Showa

What Showa does

Showa Corporation (株式会社昭和コーポレーション) is a Tokyo-headquartered Japanese specialty industrial company operating across three integrated functions: a sales/distribution arm that procures and resells 2,000+ pipe-work, insulation, and housing-equipment SKUs to construction material wholesalers and sub-contractors; a manufacturing arm that designs and produces proprietary pipe-support hardware led by the Insulation Sleeper (a urethane-foam pipe support developed in 1969 and still produced at an ISO 9001-certified Gifu factory); and an engineering arm that designs and manages thermal-insulation, fireproofing, and HVAC installation projects for buildings, plants, and process facilities. The company sells through 13 domestic sales offices covering all major Japanese regions and through subsidiaries and agents in Vietnam and other Southeast Asian markets, with SHOWA TECH VIETNAM's new Ba Ria – Vung Tau factory (opened June 2025) extending offshore manufacturing capacity.

The company was founded in 1953 as Showa Asbesite Kogyo K.K., incorporated in January 1954, renamed Showa Corporation in 1987, and has operated since February 2020 as a wholly owned subsidiary of Chudenko Corporation (株式会社中電工), a publicly listed Japanese electrical construction company. End customers include general contractors (Zenecon/Subcon), power and chemical plant operators, waste-to-energy and wastewater facilities, LNG infrastructure, district heating and cooling (DHC) operators, food and pharmaceutical factories, and commercial/institutional buildings. Showa combines proprietary hardware (Beauty Clamp series, SC Keeper Hanger, SC Keeper Fittings, SC B-type seismic fittings, SC Flex, SC Pex), distributed third-party materials, and on-site engineering under one umbrella, supported by BIM/CAD data integration with the Rebro platform and an electronic catalog (iCata).

Revenue for FY ending March 2025 was ¥23.7B (~US$155M) with 386 employees. The business model is project-based across three revenue streams — in-house hardware sales, third-party material distribution, and engineering construction services — with no public product pricing and project-by-project contract economics typical of Japanese specialty contractors. Strategic priorities visible in recent activity include Vietnam manufacturing build-out, recurring proprietary-hardware product extensions (Beauty Clamp variants, SC Custom Hangers Series), and organizational restructurings to clarify engineering-division reporting lines.

Name

Showa

Legal name

株式会社昭和コーポレーション

Website

https://showa-cp.jp

Company type

Private

Founded year

1954

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

251–500 employees

Short description

Showa Corporation is a Japanese specialty thermal-insulation and pipe-support company combining proprietary hardware manufacturing (Insulation Sleeper, SC Keeper, Beauty Clamp), third-party material distribution, and on-site engineering services for construction, plant, and HVAC customers in Japan and Southeast Asia.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Thermal Insulation and Pipe Support Products

NAICS

Urethane and Other Foam Product (except Polystyrene) Manufacturing (32615), Drywall and Insulation Contractors (238310)

SIC

Plastics Foam Products (3086)

akta.pro primary industry

Insulation & Air/Vapor Barrier Systems (Thermal, Acoustic, WRB/AVB) (IMAFAMAD)

akta.pro secondary industries

Polyurethane (PU) Rigid Foam Manufacturing (IMANAIAD), Duct Sealing, Insulation & Airflow Balancing (HSAOAIAH)

Keywords

• Pipe support hardware
• Thermal insulation materials
• HVAC engineering services
• Pipe insulation systems
• Building equipment trading

Headquarters

HQ city

Tokyo

HQ country

Japan

HQ region

Asia

Offices11 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. 自社製品製造販売: 独自開発の配管支持金具（インシュレーションスリーパー、SCキープハンガー、美しくープ等）の製造・銷售
2. 仕入商材販売: 他社メーカーからの管工機材、保温材、空調関連部材の販売。2000品目以上取り扱い
3. エンジニアリング事業: 保温・保冷・防熱・防凍・防火等の断熱工事設計・施工管理、ducts工事、防音工事等の各種設備工事
4. 海外展開事業: 東南アジアを中心とした海外代理店網を活用した製品販売

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion4 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Showa Corporation manufactures, distributes, and installs thermal insulation and pipe support products for buildings and industrial plants. The company operates three integrated divisions—Sales (distribution of piping materials and insulation products), Manufacturing (proprietary products such as Insulation Sleepers, SC Keeper Hangers/Fittings, and Beauty Clamp), and Engineering (design and construction management of insulation and HVAC works). Its proprietary Insulation Sleeper, a urethane foam pipe support developed in 1969, anchors its thermal insulation solutions portfolio.

Product overview

Showa Corporation offers a comprehensive portfolio of thermal insulation and pipe support products organized into three core divisions: Sales (distribution of piping materials and insulation), Manufacturing (in-house product development and production), and Engineering (construction and installation). Core in-house products include Insulation Sleepers (thermal pipe supports in L/M/V types), SC Keeper Hanger (air conditioning pipe supports), SC Keeper Fittings (vibration damping hardware), SC B種 Seismic Fittings (earthquake-resistant restraints), and various pipe support hardware (hanger bands, stand bands, clamps, angles, brackets, channels). PB products include SC Flex flexible piping, SC Pex cross-linked polyethylene pipe, and SC Seal Tape. The company also offers specialized products like Beauty Clamp Series, SC Keeper Cable Holders, and SC Custom Hangers. All products are available through Rebro BIM data integration and electronic catalog (iCata).

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Insulation Sleeper Urethane foam pipe support for thermal insulation of hot/cold water, refrigerant, and LNG pipes. Prevents condensation and heat loss at supporting points. Available in L, M, and V types covering wide temperature range from cryogenic to high temperature. For piping contractors, HVAC installers, and plant engineers.
• SC Keeper Hanger Air conditioning pipe support for coated copper pipes and drain pipes. Uses Men Guard at pipe contact points to prevent coating material crushing. For HVAC installers and building equipment contractors.
• SC Keeper Fittings Vibration damping and pipe restraint hardware for HVAC systems. Includes Y-type, X-type, Z-type, and slant joint fittings in various configurations (pre/post-installation). For HVAC installers and seismic compliance applications.
• SC Type B Seismic Keeper Fittings Earthquake-resistant pipe vibration restraint fittings for seismic compliance. Available in post-installation bolt fixation and pre-installation types. For building and plant piping installations requiring seismic safety.
• Hanger Bands and Turnbuckles Hanging support hardware for pipe installation including hanger bands and turnbuckles for adjustable pipe mounting. For piping and HVAC installation contractors.
• Stand Bands and Mounts Vertical pipe support bands and mounting feet for standing pipe installations. For piping contractors and building equipment installers.
• Clamps Pipe clamping hardware for secure pipe fixation in various configurations. For piping and HVAC installation contractors.
• Angles, Brackets and Channels Structural support components including angles, brackets, and channel sections for building pipe support systems. For piping and HVAC installation contractors.
• Beauty Clamp Series Steel hanger clamps for suspending all-thread from steel structures. Includes various types for H-steel, channel steel, and angle steel with reinforcement options. For piping and HVAC installation contractors requiring overhead mounting.
• Level Band Floor-level adjustable pipe mounting brackets with height adjustment capability for floor-based pipe installations. For drainage pipe and HVAC installation contractors.
• Roller Band Roller-mounted pipe support brackets allowing thermal expansion movement in pipe systems. For piping contractors requiring thermal expansion accommodation.
• Vibration Isolation Series Anti-vibration mounting hardware to reduce vibration and noise transmission from pipe systems to building structures. For HVAC installers and building equipment contractors.
• Sealing Plates and Hoppers Sealing plates and hoppers for pipe penetration sealing and debris collection in floor/ceiling penetrations. For piping and HVAC installation contractors.
• Sleeves Pipe sleeves for wall/floor/beam penetrations including beam, spiral, wall, deck, and bed types. For building and plant piping installations.
• SC Flex Flexible piping product for water supply installations with excellent flexibility and corrosion resistance. For plumbing and water supply installation contractors.
• SC Pex Cross-linked polyethylene pipe for water supply with superior corrosion resistance, hygiene, and durability. Lightweight and flexible with easy installation. For plumbing and water supply installation contractors.
• SC Seal Tape

Quantifiable outcome

• 施工実績5000件以上
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers6 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration2 records

Feature5 records

Partnerships

Six partnerships are on record, tiered core, key and minor.

• SHOWA TECH VIETNAM CO., LTD. (STV)coreOthers · 11 June 2025昭和コーポレーションのベトナム子会社。バリアブンタウ省に所在。インシュレーションスリーパーの製造を担当。2025年6月に新工場の開所式を行った。
• SHOWA VIETNAM CO.,LTD.coreOthers · 2 December 2024昭和コーポレーションのベトナム子会社。1969年の設立。ホーチミン市に位置し、ベトナム市場での販売・サービスを提供。2024年12月にCity View Buildingに移転。
• ベトナムの協力工場coreOEM/ Whitelabel/ Licensing Partnerベトナムにある協力工場からの製品調達及品質管理を行う。開発購買部門が�的管理・調整を担当。
• 中南海の代理店・パートナー企業keyChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributorベトナム、中国、インドネシ西亚、シンガポール、タイ、ミャンマー、マレーシ亞、韓国に代理店网を構築。日本と海外拠点とのネットワーク体制で取引を展開。
• 株式会社カルモアminorStrategic or Co-development Partner除菌脱臭ソリューションを提供。SHOWA VIETNAMのFDI優良企業受賞において、カルモア製品の販売・コンサルタントレーションが評価された。
• 仕入商材パートナー（50社以上）minorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributorサンコー侏式会社、サンコー�テクノ侏式会社、日本パワーファスニング侏式会社、マーベル侏式会社、三門侏式会社、ユニカ侏式会社、ロブテックス侏式会社、ニチアス侏式会社等、50社以上のメーカーと取り引き。

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves11 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• DAI-DAN: Japanese HVAC and building services engineering firm serving offices, hospitals, factories, and clean rooms. Competes directly with Showa on insulation engineering contracts and serves a similar enterprise/general-contractor customer set.
• Shinryo Corporation: Specialist Japanese HVAC/clean-room engineering contractor with a focus on thermal insulation, refrigeration, and cleanroom systems. Comparable to Showa on insulation engineering scope and on serving semiconductor, pharmaceutical, and industrial customers.
• Sanki Engineering: Leading Japanese building services and HVAC engineering contractor that designs and installs heating, cooling, and sanitary systems for commercial and industrial facilities. Overlaps with Showa's engineering services and target customer base of large commercial/industrial facility owners.
• Takasago Thermal Engineering: Major Japanese HVAC and industrial insulation engineering firm with an integrated model covering design, construction, and proprietary equipment manufacturing. Closely mirrors Showa's three-pillar structure and is the most directly comparable peer in the Japanese thermal insulation space.
• Kanden Engineering: Japanese electrical and HVAC engineering subsidiary of Kansai Electric, providing integrated building equipment solutions across commercial, industrial, and power-plant customers. Comparable to Showa on integrated engineering-services-plus-equipment-supply positioning.
• Kyudenko: Kyushu-based Japanese electrical construction and HVAC engineering firm structurally similar to Showa's parent Chudenko. Comparable in business model — design-build of electrical and mechanical systems for commercial/industrial customers — and is a useful proxy for Showa's parent-group economics.
• Nippon Muki: Japanese specialist manufacturer of inorganic insulation materials (rock wool, glass wool) for building and industrial applications. Directly comparable to Showa on insulation materials supply and overlaps on HVAC/plant engineering end markets.

Broad incumbents

• Sekisui Chemical: Large Japanese materials conglomerate with a building products portfolio that includes foam-based insulation and piping systems. A broader incumbent than Showa, but competes on insulation specification for Japanese residential and commercial construction.
• Inoac Corporation: Diversified Japanese manufacturer of foam, rubber, and plastic products including polyurethane foam insulation materials. Overlaps with Showa's Insulation Sleeper product line on foam-based insulation and competes on broader industrial foam markets.
• Asahi Kasei: Major Japanese diversified materials/chemicals conglomerate that produces insulation products (foam, aerogel) and building materials globally. Competes with Showa on specification of insulation materials in larger-scale construction and industrial projects.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights8 records

Customer concentration

• Instagraminstagram.com/showacorp_recruit

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

Subsidiaries2 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 Showa