TF-METAL

What TF-METAL does

TF-METAL Co., Ltd. is a Japanese Tier-2 automotive supplier specializing in seat frames and seat mechanisms, headquartered in Kosai-shi, Shizuoka. The company was formed in 2017 when its predecessor Fuji Kiko Co., Ltd. (founded 1944) was reorganized as a wholly-owned subsidiary of Tachi-S Co., Ltd. Its product line covers manual and power seat frames, recliners, slide rails, locks, and braking mechanisms — the structural and adjustment sub-assemblies that seat integrators and OEMs fit into complete seating systems.

Manufacturing is built on an in-house process stack spanning fine blanking, transfer press forming, heat treatment, electrodeposition, 3D coordinate measurement, and CAE-based structural analysis, allowing the company to control quality and tolerance-critical steps end-to-end. Production is distributed across Japan, China, and Mexico, with a U.S. sales office supporting North American programs; consolidated headcount stood at 1,286 employees (346 non-consolidated) as of March 31, 2026. Customers include OEMs Suzuki (since 1973) and Nissan (since 1954), the parent Tachi-S group, and global Tier-1 seat integrators Adient, TS Tech, NHK Spring, Fuji Seat, and Kinryo Kogyo.

Revenue is generated through B2B industrial supply contracts — design, manufacture, and sale of seat-frame sub-assemblies — with capital stock of ¥5.986 billion disclosed at the 2004 figure and no separate revenue reporting given the company's status as a wholly-owned subsidiary. Pricing follows contract-based component supply terms rather than disclosed per-unit pricing.

Name

TF-METAL

Legal name

TF-METAL Co., Ltd.

Website

https://tf-metal.jp

Company type

Private

Founded year

2017

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1,001–5,000 employees

Short description

TF-METAL is a Japanese Tier-2 manufacturer of automotive seat frames and mechanisms — including recliners, slide rails, locks, and brakes — serving OEMs Suzuki and Nissan alongside seat integrators such as Adient, TS Tech, NHK Spring, and its parent Tachi-S.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Automotive Seat Components Manufacturing

NAICS

Motor Vehicle Seating and Interior Trim Manufacturing (336360), Motor Vehicle Seating and Interior Trim Manufacturing (33636), Motor Vehicle Parts Manufacturing (3363)

SIC

Sheet Metal Work (3444)

akta.pro primary industry

Automotive Seating Systems Manufacturing (Frames/Mechanisms/Foam/Complete Seats) (IMACAKAA)

akta.pro secondary industry

Automotive Interior Comfort & Convenience Components Manufacturing (Armrests/Cupholders/Storage/Interior Hardware) (IMACAKAJ)

Keywords

• Automotive seat frames
• Seat mechanism parts
• Recliner manufacturing
• Slide rail components
• Automotive parts manufacturer

Headquarters

HQ city

Kosai

HQ country

Japan

HQ region

Asia

Offices8 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Automotive Seat Components Manufacturing: TF-METAL generates revenue through the design, development, manufacturing, and sales of automotive seat frames and mechanism parts including recliners, slide rails, locks, and brakes. The company operates as a tier-2 automotive supplier, selling components to seat manufacturers (Tier 1) and directly to automotive OEMs.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

TF-METAL designs, develops, manufactures, and sells automotive seat frames and seat mechanism parts including manual and power seat frames, recliners, slide rails, locks, and brakes. The company executes an integrated production process in-house covering die design, press processing, heat treatment, cationic electrodeposition coating, welding, assembly, and quality inspection, and supplies components to automotive OEMs (e.g., Suzuki) and Tier-1 seat manufacturers (e.g., Tachi-S, Adient, TS Tech, NHK Spring, Fuji Seat) from facilities in Japan, China, and Mexico.

Product overview

TF-METAL is a specialized automotive seat components manufacturer offering an integrated product portfolio centered on seat frames and mechanical components. The core offerings include Manual Seat Frames and Power Seat Frames as finished assemblies, supported by key mechanism components: Recliners (2000Nm, 4000Nm, 5500Nm strength ratings), Brakes/Seat Locks, Slide Rails (20kN, 40kN), and Locks. The company performs integrated production from pressing and machining through assembly and inspection, with design and experimentation conducted in-house.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Manual Seat Frame Automotive seat frames with manual adjustment mechanisms for reclining and sliding functions, supplied to automotive OEMs and seat manufacturers.
• Power Seat Frame Automotive seat frames with electric-powered adjustment mechanisms for enhanced comfort and functionality, supplied to automotive OEMs and seat manufacturers.
• Recliner Seat reclining mechanism available in multiple strength ratings (2000Nm, 4000Nm, 5500Nm) in manual and power specifications; produced in Japan, China, and Mexico for automotive seat manufacturers and OEMs.
• Brake (Seat Lock) Seat position locking mechanism in manual and power specifications; manual version produced in China and power version under development in Japan, supplied to automotive seat manufacturers.
• Slide Rail Seat sliding mechanism with strength ratings of 20kN and 40kN, featuring various rotation lock configurations (up/down lock, front, middle); available in manual and power specifications.
• Lock Seat locking component with strength ratings of 15kN, 25kN, 35kN, and 520Nm, produced in Japan, China, and Mexico for automotive seat manufacturers and OEMs.

Quantifiable outcome

• Product development and manufacturing capability spanning design, die design, press processing, heat treatment, painting, welding, and assembly
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers7 records

Segments2 records

Ideal customer profiles1 record

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature9 records

Partnerships

Three partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• Partnership Building Declaration Partners (サプライヤーCSRガイドライン同意企業)minorOthers · 1 September 2024186 companies have signed the Supplier Sustainability Guidelines consent agreement. TF-METAL registered the Partnership Building Declaration in September 2024, committing to fair and equitable treatment of suppliers and mutual prosperity across the supply chain.
• JTEKT Corporation (株式会社ジェイテクト) formerly Koyo Seiko Co., Ltd.minorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 May 2001Business and capital alliance with Koyo Seiko Co., Ltd. (now JTEKT Corporation) established in May 2001 for collaborative development in automotive components.
• Tachi-S Co., Ltd. (株式会社タチエス)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 1999Tachi-S Co., Ltd. is the parent company of TF-METAL. In 2017, TF-METAL was established as a wholly-owned subsidiary when Tachi-S acquired all shares of Fuji Kiko's seat business division. Tachi-S is one of Japan's leading automotive seat manufacturers and TF-METAL serves as the group's specialized seat mechanism components company.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves10 records

Broad incumbents

• Lear Corporation: Global Tier-1 seating and e-systems supplier with extensive seat structures and mechanisms operations, competing in the broader automotive seating category.
• Adient: One of the world's largest automotive seating suppliers producing complete seats and structures (also a TF-METAL customer); overlaps broadly in seating with a global OEM base.
• Brose: German supplier of seat adjuster systems, structures, and mechatronic seat mechanisms; a global competitor in the same seat-mechanism niche TF-METAL serves.
• Forvia (Faurecia): Global automotive interiors and seating supplier producing seat frames and mechanisms; a large incumbent operating in the same seating segment as TF-METAL.
• TS Tech Co., Ltd. Japanese Tier-1 seat manufacturer (Honda-affiliated) and a TF-METAL customer; operates in the same automotive seating value chain at the assembly tier.
• Toyota Boshoku: Large Japanese interior systems supplier producing complete seats and seat frames; broader Tier-1 scope but directly overlapping in automotive seating for Japanese OEMs.

Direct peers

• NHK Spring Co., Ltd. Major Japanese supplier of automotive seats and seat components (also a TF-METAL customer); overlaps in seat structural and mechanism parts for Japanese OEMs.
• IMASEN Electric Industrial: Japanese manufacturer of seat adjusters, recliners, and power seat mechanisms for automotive seating, matching TF-METAL's specialization in manual and power seat mechanism components.
• Shiroki Corporation: Japanese Tier-2 supplier of seat frames, seat adjusters, and mechanism parts (recliners, slides), directly overlapping TF-METAL's core seat-mechanism product line and OEM customer base.
• Delta Kogyo: Japanese seat frame and mechanism maker supplying OEMs including Mazda; competes directly in seat structures and adjustment mechanisms similar to TF-METAL.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/@tf-metal6329
• Instagraminstagram.com/tf_metal_official

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Subsidiaries6 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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 TF-METAL