Rockgate

Name

Rockgate

Legal name

ブルーフォース株式会社

Website

https://rockgateco.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2017

Operating status

Operating

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Scientific Research Instruments

NAICS

Refrigeration Equipment and Supplies Merchant Wholesalers (423740), Ventilation, Heating, Air-Conditioning, and Commercial Refrigeration Equipment Manufacturing (3334)

SIC

Refrigeration & Service Industry Machinery (3580), Air-Cond & Warm Air Heatg Equip & Comm & Indl Refrig Equip (3585)

akta.pro primary industry

Cryogenic Systems & Cryostats (HDAGABAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

Cryocoolers & Refrigeration Units (HDAGABAB), Sample Preparation, Storage & Cryogenics (Freezers, Cryovials, Cryostats) (HLAGAIAJ)

Keywords

• Cryogenic equipment distribution
• Dilution refrigerators
• Quantum computing electronics
• Nanopositioning systems
• Scientific research instruments

Headquarters

HQ city

Tokyo

HQ country

Japan

HQ region

Asia

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Supply Chain, Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Operations, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Scientific Instrument Distribution & Sales: Rockgate distributes and sells scientific research equipment from international manufacturers (attocube, Bluefors, Cryomech, Zurich Instruments, Quantum Machines, Supercon) to Japanese research institutions, universities, and companies. Revenue is generated through product sales, with technical consultation, installation, and after-sales service support.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels1 record

Core offering

Rockgate distributes and sells ultra-low temperature cryogenic systems, vacuum equipment, nanopositioning stages, scanning probe microscopes, quantum computing control electronics, helium management systems, and superconducting materials to Japanese academic and corporate research customers. The company serves as the Japanese distribution channel for international manufacturers including Bluefors, attocube systems, Cryomech, Zurich Instruments, Quantum Machines, and Supercon, providing Japanese-language sales consultation, installation, and technical support.

Product overview

Rockgate (ブルーフォース株式会社) is a distributor of scientific research equipment specializing in ultra-low temperature and vacuum technology. The product portfolio centers on cryogenic systems including cryogen-free dilution refrigerators (Bluefors LD/XLD series), pulse tube cryocoolers (CRYOMECH), and low-vibration cryostats (attoDRY series). Supporting infrastructure includes precision piezo nanopositioners (attocube ANP series), helium reliquefaction systems (HeRL series), and superconducting wire materials. For quantum technology research, the company offers electronics for qubit control and readout (Zurich Instruments HDAWG, SHFQA, SHFSG, PQSC, UHFQA) and cryogenic sample management (Quantum Machines QCage, QDAC, QFilter, QBoard). Scientific microscopy capabilities include atomic force microscopes (attoAFM I/III), confocal laser scanning microscopes (attoCFM I/IV), and Raman microscopes (attoRAMAN) all operating at ultra-low temperatures. The company serves advanced scientific research institutions requiring precision measurement and control equipment for quantum computing, condensed matter physics, and materials science applications.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• CRYOMECH Pulse Tube Cryocoolers Low-vibration pulse tube cryocooler systems from CRYOMECH with long maintenance cycles, distributed to Japanese research institutions and laboratories.
• Helium Reliquefaction Plants (LHeP) Compact helium management equipment providing 15-80 liters per day reliquefaction capacity for research facilities.
• HeRL Helium Reliquefiers Compact drop-in style helium reliquefaction devices for experimental equipment, models HeRL02 through HeRL20 offering 2-20L/day reliquefaction capacity for room temperature gas and up to 40L/day for 4.2K cold gas, using low-vibration pulse tube cryocoolers.
• attoDRY Series Cryostats Cryogen-free, low-vibration cryostats from attocube systems for optical measurements and scanning probe microscopy applications, including attoDRY800 with integrated optical table, attoDRY1000, attoDRY1100, and attoDRY2100 (1.5K system).
• Bluefors LD250/400 Dilution Refrigerators Cryogen-free dilution refrigerators from Bluefors providing cooling to sub-10mK temperatures, with LD400 offering 15µW cooling capacity at 20mK with automated operation and spacious experimental volume.
• Bluefors XLD400/1000 Dilution Refrigerators Large-aperture cryogen-free dilution refrigerators with expanded sample space for larger experimental setups in advanced quantum computing and condensed matter research.
• ANP Series Piezo Nanopositioners Precision positioning stages from attocube systems using piezoceramic actuators achieving nanometer-level precision over centimeter ranges, including linear, rotation, goniometer, and scanner types for environments from room temperature to ultra-low temperature and ultra-high vacuum.
• attoAFM Atomic Force Microscopes Ultra-low temperature atomic force microscopes from attocube systems including attoAFM I (cantilever type) and attoAFM III (tuning fork type), supporting MFM, PFM, KPFM, and ct-AFM modes for measurements down to 4K and below.
• attoCFM Confocal Laser Scanning Microscopes Cryogenic confocal laser scanning microscopes from attocube systems enabling 3D optical imaging at ultra-low temperatures and high magnetic fields, including attoCFM I (free-beam) and attoCFM IV (transmission measurement), supporting fluorescence, luminescence, and Raman measurements.
• attoRAMAN Cryogenic Raman Microscope High-resolution cryogenic confocal Raman microscope from attocube systems combined with spectrometer for microscopy Raman spectroscopy and imaging in magnetic fields up to 15T.
• HDAWG Arbitrary Waveform Generator Multi-channel arbitrary waveform generator from Zurich Instruments with 750MHz bandwidth, 4 or 8 channels, 16-bit resolution, supporting quantum computing control with 50ns trigger latency.
• SHFQA Quantum Analyzer Zurich Instruments 8.5GHz quantum analyzer enabling real-time readout of up to 64 superconducting and semiconductor qubits in a single instrument.
• SHFSG Signal Generator Zurich Instruments 8.5GHz signal generator with 1GHz bandwidth and spurious-free modulation for qubit control in quantum computing applications.
• PQSC Programmable Quantum System Controller Zurich Instruments programmable quantum system controller integrating control electronics for up to 100 qubits with ultra-low latency ZSync communication.
• UHFQA 600MHz Quantum Analyzer Zurich Instruments quantum analyzer for simultaneous readout of up to 10 superconducting or spin qubits with high fidelity and nanosecond resolution.
• QCage Microwave Cavity Sample Holder Quantum Machines (QDevil) microwave cavity-based sample holder for superconducting qubit measurement achieving high fidelity and low loss; model QCage.24 features 24 coplanar transmission lines.
• QDAC High-Precision Voltage Source Quantum Machines precision voltage generator designed for DC and low-frequency control of high-impedance devices in quantum computing experiments.
• QFilter Low-Temperature Low-Pass Filter Multi-stage low-pass filter from Quantum Machines for dilution refrigerators and cryostats to achieve low electron temperature and low noise.
• QBoard Cryogenic Sample Holder Modular PCB-based sample holder from Quantum Machines for spin qubit chips and superconducting circuit cryogenic electronics.
• Superconducting Wires Supercon superconducting wires including NbTi, Nb3Sn, and CuNi types for MRI, NMR, and scientific magnet applications.

Segments2 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Six partnerships are on record, tiered major and core.

• CryomechmajorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 1 January 2025American manufacturer of pulse tube cryocoolers, Gifford-McMahon cryocoolers, and helium reliquefaction systems (plants and experimental equipment reliquefiers). Cryomech products were added to Rockgate's portfolio in April 2025.
• attocube systems AGcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorGerman company and primary supplier of nanopositioners, ultra-low temperature cryostats (attoDRY series), scanning probe microscopes (attoAFM, attoCFM, attoRAMAN), and accessories. Rockgate is the exclusive or primary Japanese distributor for attocube products, which are a core part of Rockgate's catalog.
• Bluefors OycoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorFinnish manufacturer of dry dilution refrigerators (LD250, LD400, XLD series) and helium management systems. Rockgate's company name change to 'Bluefors K.K.' (ブルーフォース株式会社) reflects this close relationship. Bluefors products are a flagship offering in Rockgate's cryogenic equipment lineup.
• Zurich InstrumentscoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorSwiss manufacturer of quantum computing control electronics including HDAWG, UHFQA, SHFQA, SHFSG, and PQSC. These products are critical for superconducting and spin qubit control and readout in quantum computing research.
• Quantum Machines (QDevil)majorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorIsraeli/Danish manufacturer of quantum computing accessories including QDAC (high-precision voltage source), QCage (microwave cavity sample holder for superconducting qubits), QFilter (cryogenic low-pass filter), QBox (breakout box), and QBoard (cryogenic sample holder).
• Supercon Inc.majorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorAmerican manufacturer of superconducting wires (NbTi, Nb3Sn, CuNi) and high-strength alloy materials used in cryogenic and superconducting magnet applications.

Scale indicators1 record

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Bluefors Oy: Bluefors is the Finnish parent and global leader in cryogen-free dilution refrigerators; it is the upstream principal for Rockgate's flagship product line and operates its own direct-sales channels in other regions, serving the same customer category globally.
• JEOL Ltd. JEOL is a major Japanese manufacturer of electron microscopes, NMR, and scientific instruments that serves overlapping academic and corporate R&D customers; though much larger and broader, it competes for the same cryo-microscopy and materials-science research budgets.
• Shimadzu Corporation: Shimadzu is a major Japanese scientific instrument manufacturer spanning analytical, measurement, and materials-testing equipment, serving the same Japanese university and corporate R&D base with overlapping but broader capabilities.

Emerging players

• Quantum Machines: Quantum Machines (including QDevil) is the Israeli/Danish quantum-control electronics and cryogenic accessory supplier whose QCage, QDAC, QFilter, and QBoard products Rockgate distributes in Japan; it pursues direct sales globally to the same quantum-research customer base.
• Zurich Instruments: Zurich Instruments is the Swiss manufacturer of quantum control electronics (HDAWG, SHFQA, SHFSG, PQSC) that Rockgate distributes in Japan; it has its own direct-sales presence in major markets and serves the same quantum-research buyer profile.
• attocube systems AG: attocube is the German nanopositioner, low-temperature cryostat, and scanning-probe microscope manufacturer that is Rockgate's primary supplier; it sells directly in Europe/US while relying on distributors elsewhere, making it both a partner and a partial channel competitor.

Direct peers

• Japan Laser Corporation: Japan Laser is a long-established Tokyo-based distributor of advanced photonics, laser, and quantum-optics equipment to Japanese universities and labs — a directly comparable specialty channel-peer in the same domestic research-instrument market.
• Tokyo Instruments, Inc. Tokyo Instruments is a Japanese specialty scientific instrument distributor focused on optics, precision positioning, and cryogenics-adjacent measurement equipment for academic and industrial research labs — the closest direct channel-peer to Rockgate in Japan.

Regional players

• Sigma Koki Co., Ltd. Sigma Koki is a Japanese manufacturer and distributor of optical components, positioning stages, and cryogenic optical hardware serving research labs — comparable as a domestic specialty scientific-equipment channel.

Others

• Cryomech, Inc. Cryomech is the US manufacturer of pulse tube and Gifford-McMahon cryocoolers and helium reliquefaction systems recently added to Rockgate's portfolio; it operates primarily direct and through other distributors in adjacent geographies.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 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 Rockgate