TSK Laboratory, Japan

What TSK Laboratory, Japan does

TSK Laboratory, Japan (株式会社タスク) is a privately held Japanese medical device manufacturer founded in 1974 and headquartered in Tochigi Prefecture. The company specializes in single-use medical needles and syringes, with product categories spanning soft-tissue and bone-marrow biopsy needles (ACECUT, STARCUT II, ONECUT, PRIMECUT II, SURECUT, SURELOCK), hypodermic injection needles and cannulas (STERiJECT, STERiGLIDE, TSK Select Needle), syringes and dosing devices (TSK Syringe, TSK SmartClick), and specialty needles (Guide Needle, Chiba Needle, K-Needle, Swish ERCP Cannula). Its technical differentiation is built on decades of in-house precision grinding expertise, proprietary tip geometries, and surface coating technology, with all needles and bodies manufactured in Japan across ISO 13485:2016, ISO 14001, MDSAP, and EU MDR-certified facilities.

The company generates revenue primarily through B2B hardware sales of branded medical devices to hospitals and clinics in Japan, supplemented by international distribution through wholly-owned subsidiaries in Canada, the Netherlands, China, and a representative office in Thailand, reaching roughly 150 distribution partners across approximately 30 countries. A secondary revenue stream comes from OEM/ODM contract development and manufacturing services leveraging the company's precision manufacturing capabilities. Additional revenue is captured through selective brand partnerships, notably with Boston Scientific Japan for the PRIMECUT II biopsy needle and Swish ERCP Cannula. Pricing is not publicly disclosed and is negotiated B2B based on volume and customer specifications. Go-to-market is sales-led, supported by active participation in medical conferences (Japan IVR Society, Japan Breast Cancer Society, Japan Pediatric Surgery Society, IMCAS, AMWC, Interphex Japan) and direct sales or distributor relationships with healthcare facilities.

Name

TSK Laboratory, Japan

Legal name

株式会社タスク

Website

https://tsklab.co.jp

Company type

Private

Founded year

1974

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

251–500 employees

Short description

TSK Laboratory, Japan is a privately held, founder-led Japanese medical device manufacturer founded in 1974 that designs and produces single-use biopsy needles, injection needles, cannulas, and syringes for hospitals, clinics, and OEM customers across roughly 30 countries via wholly-owned subsidiaries in Canada, Europe, China, and Thailand.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Tochigi

HQ country

Japan

HQ region

Asia

Offices9 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Medical Device Sales: Sale of proprietary medical devices including biopsy needles, injection needles, syringes, and specialty needles to hospitals, clinics, and medical facilities. Products sold domestically in Japan and exported globally.
2. OEM/ODM Manufacturing: Contract development and manufacturing services for medical devices. The company provides custom design, development, and manufacturing services for customers requiring specialized needles and medical devices, leveraging their ISO-certified facilities and quality management systems.
3. International Subsidiary Sales: Revenue generated through overseas subsidiaries - TSK Laboratory International, Canada Inc., TSK Laboratory, Europe B.V., and TSK Laboratory, China Co., Ltd. - distributing products to approximately 150 companies in 30 countries.

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

TSK Laboratory, Japan manufactures and sells single-use medical devices, with primary focus on biopsy needles (automatic, semi-automatic, aspiration, and bone marrow types), hypodermic injection needles, syringes, and specialty needles. Products are sold directly to hospitals and clinics in Japan and exported to approximately 150 companies in 30 countries through overseas subsidiaries and distributors. The company also provides OEM/ODM contract development and manufacturing services for medical devices. All needles and bodies are manufactured in Japan using proprietary precision grinding technology developed over 50 years.

Product overview

TSK Laboratory, Japan is a medical device manufacturer specializing in needles and syringes. The product portfolio consists of four main categories: (1) Biopsy needles for soft tissue and bone marrow collection including ACECUT, STARCUT/II, ONECUT, PRIMECUT II, SURECUT, SURELOCK, and bone marrow aspiration/transplant needles; (2) Hypodermic injection needles including STERiJECT, STERiGLIDE (cannula), and TSK Select Needle; (3) Syringes including TSK Syringe and TSK SmartClick dosing device; and (4) Other specialty needles including Guide Needle, Chiba Needle, K-Needle, and Swish ERCP Cannula. The company operates on an integrated production system from development to manufacturing, serving global markets through direct operations and partnerships (notably with Boston Scientific Japan). Products are primarily single-use medical devices distributed to healthcare facilities worldwide.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• ACECUT (自動生検針エースカット)
• STARCUT II (半自動生検針スターカットⅡ) Semi-automatic biopsy needle with improved operability and tissue collection compared to original STARCUT. Features visual confirmation window, ISO color-coded gauges, and includes guide needle spacer. Lightweight body approximately 18g. Successor product to STARCUT.
• STARCUT (半自動生検針スターカット)
• ONECUT (ワンハンド型自動生検針ワンカット) One-handed automated biopsy needle for soft tissue collection. Enables simple one-hand operation by pulling body levers. Both needle and body manufactured in Japan.
• PRIMECUT II (ワンハンド型自動生検針プライムカットⅡ) One-handed automated biopsy needle for tissue collection. Features dual firing triggers (side and back) for practitioner comfort. Distributed in partnership with Boston Scientific Japan.
• SURECUT (吸引式生検針シュアーカット) Aspiration-type biopsy needle for soft tissue collection. Equipped with plunger lock mechanism for negative pressure maintenance without continuous holding, enabling one-hand operation. Features depth markers and enables cylindrical tissue collection.
• SURELOCK (骨髄生検針シュアロック) Bone marrow biopsy needle featuring TSK's unique SURELOCK pipe design that improves tissue collection while minimizing wound size. Eliminates need for lateral needle movement. Includes depth markers and visual tissue volume confirmation. Also enables bone marrow aspiration.
• TSK Bone Marrow Aspiration Needle (TSK骨髄穿刺針) Single-use bone marrow aspiration needle for cell and tissue collection. Available in three lengths (short, long, ultra-long) for different puncture sites (sternum, ilium). All needles and bodies manufactured in Japan with sharp cutting edge from grinding technology.
• TSK Bone Marrow Transplant Needle (TSK骨髄移植針) Bone marrow transplant needle for cell and tissue collection from donors. Completely disposable with sharp needle design. Eliminates adjustable needle screw for easier procedure during donor bone marrow collection.
• STERiJECT (TSKステリジェクト) Single-use injection needle available in sizes up to 33G. Features three hub types (PRE, PRC, HPC) for wide range of procedures. Thin-wall type has wider needle lumen compared to conventional needles.
• STERiGLIDE (TSKステリグライド) Single-use cannula with dome-shaped tip for smooth blunt needle insertion. Features unique surface coating technology, side hole positioned close to tip for precise injection control, and hub marking for visual angle confirmation. Designed for dermal filler injection and aesthetic procedures.
• TSK Select Needle (TSKセレクトニードル) Single-use injection needle with wide size range (25G to 34G). Features hub marking for blade direction visibility, 2mm length for dermis targeting, and low dead-space design. Compatible with both luer-lock and slip-type syringes.
• TSK Syringe (TSKシリンジ) General purpose syringe with luer-lock type connection reducing needle detachment risk. Features low dead-space design minimizing residual liquid and wide-scale graduation for precise measurement in 0.7mL type.
• TSK SmartClick (TSKスマートクリック) Dosing injection device for precise medication delivery. Delivers 0.04mL per click with low dead-space design reducing pharmaceutical waste. Features luer-lock type connection. Needle sold separately.
• TSK Guide Needle (TSKガイドニードル) Co-axial guide needle for introducing treatment/diagnostic needles into the body or for catheter and guide wire manipulation. Features wide size range compatible with ACECUT and STARCUT products, and trocar point tip for high straightness.
• TSK Chiba Needle (TSKチバニードル) Single-use needle for puncture, drug injection, drainage, and catheter insertion assistance. Manufactured in Japan with sharp cutting edge from grinding technology and simple operability.
• Swish ERCP Cannula (スウィッシュ ERCPカニューラ) ERCP cannula essential for endoscopic procedures. Distributed in partnership with Boston Scientific Japan. Certification number: 230ABBZX00086000.
• TSK SteriJECT LDS (Loaded Space) Single-use injection needle variant of STERiJECT with unique hub shape design that reduces drug loss. General name: single-use injection needle. Medical device certification number: 303ABBZX00022000.
• OEM/ODM Contract Manufacturing Services Custom design, development, and manufacturing services for customers requiring specialized medical needles and devices, leveraging ISO-certified facilities, ISO Class 7 cleanrooms, and quality management systems. Services are provided for companies requiring OEM/ODM solutions.

Quantifiable outcome

• High biopsy needle market share in Japan
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers2 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature5 records

Partnerships

Six partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• TSK Laboratory International, Canada Inc.coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorWholly-owned subsidiary established in 1998, located in Vancouver, B.C. Canada. Serves as the distribution hub for North American markets, providing sales and support for TSK medical devices in Canada and the broader North American region.
• TSK Laboratory, Europe B.V.coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorSubsidiary established in 2010, located in Oisterwijk, Netherlands. Handles distribution and sales operations for European markets, managing relationships with European distributors and healthcare facilities.
• TSK Laboratory, China Co., Ltd.coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorSubsidiary established in 2016, located in Shanghai, China. Manages sales and distribution operations in the Chinese market, supporting local healthcare facilities and distributors.
• TSK Laboratory Thailand Representative OfficeminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorRepresentative office established in April 2022 in Bangkok, Thailand. Functions as a local presence for market development and sales support across the Asian region, particularly Southeast Asia.
• Boston Scientific Japan CorporationminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorProduct distribution partnership for PRIMECUT II biopsy needle. Boston Scientific Japan handles product information on their website as a sales channel for this specific TSK product.
• Boston Scientific Japan CorporationminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorDistribution partnership for Swish ERCP Cannula product. Boston Scientific Japan Corporation provides product information on their website as a sales channel for this TSK device.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves12 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Cook Medical:
• Nipro Corporation: Japanese medical device manufacturer producing syringes, injection needles, and dialysis products. Directly comparable to TSK in the disposable needle/syringe category with significant Japan-domestic and global distribution.
• Boston Scientific Corporation: Global interventional medical device company with biopsy and ERCP product lines. Boston Scientific Japan is also a current TSK distribution partner, validating TSK's product quality while competing in adjacent device categories.

Broad incumbents

• Becton, Dickinson and Company (BD): Global leader in injection and biopsy devices, including BD Hypodermic Needles and BD Vacutainer biopsy systems. Overlaps with TSK's biopsy needle, injection needle, and syringe product lines but at multi-billion-dollar scale across a far broader portfolio.
• Terumo Corporation: Japan-headquartered global medical device company manufacturing syringes, injection needles, and a broad hospital products portfolio. Overlaps directly with TSK in hypodermic needles and syringes but operates at vastly larger scale across many other device categories.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks7 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/tsklaboratoryjp
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/tsklaboratoryjapan
• Instagraminstagram.com/tsklaboratoryjapan/?hl=en

Compliance2 records

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 TSK Laboratory, Japan