanofiber sheets) for specific customer applications. Revenue from collaborative development projects such as the lightweight insulated concrete with Aoki Asunaro and Coforpo product with Nafias.
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels4 records
Marketing channels7 records
Tiem Factory product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Tiem Factory develops and manufactures SUFA, a next-generation silica aerogel thermal insulation material that is the only aerogel in the world producible in transparent plate/monolith form, enabled by an atmospheric-pressure drying process. The product is sold in three physical forms (Monolith/UAP, Powder, Granule) to enterprise customers in construction, automotive, and electronics, and is also integrated into downstream products such as the HERA BARRIER transparent window film and co-developed composite materials (SUFA-mixed concrete).
Product overview
Tiem Factory develops and manufactures SUFA (Super Functional Air), a next-generation silica aerogel thermal insulation material, through joint research with Kyoto University. The product portfolio includes SUFA in three forms (Monolith/UAP for transparent panels, Powder, and Granule), plus the downstream product HERA BARRIER (transparent multi-functional window film using dispersed SUFA powder). The company also produces demonstration products (HIDAMARI solar cooker) and collaborates on composite applications (Coforpo, SUFA-mixed concrete). SUFA is unique as the world's only aerogel producible in plate form, manufactured using atmospheric pressure drying, achieving up to 91% light transmittance while maintaining flexible structure and inherent hydrophobicity.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- SUFA: Super Functional Air - next-generation high-performance aerogel insulation material developed by Tiem Factory. Available in monolith, powder, and granule forms.
- HERA BARRIER
- HIDAMARI
- Coforpo
- MADOLINO
Products and services
- SUFA (Super Functional Air) SUFA is the umbrella brand for Tiem Factory's silica aerogel thermal insulation material, available in monolith, powder, and granule forms. It is the world's only aerogel producible in transparent plate/monolith form, manufactured via atmospheric-pressure drying.
- SUFA Monolith Type (UAP) Transparent plate-form aerogel available in standard sizes (50 mm square, 50 × 100 mm) and custom large formats exceeding 1.3 m diameter. Achieved 91% light transmittance in lab-scale production. Designed for window and building insulation applications.
- SUFA Powder Type Powder-form aerogel with flexible elastic skeleton that can be mixed with other materials without damaging the hollow structure. Light weight, low density, and strong thermal insulation for composite material applications.
- SUFA Granule Type Granule-form aerogel combining flexibility and elasticity; maintains particle shape and structure when mixed into paints or other materials. Used in art applications and specialized composite material development.
- HERA BARRIER Transparent multi-functional window film that incorporates SUFA powder dispersed in a transparent adhesive layer. Features solar radiation reduction (~8% morning/evening, ~20% summer midday), condensation prevention, 99% UV blocking, shatter prevention, radio wave permeability, and approximately 10-year durability without discoloration, cracking, or peeling.
- HIDAMARI Solar Cooker Compact solar cooker demonstration product using two SUFA UAP pieces in lid, with acrylic case and aluminum mirror. Dimensions W110 × D110 × H170 mm, 615 g. Demonstrates future concepts for SUFA-equipped energy-efficient homes.
- Coforpo Co-developed with Nafias Co., Ltd.; a nano-fiber sheet containing SUFA powder that offers a new tactile sensation. Sold in limited test quantities.
- SUFA-mixed Lightweight Insulating Concrete Lightweight thermal-insulating concrete jointly developed with Aoki Asunaro Construction. SUFA aerogel powder is mixed into concrete to impart lightweight and thermal insulation properties while maintaining flowability during mixing and hardened body strength. Patent application pending.
- SUFA Monolith Solar Thermal Panel (licensed) Exclusive license to Sanyo Kagaku Industries for manufacture and sale of SUFA monoliths in the solar thermal panel application field, covering both manufacturing rights and sales under the licensed arrangement.
Quantifiable outcome
- 91% light transmittance achieved in SUFA monolith (lab scale)
- +5 more outcomes
Companies that use Tiem Factory
Customer profileNamed customers6 records
Segments4 records
Ideal customer profiles4 records
Tiem Factory technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature5 records
Tiem Factory partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Six partnerships are on record, tiered minor and major.
- Yamaguchi Manufacturing (株式会社山口製作所)minorYamaguchi Seizo appointed as outside director (December 2024). Manufacturing company providing diverse perspective on production scaling and enterprise growth.
- FCC (株式会社エフ・シー・シー)majorFCC invested in September 2024 and plans to leverage SUFA for thermal management solutions in automotive and other applications. Targeting both high-efficiency insulation and cooling efficiency improvement through reduced thermal conductivity.
- Aoki Asunaro Construction (青木あすなろ建設株式会社)majorJoint development of SUFA-mixed lightweight insulated concrete. Patent application filed. The composite retains flowability and fillability during mixing while maintaining hardened body strength, adding lightweight and insulating properties.
- Matex (マテックス株式会社)majorCo-producing SUFA UAP-based prototypes for Matex's 'madolino' window brand targeting the residential renovation market. Matex operates community spaces (HIRAKU IKEBUKURO 01) where HERA BARRIER is installed. Partner for Matex Fair 2023 exhibition.
- Nafias (株式会社ナフィアス)minorCo-developed and test-launched 'Coforpo' — a nanofiber sheet containing SUFA powder, launched as a limited-quantity consumer product. Represents diversification into tactile consumer goods.
- Sanyo Kagaku Industries (三洋化成工業株式会社)majorFirst Tokyo Stock Exchange Prime-listed company to invest in Tiem Factory. Provided interface control technology and urethane foam composite expertise to enhance SUFA's value and commercialization. Also entered exclusive license agreement for SUFA monolith manufacturing and sales rights in the solar thermal panel field (June 2022).
Scale indicators6 records
Recent moves8 records
Expansion highlights6 records
Tiem Factory competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Svenska Aerogel: Sweden-based aerogel producer commercializing Quartzene for building insulation, paint, and composite applications. Closely comparable in targeting building/coating composite use cases for silica aerogel powder, though not transparent monoliths.
- Aspen Aerogels: US-based, NYSE-listed pure-play aerogel insulation manufacturer serving building, energy infrastructure, and EV battery markets. Most direct global peer in aerogel thermal insulation, though currently focused on blanket/pyrolysis-based products rather than transparent monoliths.
- Enova Aerogel: Aerogel products company focused on thermal insulation across construction and industrial markets. Directly comparable silica aerogel product line serving building envelope and energy efficiency applications.
Broad incumbents
- Armacell: Global leader in flexible elastomeric foam insulation for HVAC, building, and industrial applications. Broad incumbent whose building insulation product lines compete in the same end-markets (HVAC ductwork, building envelope) as HERA BARRIER and SUFA.
- BASF: Global chemical giant producing SLENTITE — a high-performance aerogel-based insulation panel for buildings. Broad incumbent with significant R&D resources pursuing next-generation insulation, directly comparable in advanced aerogel building products.
- Cabot Corporation: Diversified global specialty chemicals company producing ENOVA aerogel particles for insulation. Comparable in aerogel product line but operates across a much broader chemicals portfolio and is not specialized in transparent monolith applications.
- Huntsman Corporation: Global specialty chemicals manufacturer with building and insulation materials exposure. Comparable as a large chemicals player with potential to enter transparent aerogel and partner with construction OEMs similar to YKK AP.
- Kingspan Group: Global building envelope specialist producing high-performance insulation boards and insulated panels. Comparable through its building insulation portfolio competing in the same energy-efficiency and transparent/fenestration categories.
Emerging players
- Aerogel Technologies: US-based specialty aerogel company developing flexible and translucent aerogel panels for aerospace and architectural markets. Emerging player with partial overlap in transparent and flexible aerogel form factors relevant to Tiem's SUFA monolith roadmap.
- JIOS Aerogel: Aerogel powder and composite producer targeting construction, oil & gas, and industrial insulation. Emerging player with similar end-markets but no transparent monolith capability; comparable as a competing aerogel platform.
Market position
Strengths4 records
Weaknesses4 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
Tiem Factory social profiles
Digital presenceTiem Factory financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Tiem Factory leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles8 records
Tiem Factory funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds4 records
Investors11 records
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Tiem Factory M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Tiem Factory
What does Tiem Factory do?
Tiem Factory develops and manufactures SUFA, a next-generation silica aerogel thermal insulation material that is the only aerogel in the world producible in transparent plate/monolith form, enabled by an atmospheric-pressure drying process. The product is sold in three physical forms (Monolith/UAP, Powder, Granule) to enterprise customers in construction, automotive, and electronics, and is also integrated into downstream products such as the HERA BARRIER transparent window film and co-developed composite materials (SUFA-mixed concrete).
Is Tiem Factory a public or private company?
Tiem Factory is a private company. It is classified as venture growth investor backed and is currently operating.
When was Tiem Factory founded?
Tiem Factory was founded in 2012. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is Tiem Factory based?
Tiem Factory is headquartered in Tokyo, Japan, in the Asia region.
How does Tiem Factory make money?
Four revenue lines are on record. Aerogel Material Sales (Monolith, Powder, Granule) is the primary driver. The others are technology Licensing — Solar Thermal Panel, HERA BARRIER Film Product Sales and co-development and Custom Formulation Services.
Who are Tiem Factory's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Svenska Aerogel, Aspen Aerogels and Enova Aerogel. Broad incumbents are Armacell, BASF, Cabot Corporation, Huntsman Corporation and Kingspan Group. Emerging players are Aerogel Technologies and JIOS Aerogel.
Does Tiem Factory have an API?
No public API is recorded for Tiem Factory.
What industry is Tiem Factory in?
Tiem Factory's product category is Advanced insulation materials. Its primary akta.pro industry code is IMADAGAG, Aerogel & Vacuum Insulation Panels (VIPs). Its NAICS code is 32614 and its SIC code is 3086.