Hokuyo Automatic
Hokuyo Automatic USA Corporation is the North American subsidiary of Japan's Hokuyo Automatic Co., Ltd., distributing industrial LiDAR, safety laser scanners, optical data-transmission devices, and hot metal detectors to OEMs, integrators, and end-users across factory, logistics, and process automation.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2003
- HeadquartersIndian Trail, United States
- Headcount1–10
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingHardware or Manufacturing
What Hokuyo Automatic does
Hokuyo Automatic USA Corporation is the North American sales, marketing, and technical-support subsidiary of Japan's Hokuyo Automatic Co., Ltd., operating from a single office in Indian Trail, North Carolina. The company distributes a portfolio of industrial sensor products built on proprietary time-of-flight laser measurement and 2D/3D LiDAR architectures, including safety laser scanners, obstacle-detection sensors, long-range laser distance sensors, optical data-transmission devices, hot metal detectors, and crane collision-avoidance systems. Its products carry recognized industrial compliance certifications — ISO 13849-1, IEC 61496-1/3, and SEMI E84 — and integrate via Ethernet, USB, RS-232, RS-422, and EtherCAT interfaces with native ROS1/ROS2 support, embedding them into AMR, AGV, OHT, overhead crane, and semiconductor AMHS deployments.
The company serves factory automation, logistics automation, and process automation customers, with named verticals spanning semiconductor fabrication, steel and metals, ports and terminals, mining, automotive and aerospace, and material handling. End customers include OEMs, system integrators, R&D firms, and authorized resellers, with at least one disclosed enterprise reference (Nilfisk, Inc.). Products such as the UST-series 2D LiDAR, UAM-series safety scanners, DMS/DMG/DMJ SEMI E84 optical data-transmission devices, and the newer UCT-10LCM 3D LiDAR are engineered for ranges from 5 meters to 180 meters, IP65/IP67 environmental hardening, and multi-echo performance in dust, rain, and fog.
Hokuyo Automatic USA generates revenue through direct sale of industrial sensor hardware, priced on a quote basis, supported by field sales targeting OEMs and end-users and a parallel channel through authorized resellers and system integrators. Marketing is content-driven, with technical blogs, whitepapers, case studies, infographics, and recurring presence at the Automate trade show. As a wholly-owned subsidiary with no disclosed investors or external funding, its strategic and capital decisions are governed by the Japanese parent company.
Hokuyo Automatic firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Hokuyo Automatic
- Legal name
- Hokuyo Automatic USA Corporation
- Website
- https://hokuyo-usa.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2003
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1–10 employees
- Short description
- Hokuyo Automatic USA Corporation is the North American subsidiary of Japan's Hokuyo Automatic Co., Ltd., distributing industrial LiDAR, safety laser scanners, optical data-transmission devices, and hot metal detectors to OEMs, integrators, and end-users across factory, logistics, and process automation.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Hokuyo Automatic industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Industrial Optical Sensors
- NAICS
- Other Measuring and Controlling Device Manufacturing (334519), Automatic Environmental Control Manufacturing for Residential, Commercial, and Appliance Use (334512)
- SIC
- Industrial Instruments For Measurement, Display, And Control (3823)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Sensors & Instrumentation Electronics Manufacturing Services (Transmitters, analyzers, industrial sensors) (IMAGAGAL)
- akta.pro secondary industry
- Industrial-Grade Sensors & Transducer Components (Discrete sensing elements, transducers, MEMS sensors) (IMAGAJAO)
Keywords
Where Hokuyo Automatic is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Indian Trail
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
Hokuyo Automatic business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Hardware or Manufacturing
- Cost components
- Supply Chain, Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales
Revenue model
- Industrial Sensor Hardware Sales: Hokuyo generates revenue through the sale of industrial sensor hardware including LiDAR sensors, safety laser scanners, optical data transmission devices, laser distance sensors, hot metal detectors, and crane collision avoidance systems. Products are sold directly to OEMs, end-users, integrators, R&D firms, and resellers across factory automation, logistics automation, and process automation industries.
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels2 records
Marketing channels6 records
Hokuyo Automatic product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Hokuyo Automatic USA Corporation manufactures and sells industrial laser-based sensors — including LiDAR sensors, safety laser scanners, laser distance sensors, optical data transmission devices, hot metal detectors, and obstacle detection sensors — for use in factory automation, material handling, and process industry applications. The company serves as the North American distribution and support arm for the parent Hokuyo Automatic Co., Ltd. of Japan.
Product overview
Hokuyo Automatic USA Corporation offers a comprehensive portfolio of industrial sensor products organized across six core product categories designed for factory, logistics, and process automation applications. The product line includes LiDAR Sensors (UST and UTM series) for navigation and obstacle detection on autonomous vehicles; Safety Laser Scanners (UAM series) for personnel protection meeting ISO 13849-1 and IEC 61496 standards; Laser Distance Sensors (PGL series) for long-range measurement; Optical Data Transmission devices (BWF, CWF-EWF, DMS, DMG, DMJ, DMH series) enabling contactless communication for semiconductor and industrial applications; Hot Metal Detectors (PHV, PRV, LAV, PH-DX/WX series) for steel and glass production; and Crane Collision Avoidance systems (KAD-300, RSC-30LN) for overhead crane protection. The portfolio also includes obstacle detection sensors and specialized 3D LiDAR. These products work together as an integrated sensing ecosystem supporting autonomous mobile robots, AGVs, overhead cranes, and automated material handling systems across manufacturing, warehousing, ports, mining, and semiconductor fabrication environments.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- LiDAR sensors 2D and 3D LiDAR sensors for distance measurement, object detection, and environmental scanning in industrial automation, AGVs, and material handling applications.
- Safety laser scanners Safety-rated laser scanners that create configurable protective and warning zones around machinery and automated vehicles to detect personnel or objects and trigger safety stops.
- Laser distance sensors Compact laser-based distance measurement sensors for precise non-contact ranging in factory automation and process control applications.
- Optical data transmission devices Light-based data communication devices that transmit signals between moving or rotating equipment without physical cables, used in industrial automation and material handling.
- Hot metal detectors Detectors designed to sense hot or glowing metal in steel mills, rolling mills, and other high-temperature process environments.
- Crane collision avoidance systems Sensor-based systems that use laser scanners to prevent collisions between cranes, gantries, and surrounding objects or personnel in industrial facilities.
- Obstacle detection sensors Laser-based sensors that detect obstacles around automated guided vehicles, mobile platforms, and industrial machinery to support safe navigation and operation.
Quantifiable outcome
- Detection ranges up to 180 meters with ±3.0mm accuracy for laser distance sensors
- +3 more outcomes
Companies that use Hokuyo Automatic
Customer profileNamed customers1 record
Segments9 records
Ideal customer profiles1 record
Hokuyo Automatic technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
AI capability1 record
Feature8 records
Hokuyo Automatic partnerships and signals
Strategic signalScale indicators1 record
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Hokuyo Automatic competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- ifm electronic: German manufacturer of industrial sensors and control systems for factory and process automation. Competes with Hokuyo in positioning, distance, and presence detection for AMRs and material handling, with a comparable go-to-market through OEMs and integrators.
- Banner Engineering: US-headquartered industrial sensor manufacturer offering LiDAR, safety, measurement, and machine vision products. Directly comparable mid-to-large competitor with strong North American presence, competing head-to-head for AMR/AGV, factory automation, and process automation accounts.
- RIEGL Laser Measurement Systems: Austrian specialist in LiDAR and laser measurement for industrial, surveying, and outdoor applications. Overlaps with Hokuyo's higher-end distance sensors and outdoor-rated LiDAR used in ports, cranes, and mobile robotics.
- SICK AG: German global leader in industrial sensors including safety laser scanners, LiDAR, distance sensors, and automation solutions. Most direct competitor to Hokuyo across nearly every product category, with comparable safety certification footprint (ISO 13849, IEC 61496) and broader industrial automation portfolio.
- Keyence Corporation: Japanese industrial sensor and measurement company offering laser distance sensors, safety devices, and vision systems for factory automation. Closest Japanese peer to Hokuyo's parent company with overlapping portfolio in laser-based industrial sensing and direct competition in logistics automation.
- Micro-Epsilon: German precision measurement sensor manufacturer offering laser distance, LiDAR, and optical measurement solutions. Closely comparable product set to Hokuyo's laser distance sensors and optical sensing lines, especially for industrial automation and process control.
- Ouster (Velodyne): US-based LiDAR company (now merged with Velodyne) specializing in 2D and 3D digital flash LiDAR for robotics, industrial automation, and smart infrastructure. Direct competitor in the 2D/3D LiDAR category serving AMR/AGV and outdoor robotics markets.
- Pepperl+Fuchs: German industrial sensor specialist with strong position in factory automation, including ultrasonic, photoelectric, and laser distance sensors. Comparable to Hokuyo in factory and process automation verticals, with a more extensive global FAE network.
Broad incumbents
- Teledyne Technologies: Large US diversified industrial conglomerate with Teledyne FLIR and other subsidiaries producing imaging, sensing, and instrumentation for industrial, defense, and scientific markets. Broad incumbent in measurement and sensing with overlapping capabilities to Hokuyo's LiDAR and instrumentation portfolio.
- Hexagon AB: Swedish global provider of sensors, software, and autonomous solutions for manufacturing, geospatial, and industrial automation. Competes in industrial measurement, laser scanning, and factory automation sensor markets; broader portfolio but overlapping end-customers with Hokuyo.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
Hokuyo Automatic social profiles
Digital presenceHokuyo Automatic compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance3 records
Hokuyo Automatic financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Hokuyo Automatic leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Hokuyo Automatic funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Hokuyo Automatic M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments1 record
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Hokuyo Automatic
What does Hokuyo Automatic do?
Hokuyo Automatic USA Corporation manufactures and sells industrial laser-based sensors — including LiDAR sensors, safety laser scanners, laser distance sensors, optical data transmission devices, hot metal detectors, and obstacle detection sensors — for use in factory automation, material handling, and process industry applications. The company serves as the North American distribution and support arm for the parent Hokuyo Automatic Co., Ltd. of Japan.
Is Hokuyo Automatic a public or private company?
Hokuyo Automatic is a private company. It is classified as corporate owned and is currently operating.
When was Hokuyo Automatic founded?
Hokuyo Automatic was founded in 2003. It employs 1 to 10 people.
Where is Hokuyo Automatic based?
Hokuyo Automatic is headquartered in Indian Trail, United States, in the North America region.
How does Hokuyo Automatic make money?
One revenue line is on record: industrial Sensor Hardware Sales.
Who are Hokuyo Automatic's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are ifm electronic, Banner Engineering, RIEGL Laser Measurement Systems, SICK AG, Keyence Corporation, Micro-Epsilon, Ouster (Velodyne) and Pepperl+Fuchs. Broad incumbents are Teledyne Technologies and Hexagon AB.
Does Hokuyo Automatic have an API?
No public API is recorded for Hokuyo Automatic.
What industry is Hokuyo Automatic in?
Hokuyo Automatic's product category is Industrial Optical Sensors. Its primary akta.pro industry code is IMAGAGAL, Sensors & Instrumentation Electronics Manufacturing Services (Transmitters, analyzers, industrial sensors), with a secondary code of IMAGAJAO, Industrial-Grade Sensors & Transducer Components (Discrete sensing elements, transducers, MEMS sensors). Its NAICS code is 334519 and its SIC code is 3823.