Kohden

What Kohden does

KOHDEN Co., Ltd. (浜松光電株式会社) is a Japanese sensor manufacturer founded in 1967 and headquartered in Iwata, Shizuoka Prefecture, with 251–500 employees. The company designs, manufactures, and sells magnetic sensors based on proprietary AMR (Anisotropic Magneto-Resistive) technology and semiconductor piezoresistive pressure sensors, serving industrial equipment, home appliance, medical device, water utility, and automotive/precision equipment manufacturers. Core product families include curtain-type and vertical-type AMR sensors for position and rotation detection, semiconductor pressure sensors covering ±2 kPa to ±980 kPa with DIP and SMD packaging, water level sensors for residential water heaters, and gear sensors. Following an exclusive distribution agreement with Multi Dimension Technology (MDT) signed July 15, 2022, Kohden also distributes TMR (Tunnel Magneto-Resistive) sensors in Japan under the MDT brand, expanding its magnetic sensor portfolio into higher-sensitivity automotive and industrial encoder applications.

The company operates a direct B2B sales model through its website and contact channel, offering catalog sensors (samples from 5,000 yen per 5-piece set, ~1 week delivery for stock items), standard units with ~2 month lead times, and full custom/OEM development from sensor pattern design and wafer processing through packaging, assembly, and module integration. Pricing is quote-based and non-public. Kohden self-describes as a sensor manufacturer with top domestic market share products in Japan and is a related company (関連会社) of Hamamatsu Photonics Co., Ltd. (浜松ホトニクス株式会社), for whom it also undertakes optical sensor contract manufacturing. The company has no disclosed external investors, no public listing, and no funding rounds; revenue is not publicly disclosed. Recent activity includes the April 2024 launch of a TMR-based gear sensor, May 2024 expansion of MDT TMR product models, a September 2024 launch of temperature-compensated pressure sensors, December 2024 introduction of advanced TMR angle sensors with SPI/SENT/1-Wire interfaces, and an executive officer change announced for July 1, 2025. ESG initiatives include 121 kW rooftop solar generation installed October 2022 and adoption of CO2-free electricity.

Name

Kohden

Legal name

KOHDEN Co., Ltd.

Website

https://hkd.co.jp

Company type

Private

Founded year

1967

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

251–500 employees

Short description

KOHDEN Co., Ltd. is a Japanese sensor manufacturer (founded 1967, Iwata) that designs and produces AMR magnetic sensors and semiconductor pressure sensors for industrial equipment, home appliances, medical devices, water utility, and automotive customers. A related company of Hamamatsu Photonics, it also exclusively distributes MDT TMR sensors in Japan.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Industrial Sensors (Magnetic and Pressure)

NAICS

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

SIC

Industrial Instruments For Measurement, Display, And Control (3823)

akta.pro primary industry

Sensors, MEMS & Imaging ICs (HDAHAAAG)

akta.pro secondary industries

Sensors & Instrumentation Electronics Manufacturing Services (Transmitters, analyzers, industrial sensors) (IMAGAGAL), Optical & Light Sensors (Photodiodes/ALS/Color/UV) (HDAHALAE)

Keywords

• Magnetic sensors
• Pressure sensors
• AMR sensors
• TMR sensors
• OEM sensor development

Headquarters

HQ city

Iwata

HQ country

Japan

HQ region

Asia

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Sensor Product Sales: Direct sales of proprietary magnetic sensors (AMR type) and pressure sensors to industrial customers. Products include standard catalog items as well as custom specifications.
2. TMR Sensor Distribution: Resale of Multi Dimension Technology (MDT) TMR sensors in Japan following distributor agreement signed July 15, 2022. Sales of MDT products including magnetic scale sensors, angle sensors, and linear sensors.
3. Custom/OEM Development: Custom sensor development from design through manufacturing for magnetic sensors and pressure sensors. Includes wafer processing, packaging, assembly, module/unit integration, and evaluation services. Small-lot production available from initial prototyping through mass production.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels2 records

Core offering

Kohden (KOHDEN Co., Ltd.) designs, manufactures, and sells magnetic sensors (proprietary AMR and distributed TMR types) and semiconductor pressure sensors for industrial, automotive, medical, and home appliance applications. The company also offers custom OEM sensor development from design through mass production, including wafer processing, packaging, assembly, and module integration, and serves as exclusive Japan distributor for Multi Dimension Technology (MDT) TMR sensors.

Product overview

Kohden is a sensor manufacturer offering a comprehensive portfolio of magnetic and pressure sensors for industrial, automotive, medical, and consumer applications. The core product lines include AMR (Anisotropic Magneto-Resistive) sensors for position and rotation detection, semiconductor pressure sensors for various pressure measurement applications, and TMR (Tunneling Magnetoresistive) sensors from partner MultiDimension Technology. The company also provides custom OEM development services and evaluation kits for product testing. Main product categories are AMR sensors (including vertical type and curtain/sudare type variants), pressure sensors (with DIP/SMD terminals and gold/silver plating), TMR sensors, water level sensors, gear sensors, and supporting accessories such as evaluation magnets and kits.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• AMR Sensors (Anisotropic Magneto-Resistive Magnetic Sensors) Magnetic sensors utilizing anisotropic magneto-resistive effect of ferromagnetic thin film metal for position, rotation, and angle detection in industrial equipment, automotive, home appliances, and water meter applications. Suitable for harsh environments where optical sensors cannot be used.
• Semiconductor Pressure Sensors Semiconductor-based pressure sensors using piezoresistive effect for mid-pressure range detection. Features high burst pressure resistance compared to competitors, wide pressure range coverage from ±2kPa to ±980kPa, overall accuracy of ±0.3-1.5%FS, and available in DIP and SMD packages with silver or gold-plated terminals. Used in industrial equipment, medical devices (blood pressure monitors), and water heater applications.
• TMR Sensors (Tunnel Magneto-Resistive Sensors)

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature5 records

Partnerships

Two partnerships are on record, tiered core.

• Multi Dimension Technology (MDT)coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 15 July 2022Distribution partnership established on July 15, 2022, granting Kohden exclusive sales rights for MDT's TMR (Tunnel Magneto-Resistive) magnetic sensors in Japan. This partnership expands Kohden's magnetic sensor portfolio by adding TMR technology to complement their proprietary AMR sensors, enabling broader customer recommendations across various applications.
• Hamamatsu Photonics (浜松ホトニクス)coreOthersKohden is a related company (関連会社) of Hamamatsu Photonics. Kohden also undertakes optical sensor contract manufacturing for Hamamatsu Photonics, leveraging their manufacturing capabilities in sensor production.

Scale indicators2 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Infineon Technologies: Infineon is a broad-line semiconductor incumbent whose Xensiv family of magnetic pressure and position sensors competes with Kohden across automotive, industrial, and consumer applications, though magnetic sensors are just one segment within a much larger portfolio.
• STMicroelectronics: STMicroelectronics supplies MEMS pressure sensors and magnetic position sensors as part of its broad analog/MEMS portfolio, competing with Kohden's pressure and magnetic sensor lines in industrial and consumer applications.
• TDK Corporation: TDK manufactures magnetic sensors including TMR devices through its TDK-Micronas subsidiary and competes with Kohden in automotive and industrial magnetic position/angle sensing as part of a broad electronic components portfolio.
• NXP Semiconductors: NXP offers magnetic position/speed sensors and a broad automotive/industrial semiconductor portfolio that overlaps with Kohden's automotive and industrial magnetic sensor target markets, but as part of a much larger MCU and connectivity franchise.
• Honeywell International: Honeywell manufactures a broad range of pressure, position, and magnetic sensors for industrial, aerospace, and medical markets that overlap with Kohden's pressure and position-sensing product lines, though as a much larger diversified conglomerate.

Direct peers

• Melexis: Melexis designs and supplies automotive-grade magnetic sensor ICs (Hall and TMR-based) for position, speed, and current sensing. It competes with Kohden's magnetic sensor offering in automotive and industrial automation applications.
• Sensata Technologies: Sensata is a major global manufacturer of pressure sensors, position sensors, and other industrial/automotive sensors. It directly overlaps with Kohden's semiconductor pressure sensor product line in industrial and medical pressure-monitoring applications.
• Sensitec GmbH: Sensitec is a German specialist in AMR, TMR, and GMR magnetic sensors used in position, angle, and current sensing. It is the closest global direct competitor to Kohden's proprietary AMR sensor business in both technology and application focus.
• Multi Dimension Technology (MDT): MDT designs and manufactures TMR magnetic sensors and is Kohden's exclusive Japan distribution partner. The two companies share the same target markets (industrial, automotive, consumer magnetic sensing) and complementary AMR/TMR technology portfolios.
• Allegro MicroSystems: Allegro is a leading global supplier of magnetic sensor ICs (primarily Hall-effect) for automotive, industrial, and consumer motion/position sensing, directly competing with Kohden's AMR/TMR sensors in encoder, gear-tooth, and motor-control sockets.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

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 Kohden