What Takara Kasei does

Takara Kasei Kogyo Co., Ltd. (タカラ化成工業株式会社) is a privately held Japanese injection molding manufacturer founded in August 1962, specializing in plastic automotive interior and exterior trim components. The company operates three domestic manufacturing sites — its headquarters in Nishio City (Aichi Prefecture), the Kyushu Yukuhashi Factory (Fukuoka Prefecture, established 2008), and the North Kanto Kanra Factory (Gunma Prefecture, established 2018) — collectively housing 53 injection molding machines (200–680 ton range), 11 gas injection lines, 11 glass insert molding lines, and an automated painting line. It employs approximately 270 people and is affiliated with the Tokai Kogyo (東海興業) group, serving as a related company supplying plastic trim to automotive OEMs and Tier-1 suppliers.

The company's core technical capabilities span multiple advanced molding processes: gas injection molding (introduced 1992) for lightweight structural parts such as side protectors and A-pillar garnishes; glass insert molding (introduced 1986) for integrated window frame components; insert two-color molding; film insert molding; and proprietary paint-free black high-gloss molding that delivers premium surface finish without secondary painting. The company performs in-house secondary processing including automated painting and quality inspection, enabling one-stop delivery of finished automotive components. In 2015, Takara Kasei expanded into vehicle-mounted electronic components, broadening its product mix beyond purely mechanical plastic parts. It also sells a proprietary industrial lighting brand, Eco Taro electrodeless lamps, targeting factories and warehouses as a secondary revenue stream.

Revenue is generated primarily through B2B contract manufacturing under quotation-based pricing negotiated with automotive OEMs and Tier-1/Tier-2 suppliers. Named primary customers include Tokai Kogyo, Tachies, Central Glass Products, Meiwa Sangi, and Takehiro — all Japanese automotive component manufacturers. The company holds ISO 9001 (since 2005) and ISO 14001 (since 2003) certifications at its headquarters factory. Go-to-market is relationship-based, executed through a dedicated sales department (営業部) reachable by direct phone, with no public pricing or third-party distribution channels. The company is led by President and Representative Director Kimura Yuichi, with registered capital of ¥43.75 million.

Name

Takara Kasei

Legal name

タカラ化成工業株式会社

Website

https://takarakasei.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1962

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

Takara Kasei is a privately held Japanese injection molding manufacturer (founded 1962, ~270 employees) producing plastic automotive interior and exterior trim components for OEMs and Tier-1 suppliers across three domestic factories, with proprietary capabilities in gas injection, glass insert, and paint-free glossy molding.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Automotive Plastic Injection Molding Manufacturing

NAICS

Other Motor Vehicle Parts Manufacturing (336390), Motor Vehicle Seating and Interior Trim Manufacturing (33636)

SIC

Motor Vehicle Parts & Accessories (3714), Plastics Products, Nec (3089)

akta.pro primary industry

Automotive & Transportation Injection Molded Parts (IMANAFAB)

akta.pro secondary industry

Automotive Exterior Trim & Appearance Components Manufacturing (Moldings/Badges/Grilles/Chrome/Cladding) (IMACAKAE)

Keywords

• Injection molding services
• Automotive plastic parts
• Plastic component manufacturing
• Automotive trim manufacturing
• Electrodeless lamp products

Headquarters

HQ city

Nishio

HQ country

Japan

HQ region

Asia

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Automotive Plastic Parts Manufacturing: Takara Kasei generates revenue by manufacturing custom plastic injection-molded components for automotive OEMs and Tier-1 suppliers. Revenue is derived from long-term supply contracts for exterior and interior automotive trim parts, including door outer moldings, window frames, side protectors, and A-pillar garnishes. The company also produces vehicle-mounted electronic components (started September 2015). Income is one-time per-unit manufacturing revenue with recurring orders based on vehicle production volumes.
2. Proprietary Branded Products (Eco Taro Electrodeless Lamps): The company also manufactures and sells its own branded products, including the 'Eco Taro' (エコ太郎) electrodeless lamp for industrial and commercial use such as factories and warehouses. This represents a separate product revenue stream sold directly to end-use commercial and industrial customers.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels1 record

Core offering

Takara Kasei manufactures custom plastic injection-molded automotive interior and exterior trim components — including door outer moldings, glass-integrated window frames, side protectors, bumper moldings, A-pillar garnishes, shift knobs, and seat parts — using advanced techniques such as gas injection molding, glass insert molding, paint-free black glossy molding, and automated in-house painting. The company supplies these components to Japanese automotive OEMs and Tier-1/Tier-2 component manufacturers, and additionally produces and sells its own branded "Eco Taro" (エコ太郎) electrodeless lamps for industrial and commercial lighting applications.

Product overview

Takara Kasei operates as an injection molding specialist offering two distinct product lines: (1) automotive plastic components manufactured using gas injection molding, glass insert molding, insert two-color molding, and automated painting — covering both exterior parts (door outer moldings, window frames, side protectors, bumper moldings) and interior parts (shift knobs, seat components, garnishes); and (2) a proprietary consumer/industrial product branded Eco Taro (エコ太郎), an electrodeless lamp designed for factories and warehouses with energy-saving and long-life advantages.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• エコ太郎 (Eco Taro): Electrodeless lamp product brand marketed under the 'Eco Taro' name, featuring energy-saving and long-life lighting products for factories and warehouses.

Products and services

• Automotive Plastic Parts (自動車部品) Plastic injection-molded automotive interior and exterior components including door outer moldings, glass-integrated molded parts, paint-free black high-gloss sash covers, window frames, front windshield side garnishes, seat interior parts, front windshield moldings, quarter moldings, side protectors, side mat guards, bumper moldings, shift knobs, garnishes, and trunk/deck board components — manufactured for Japanese automotive OEMs and Tier-1/Tier-2 component manufacturers.
• Eco Taro Electrodeless Lamp (エコ太郎 無電極ランプ)

Quantifiable outcome

• Energy consumption reduced by 62% compared to 400W mercury lamps
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments1 record

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature5 records

Partnerships

Two partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• タカラ加工株式会社 (Takara Processing Co., Ltd.)minorOthersTakara Processing Co., Ltd. is a subsidiary (子会社) of Takara Kasei, established in July 1984. It operates as a related processing company supporting the Takara Kasei group's manufacturing operations. As an internal subsidiary, it is not an external partnership but represents the company's own operational structure.
• 東海興業株式会社 (Tokai Kogyo Co., Ltd.)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerTokai Kogyo Co., Ltd. is identified as the parent/related company (関連企業) of Takara Kasei. Takara Kasei is affiliated with Tokai Kogyo and operates as part of the Tokai Kogyo group. Tokai Kogyo is a major automotive component manufacturer and the primary customer relationship underpinning Takara Kasei's business. Takara Kasei appears in Tokai Kogyo's group company listings.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves16 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• Kasai Kogyo Co., Ltd. Mid-sized Japanese Tier-2 manufacturer of automotive interior trim and exterior plastic components for Japanese OEMs. Closest comparable in size, customer mix, and product scope (instrument panel, door trim, exterior trim).
• Nifco Inc. Japanese plastics specialist producing injection-molded automotive parts and fasteners for OEMs globally. Comparable in core discipline (precision injection molding for vehicle interiors) and supply-chain positioning.
• Pacific Industries Co., Ltd. Tier-1 supplier of plastic and rubber automotive components (TPS-related and structural) to Japanese OEMs. Comparable in its mix of interior plastic parts, Tier-1 customer access, and family-controlled private structure.
• Howa Plastics Co., Ltd. Japanese injection molder of interior and exterior automotive plastic components for Japanese automakers. Highly comparable on product type (door trim, garnish, console parts) and on being a Tier-2 specialist.
• Inoac Corporation: Japanese plastics and rubber manufacturer of interior/exterior automotive parts (gaskets, trim, sealing). Closely comparable on technology base (injection molding) and customer base (Japanese OEMs).
• Iwasaki Electric Co., Ltd. Japanese manufacturer of specialty lighting including electrodeless (electrode-less) lamps for industrial use. Directly comparable to Takara Kasei's Eco Taro electrodeless lamp product line in technology and end market (factories and warehouses).

Broad incumbents

• Toyoda Gosei Co., Ltd. Major Tier-1 Japanese rubber and plastic automotive components maker (interior, exterior, safety systems). Much larger than Takara Kasei but directly overlaps on plastic interior/exterior trim and represents the consolidating incumbent direction.
• Sumitomo Riko Company Limited: Public Japanese supplier of automotive rubber, elastomer, and plastic components, including interior trim, with global reach. Larger and broader, but adjacent in product/customer overlap with Takara Kasei's plastic exterior/interior parts.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

Compliance2 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Subsidiaries1 record

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 Takara Kasei