What Kataoka does

Founded in 1968 in Kyoto, Japan, Kataoka Corporation is a privately held precision laser technology manufacturer that designs, develops, and produces in-house a portfolio of laser processing systems, rechargeable battery inspection systems, and AI-enabled life sciences equipment for global enterprise customers. The company's core competency is laser technology integrated with proprietary optical systems — including in-house manufactured beam rotators, 2D/3D galvano scanners, and hybrid processing nozzles — built on more than 30 years of optical engineering experience. Its technology stack is vertically integrated: oscillators, optical systems, mechanical systems, control electronics, and processing technologies are all developed internally, which the company positions as the source of its sub-micron accuracy (e.g., less than 1 μm processing position accuracy) and differentiated process capabilities (65% blue-laser absorption on copper, 20 μm minimum patterning width for perovskite cells).

Kataoka operates three product lines: (1) Laser Processing Systems for electronics and precision manufacturing applications including ultra-high-precision drilling, blue laser copper welding, laser scribing, precision cutting, and perovskite solar cell patterning; (2) Rechargeable Battery Inspection Systems for lithium-ion battery charge-discharge testing, aging, and sorting with regenerative power recovery; and (3) the CPD-017 cell processing device, which combines laser energy, photoresponsive polymers, and deep-learning-based image recognition to purify adherent iPSC cultures for regenerative medicine research. Revenue is generated through direct, quote-based hardware sales to enterprise customers, supported by a global network of wholly owned subsidiaries in China, Italy, Taiwan, the United States, Vietnam, and Korea.

The company's current corporate trajectory is defined by severe financial distress. In July 2025 Kataoka filed for civil rehabilitation (民事再生) under the Kyoto District Court, and on April 13, 2026 the laser business — including all employees and the core technology base — was transferred to a newly established entity, NITTOKU KYOTO Co., Ltd., via an absorption-type company split. Kataoka Corporation itself continues under court-supervised liquidation, retaining the secondary battery inspection business for maintenance. A named enterprise customer, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center Biomanufacturing Center, has been disclosed as the first US-based user of the CPD-017 platform.

Name

Kataoka

Legal name

株式会社片岡製作所

Website

https://kataoka-ss.co.jp

Company type

Private

Founded year

1968

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

251–500 employees

Short description

Kataoka is a Kyoto-based precision laser technology manufacturer producing laser processing systems, lithium-ion battery inspection equipment, and AI-enabled cell processing devices for enterprise customers in electronics, battery manufacturing, and life sciences sectors.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Industrial Laser Processing Equipment

NAICS

Semiconductor Machinery Manufacturing (333242), Instrument Manufacturing for Measuring and Testing Electricity and Electrical Signals (334515)

SIC

Industrial Instruments For Measurement, Display, And Control (3823), Optical Instruments & Lenses (3827), Instruments For Meas & Testing Of Electricity & Elec Signals (3825)

akta.pro primary industry

Test, Measurement & Calibration Equipment Manufacturing Services (ATE, DAQ, metrology electronics) (IMAGAGAH)

Keywords

• Laser processing systems
• Battery inspection equipment
• Precision laser drilling
• Laser welding systems
• Cell processing devices

Headquarters

HQ city

Kyoto

HQ country

Japan

HQ region

Asia

Offices12 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Laser Processing Systems Sales: Sale of laser processing systems including ultra-high-precision drilling, blue laser welding, laser scribing, precision cutting, and patterning equipment. Complete system solutions integrating oscillators, optical systems, machine technologies, controlling technologies, and processing technologies.
2. Rechargeable Battery Inspection Systems: Integrated systems for testing lithium-ion batteries in manufacturing processes, including post-assembly charge-discharge testing, aging, voltage testing, resistance testing, sorting, and automated conveyors.
3. Cell Processing Devices: CPD-017 cell processing device for purifying adherent iPSC cultures using laser and AI technology. Available for purchase to research institutions and medical centers.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels3 records

Core offering

Kataoka Corporation is a precision laser technology manufacturer that develops, designs, and produces laser processing systems (drilling, blue laser welding, battery case welding, laser scribing, precision cutting, perovskite solar cell patterning, beam shaping, and optical systems), rechargeable battery inspection systems for lithium-ion battery manufacturing, and life sciences products including the AI-powered CPD-017 cell processing device. All core technologies (oscillators, optical systems, mechanical systems, control systems, and processing technologies) are developed and manufactured in-house.

Product overview

Kataoka Corporation is a precision laser technology company offering three core product lines: Laser Processing Systems (including ultra-high-precision drilling, blue laser welding, battery case welding, laser scribing, precision cutting, perovskite solar cell patterning, beam shaping, and optical systems), Rechargeable Battery Inspection Systems for lithium-ion battery manufacturing, and Life Sciences products featuring the CPD-017 AI-powered cell processing device. The company develops and manufactures all core technologies in-house including oscillators, optical systems, mechanical systems, control systems, and processing technologies.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Laser Processing Systems
• Ultra-High-Precision Drilling System
• Blue Laser Processing Machine Blue laser welding system achieving 65% absorption rate for copper and gold materials, enabling spatter-free welding and film removal processing with blue/IR hybrid capability for deeper weld penetration. Designed for electronics and battery manufacturers.
• Battery Case Welding Equipment Galvano scanner-based laser welding system for high-speed precision seam welding of battery cans with high-speed seam welding capability supporting inline system configuration. Designed for battery manufacturers.
• Laser Scribing Equipment High-quality, high-speed laser scribing system for silicon nitride, silicon carbide, green sheets, and alumina with selectable UV, green, and IR laser options. Designed for electronics and solar cell manufacturers.
• Laser Precision Cutting Equipment Laser precision cutting system capable of processing difficult-to-machine materials including resin, sapphire, alumina, FPC boards, and stainless steel with selectable UV, green, and IR lasers. Designed for electronics and precision parts manufacturers.
• Perovskite Solar Cell Laser Patterning Equipment Dual-head galvano scanner system for high-throughput patterning of perovskite solar cells, featuring expansion and contraction correction function with minimum 20μm processing width for silver paste and transparent conductive film applications. Designed for perovskite solar cell manufacturers.
• Optical Systems Optical components including beam rotators, 2D galvano scanners, 3D hybrid galvanometers, and processing nozzles with 30+ years of manufacturing experience and in-house development, design, and production capabilities. Designed for laser system integrators and manufacturers.
• Rechargeable Battery Inspection Systems Integrated systems for testing lithium-ion batteries in manufacturing processes, covering charge-discharge testing, aging, voltage testing, resistance testing, and sorting with automated conveyor systems. Features regenerative power technology for energy recovery. Designed for lithium-ion battery manufacturers in EV and electronics industries.
• CPD-017 Cell Processing Device AI-powered cell purification system using laser and photoresponsive polymers to remove unwanted differentiated cells from iPSC cultures without dissociation, featuring built-in phase contrast and fluorescence microscopes and deep learning-based cell identification. Designed for research institutions, biotech companies, and regenerative medicine facilities.

Quantifiable outcome

• Processing position accuracy: <1μm
• +5 more outcomes

Named customers1 record

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

AI capability3 records

Feature6 records

Partnerships

Two partnerships are on record, tiered major and minor.

• NITTOKU KYOTO Co., Ltd. (NITTOKU KYOTO株式会社)majorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 13 April 2026Kataoka Corporation transferred its laser-related business to NITTOKU KYOTO Co., Ltd. through an absorption split (吸収分割). All employees transferred to NITTOKU KYOTO. Kataoka continues liquidation procedures under civil rehabilitation law supervised by Kyoto District Court. Laser business inquiries should be directed to NITTOKU KYOTO.
• Cedars-Sinai Medical Center Biomanufacturing CenterminorOthers · 25 May 2022First US-based customer for Kataoka Corporation and Kataoka-SS America Corporation's CPD-017 cell processing device. The division of the Board of Governors Regenerative Medicine Institute uses the CPD-017 for processing adherent iPSC cultures.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves3 records

Direct peers

• Coherent Corp. US-headquartered global provider of laser-based materials processing systems, lasers, and photonics technology. Directly comparable to Kataoka in developing precision laser sources and systems for industrial manufacturing applications including electronics and battery production.
• Trumpf SE + Co. KG: German global leader in industrial laser technology for cutting, welding, marking, and 3D printing. Directly comparable to Kataoka as a major manufacturer of laser processing systems serving manufacturing customers across electronics, automotive, and industrial applications.
• DISCO Corporation: Tokyo-based manufacturer of precision dicing, grinding, and laser processing equipment primarily serving the semiconductor industry. Directly comparable to Kataoka in developing high-precision laser-based processing systems for electronics and semiconductor customers, with overlapping competencies in laser-based material processing.
• Amada Co., Ltd. Japanese manufacturer of metalworking machinery including laser cutting, laser welding, and punching systems. Comparable to Kataoka's laser processing business in offering precision laser-based equipment to industrial manufacturers, with similar Japanese heritage and direct sales model.
• Han's Laser Technology Industry Group: China-based supplier of industrial laser equipment for cutting, welding, marking, and micro-processing applications. Directly comparable to Kataoka in offering laser processing systems to electronics, automotive, and general manufacturing customers across Asia.
• Chroma ATE Inc. Taiwan-based supplier of automated test and measurement equipment for batteries, power electronics, and semiconductors. Directly comparable to Kataoka's rechargeable battery inspection systems, with overlapping product lines in charge-discharge testing, aging, and sorting of lithium-ion battery cells.
• IPG Photonics Corporation: Leading manufacturer of high-power fiber lasers and amplifiers used in materials processing, with deep penetration in welding, cutting, and marking applications. Comparable to Kataoka in supplying laser-based processing technology to industrial customers, including battery and electronics manufacturers.
• Lumentum Operations LLC: US-headquartered manufacturer of photonic and laser products serving industrial, networking, and 3D sensing applications. Comparable to Kataoka in developing laser sources and optical subsystems, with potential overlap in precision laser-based manufacturing and life sciences instrumentation markets.

Emerging players

• SCREEN Holdings Co., Ltd. Japanese manufacturer of semiconductor production equipment (cleaning, coating, and surface treatment systems) as well as display and PCB equipment. Adjacent peer to Kataoka in serving electronics manufacturers with precision processing equipment, though primarily focused on wet processing rather than laser processing.

Broad incumbents

• Mitsubishi Electric Corporation: Large Japanese conglomerate with a factory automation division that includes industrial laser processing systems for marking, welding, and cutting. Operates broadly in the same space as Kataoka but as part of a much wider electrical equipment and electronics portfolio rather than as a focused laser specialist.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

Compliance2 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles4 records

Subsidiaries6 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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

M&A

Investments1 record

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

Frequently asked questions about Kataoka