What Sankei Engineering does

Sankei Engineering Co., Ltd. (株式会社サンケイエンジニアリング) is a privately-held Japanese manufacturer founded in April 1975 by Tsuneo Kasahara and headquartered in Yokohama, Kanagawa Prefecture. The company specializes in outer-spring-type contact probes sold under its MAXPROBE brand, designed for precision electrical contact measurement in high-current (up to 400A continuous / 1500A pulse), high/low-temperature (-70°C to 300°C), and narrow-pitch (≤300μm) applications. Its proprietary architecture delivers ≤15mΩ intrinsic resistance and durability of approximately 2.27 million contact cycles, materially exceeding the performance envelope of inner-spring alternatives. The product portfolio spans CP-series basic probes, Short Stroke (CPS) and Long Stroke (NCP) variants, the dissimilar-metal Hybrid Probe, custom test equipment (resistance measurement, withstand voltage, large-current, vibration-load), bespoke jigs and units, precision parts processing (≤φ1.0mm, fine pipe, precious metal), and contract measurement services delivered through an integrated laboratory.

Sankei serves nine distinct verticals — consumer electronics, automotive/EV components, semiconductors, power devices, secondary batteries, circuit boards, material/surface evaluation, medical devices, and industrial components — with over 5,000 domestic customers and international reach spanning Singapore, China, Europe, and the United States. Distribution combines direct sales in Japan with authorized agents in Hong Kong (HEISEI HONG KONG) and Shenzhen (SHENZHEN SHUANGYE ELECTRONIC), supported by a wholly-owned assembly subsidiary in Cambodia (est. February 2014) and the M&T BASE HOKUTO manufacturing facility in Yamanashi (completed 2022). The go-to-market is consultative and sales-led: sales engineers conduct condition-specific testing and recommend probes rather than fulfilling catalog orders, with trade shows (e.g., International Automotive Electronics Technology Expo), downloadable technical documentation, and an inquiry-driven website supporting lead generation.

Revenue is generated primarily through one-time product sales (probes, test equipment, jigs), supplemented by fee-for-service contract measurement work and precision parts processing. Pricing is custom-quotation-based and not publicly disclosed; management announced product price revisions effective April 1, 2026 in response to precious metal cost inflation. The company operates under ISO 9001:2015 and ISO 14001:2015 certifications, holds Yokohama IP Future Enterprise and Regional Contribution Enterprise certifications, and is led by Representative Director/CEO Hisayoshi Kasahara, who succeeded the founder in 2004. Ownership remains with the founding Kasahara family, with no identified external equity, venture capital, or private equity investors.

Name

Sankei Engineering

Legal name

株式会社サンケイエンジニアリング

Website

https://sankei-engineering.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1975

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

Sankei Engineering is a Yokohama-based Japanese manufacturer of outer-spring-type contact probes (MAXPROBE brand) and custom electrical measurement equipment, serving over 5,000 customers across consumer electronics, automotive/EV, semiconductor, and power device verticals in Japan, Asia, Europe, and the United States.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Electronic Test & Measurement Equipment

NAICS

Instrument Manufacturing for Measuring and Testing Electricity and Electrical Signals (334515), Electronic Connector Manufacturing (334417), Other Measuring and Controlling Device Manufacturing (334519)

SIC

Instruments For Meas & Testing Of Electricity & Elec Signals (3825), Electronic Connectors (3678), Services-Testing Laboratories (8734)

akta.pro primary industry

Test, Probe & Burn-In Equipment (Wafer Sort/Final Test) (HDAHAEAJ)

akta.pro secondary industries

Test & Measurement Equipment (Oscilloscopes, DAQ, signal analyzers, calibration benches) (IMAGAFAC), Test, Measurement & Calibration Equipment Manufacturing Services (ATE, DAQ, metrology electronics) (IMAGAGAH)

Keywords

• Contact probes
• Electrical measurement equipment
• Precision parts processing
• Test jig manufacturing
• Contract measurement services

Headquarters

HQ city

Yokohama

HQ country

Japan

HQ region

Asia

Offices6 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Personnel, Supply Chain, Operations, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Contact Probe Sales: Design, manufacture, and sale of outer spring type contact probes under the MAXPROBE brand. Product lines include CP series (Basic Type), Short Stroke Type (CPS), and Long Stroke Type (NCP). Revenue generated through direct sales to manufacturers and via overseas distribution agents.
2. Test Equipment Manufacturing: Design and manufacture of custom test equipment including resistance measurement devices, withstand voltage testers, large-current application resistance measurement systems, and combined vibration-load testing equipment.
3. Jig and Unit Manufacturing: Custom design and manufacturing of measurement jigs and units integrating contact probes for specific customer applications and testing setups.
4. Contract Measurement Services: Fee-for-service measurement testing including contact resistance measurement, durability testing, large-current application experiments, temperature environment testing, and failure analysis. Also includes consulting services for electrical measurement.
5. Precision Parts Processing: Processing and assembly of industrial precision needles and precision pipes, including ultra-fine parts (φ1.0mm and below), dissimilar metal joining, and precious metal processing.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Sankei Engineering designs, manufactures, and sells outer spring type contact probes under the MAXPROBE brand for precision electrical contact measurement, including the CP series, Short Stroke Type (CPS), Long Stroke Type (NCP), and Hybrid Probe variants. Beyond probes, the company provides custom test equipment (resistance, withstand voltage, large-current, and vibration systems), custom jigs and units, fee-based contract measurement services, and precision parts processing for ultra-fine components.

Product overview

Sankei Engineering offers a comprehensive portfolio of products and services centered on its MAXPROBE brand of outer spring type contact probes. The core product line includes CP series (basic type), Short Stroke Type (CPS), and Long Stroke Type (NCP) probes, along with specialized variants like the Hybrid Probe. These are complemented by custom test equipment (resistance measurement devices, large current testing systems, vibration test equipment), jigs and units (probe cards, socket-type units), contract measurement services, and precision parts processing. The company provides end-to-end solutions from probe selection consulting to custom fixture design and outsourced measurement services.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• MAXPROBE: Contact probe brand name representing the company's commitment to pursuing maximum (max) possibilities and probing continuously. The company provides the highest quality products and services under the MAXPROBE brand to customers worldwide.

Products and services

• MAXPROBE Contact Probes (CP Series) Outer spring type contact probes under the MAXPROBE brand for precision electrical contact measurement in large current, high/low temperature, and standard measurement applications, with 10+ tip types and plating options for B2B manufacturers.
• Short Stroke Type (CPS) Contact probes designed for short-stroke measurement applications while preserving precision, used by B2B manufacturers in testing setups with limited travel.
• Long Stroke Type (NCP) Contact probes designed for longer stroke lengths, suitable for larger workpieces and varied measurement conditions in B2B industrial testing.
• Hybrid Probe A contact probe made by joining two different metals, designed for specialized measurement applications where a single metal is insufficient. Targeted at B2B manufacturers with advanced automotive, power device, and semiconductor testing needs.
• Test Equipment / Device Manufacturing Custom-designed test equipment including resistance measurement devices, withstand voltage testers, large-current resistance measurement systems, and vibration test equipment for R&D and quality assurance purposes, sold B2B to manufacturers.
• Jigs and Units Custom jigs and integrated units incorporating contact probes, including probe cards and socket-type units, designed and manufactured for specific B2B customer measurement conditions and device configurations.
• Contract Measurement Services Fee-for-service outsourced electrical contact measurement including resistance measurement, durability testing, large-current testing, temperature environment testing, contact area observation, and thermal simulation analysis for B2B manufacturers.
• Precision Parts Processing Precision component manufacturing services including processing of items under φ1.0mm, fine pipe processing, dissimilar metal bonding, and precious metal processing for small-quantity orders, sold B2B to industrial customers.

Quantifiable outcome

• Probe durability: Outer spring type achieves ~2,270,000 contact cycles at 100mΩ or less resistance, compared to ~50,000 cycles for inner spring type.
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments9 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature7 records

Partnerships

Three partnerships are on record, tiered core and strategic.

• HEISEI HONG KONG CO LTD. (平成香港有限公司)coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorAuthorized overseas sales agent handling distribution in Hong Kong. Provides sales support for Japanese-speaking customers (Mr. Asanuma) and Chinese-speaking customers (MS.YE/叶, MS.YU/于). Located at Room E, 12/F, MAXGRAND PLAZA, 3 TAI YAU STREET, SAN PO KONG, KOWLOON, HK. Tel: 00852-2737-0984.
• SHENZHEN SHUANGYE ELECTRONIC CO.,LTD (深圳市双叶电子有限公司)coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorAuthorized overseas sales agent serving customers in Southern China. Provides Chinese-language sales support (MS.YE/叶, MS.YU/于). Located at Room 1217, Gezilin Net Café, No. 96 Yan Nan Road, Futian District, Shenzhen, Guangdong, China. Tel: 0755-8397-1949, 0755-8397-1969.
• Sankei Engineering(Cambodia)Co.,LtdstrategicStrategic or Co-development PartnerWholly-owned subsidiary established in February 2014 in Phnom Penh, Cambodia. Functions as an inspection and assembly factory for electronic parts and industrial products. Local staff recruited and trained in Japan (2014-2016) before full-scale operations began in 2016. Located at St. 2011 Phom Thlok, Sangkat Kokroka, Khan Posen Chey, Phnom Penh, Cambodia.

Scale indicators8 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Yokowo Co., Ltd. Japanese manufacturer of spring contact probes and test solutions for semiconductor and connector testing. Highly comparable to Sankei Engineering's MAXPROBE line in core technology (spring probes) and target customers (semiconductor and electronics manufacturers).
• Feinmetall GmbH: German contact-probe and test-socket specialist serving automotive, semiconductor, and electronics test markets. Direct competitor in high-current, narrow-pitch, and harsh-environment probe categories where Sankei Engineering competes.
• INGUN Prüfmittelbau GmbH: German manufacturer of test probes and contacting systems for PCB, automotive, and electronics testing. Comparable product line (spring-loaded contact probes), shared vertical focus on automotive and electronics, and similar consultative technical sales approach.
• Leeno Industrial Inc. Korean manufacturer of test sockets and contact probes for semiconductor testing. Closely aligned with Sankei's semiconductor probe line and Korean/Asian customer footprint.

Emerging players

• IDI (Interconnect Devices, Inc.): US-based manufacturer of test probes, sockets, and interconnects for semiconductor and electronics test. Comparable product family (spring probes and test interconnects) with similar application focus on wafer test and electronic component testing.

Broad incumbents

• Micronics Japan Co., Ltd. (MJC): Japanese probe-card and semiconductor test equipment maker. Direct overlap with Sankei's semiconductor customer base in Japan and Asia, though MJC operates at materially larger scale.
• Technoprobe S.p.A. Italian probe-card manufacturer serving global semiconductor test markets. Overlaps with Sankei's semiconductor-probe offering at much higher scale, particularly for wafer-sort and final-test applications.
• Cohu, Inc. US supplier of semiconductor test equipment including probe cards and contactors through its Everett Charles Technologies (ECT) subsidiary. Competes with Sankei in semiconductor and automotive electronics test markets.
• FormFactor, Inc. US-headquartered leader in semiconductor wafer-test probe cards, probes, and metrology systems. Overlaps with Sankei's semiconductor probe segment at a much larger scale, competing for similar fab customers.

Regional players

• ISC Co., Ltd. (International Sensor Corp.): Korean probe-pin and contact-probe manufacturer focused on semiconductor back-end testing. Comparable product set to Sankei's semiconductor probes, with primary overlap in Asian fab customers.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/SKE_REC_2025
• Facebookfacebook.com/sankeiengineering
• Instagraminstagram.com/sankeiengineering

Compliance3 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Subsidiaries2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds1 record

Investors1 record

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Sankei Engineering