Furukawa Unic

What Furukawa Unic does

Furukawa Unic (古河ユニック株式会社) is a Japanese industrial machinery manufacturer, founded in 1946 and headquartered in Tokyo, that designs, manufactures, and sells the UNIC brand of truck-mounted hydraulic cranes, mini crawler cranes, ocean (marine) cranes, knuckle boom cranes (UNIC PAL), grapple loaders, and vehicle carriers (UNIC Carrier). Wholly owned by the diversified Furukawa Kikai Kinzoku Group (Furukawa Mechanical Metal), the company operates as the group's core machinery entity, with registered capital of ¥200 million and primary manufacturing at the ISO 9001/ISO 14001-certified Sakura Factory in Chiba Prefecture. Its product line spans small to ultra-large crane classes for GVW 2-25t vehicles, leveraging proprietary technologies including digital load cells, eco-pump fuel-saving systems (up to 40% fuel reduction), Japan-first battery-powered mini crawler cranes, joystick radio controls, moment limiter overload prevention systems, and NETIS-registered products for public construction tenders.

The company monetizes primarily through B2B hardware sales distributed exclusively via a nationwide Japanese network of 42 sales company locations (関係販売会社・事業所) and 400+ designated service factories (指定サービス工場), supplemented by wholly-owned manufacturing and sales subsidiaries in Thailand (1997), China (Tai'an Furukawa Machinery, 2003), and Russia (LLC FURUKAWA UNIC RUS, 2012). Products are sold as truck-mounted equipment installed on customer vehicles by third-party certified body builders. Key customer verticals include logistics and transportation, forestry, construction and heavy equipment, industrial and agricultural machinery, residential construction, marine and port operations, and waste/scrap handling. The UNIC PAL line is sourced through technology partnerships with Austria's PALFINGER AG and its subsidiary EPSILON for knuckle boom crane distribution.

The go-to-market model is channel-driven: pricing is not publicly disclosed, with prospective B2B buyers directed to the nearest dealer for direct quotation. Furukawa Unic supplements dealer-led sales with a marketing mix spanning trade shows (e.g., EE Tohoku '26 with VR crane training), official YouTube and Instagram content, downloadable product catalogs and CAD data, and NETIS PR targeting public construction procurement. Revenue concentration is mitigated by the long-tail customer base across multiple verticals and the service-network-driven recurring parts and maintenance relationship with installed-base customers.

Name

Furukawa Unic

Legal name

FURUKAWA UNIC CORPORATION

Website

https://furukawaunic.co.jp

Company type

Private

Founded year

1946

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

251–500 employees

Short description

Furukawa Unic (古河ユニック株式会社), founded 1946 and headquartered in Tokyo, manufactures UNIC-branded truck-mounted hydraulic cranes, mini crawler cranes, ocean cranes, knuckle boom cranes, grapple loaders, and vehicle carriers for B2B customers in logistics, construction, forestry, marine, and industrial/agricultural sectors across Japan and select international markets.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Tokyo

HQ country

Japan

HQ region

Asia

Offices5 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. UNIC Crane Manufacturing & Sales: Design, manufacture, and sale of truck-mounted cranes (ユニッククレーン), mini crawler cranes, ocean cranes, and related products. Revenue generated from product sales to B2B customers through dealer network.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Furukawa Unic designs, manufactures, and sells UNIC-branded hydraulic truck-mounted cranes, mini crawler cranes, ocean (marine-mounted) cranes, UNIC Pal knuckle boom cranes, grapple loaders, and UNIC Carrier vehicle transport systems for logistics, construction, forestry, marine, and industrial machinery customers. Products are sold through a nationwide network of 42 dealer sales locations and 400+ designated service factories across Japan, supported by ISO 9001/14001-certified manufacturing at the Sakura Factory in Chiba Prefecture and wholly-owned overseas subsidiaries in Thailand, China, and Russia.

Product overview

Furukawa Unic manufactures the UNIC brand of industrial cranes and carriers as part of the Furukawa Kinzoku Group. The product portfolio consists of six core product lines: (1) UNIC Cranes (truck-mounted hydraulic cranes in URG/URU and G-FORCE series), (2) Mini Crawler Cranes (compact URW/URU series and U-CUBE residential cranes), (3) Ocean Cranes (marine-mounted UBV/UBU series), (4) UNIC Pal knuckle boom cranes (EPSILON and PALFINGER series), (5) Grapple Loaders (UF forestry series), and (6) UNIC Carriers (vehicle transporters including Neo5/NeoEX, standard, Hi-Carrier, and medium models). Supporting accessories include radio control devices and LCD remote controls. The company operates from Sakura Factory in Chiba Prefecture and maintains nationwide sales and service networks.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• UNIC Crane (ユニッククレーン) URG/URU Series Truck-mounted hydraulic cranes available in small, medium, and large sizes for GVW 2-25t class vehicles, featuring radio remote control, moment limiters, and various boom configurations. Sold to logistics, construction, and industrial fleet operators through the UNIC nationwide dealer network.
• UNIC Crane G-FORCE Series (新型G-FORCEシリーズ) Advanced truck-mounted crane series with digital load indicators, LCD remote controls, and intelligent crane control systems including direct motion mode and memory motion mode. Sold to logistics and construction fleet operators requiring advanced digital control.
• UNIC Crane Battery-Powered UE Series (バッテリー式 ユニッククレーン) Battery-powered truck-mounted crane for in-bed installation, featuring DC12V/24V power supply and compact design for 4-number registration vehicles. Targeted at urban, indoor, and emission-restricted sites requiring zero exhaust operation.
• Mini Crawler Crane URW/URU Series (ミニ・クローラクレーン) Compact crawler-mounted cranes for narrow spaces, available with gasoline engine, diesel engine, or battery power. Features 360° full rotation and lifting capacities from 495kg to 2.93t. Sold to construction, facility maintenance, and indoor site operators needing compact lifting equipment.
• U-CUBE Residential Construction Crane (U-CUBE 住宅建築用クレーン) Residential construction crane with luffing boom for housing construction sites, featuring maximum lifting capacity of 980kg and maximum working height of 21-27m. Targeted at residential builders needing compact, maneuverable lifting equipment on housing construction sites.
• Ocean Crane UBV/UBU Series (オーシャンクレーン) Marine/ship-mounted hydraulic cranes for vessel loading and unloading operations, featuring 3- to 5-section boom configurations and corrosion-resistant construction. Sold to shipbuilders, vessel operators, and port cargo handlers.
• UNIC Pal EPSILON Series Knuckle Boom Crane (ユニックパル EPSILONシリーズ) Knuckle boom cranes for forestry and industrial waste/scrap applications, featuring linkage systems, double-rack rotation, and KTL rust-preventive coating. Available in various sizes for GVW 8-25t vehicles. Supplied by EPSILON (PALFINGER subsidiary) and distributed by Furukawa Unic in Japan.
• UNIC Pal PALFINGER Series Knuckle Boom Crane (ユニックパル PALFINGERシリーズ) General-purpose knuckle boom cranes for GVW 8t and larger vehicle classes, distributed by Furukawa Unic under partnership with PALFINGER AG for general-purpose loading applications in the Japanese market.
• Grapple Loader UF Series (グラップルローダ) Forestry grapple loaders for forwarder mounting, featuring direct control, unique cross lever mechanism, and 400° rotation range. Lifting capacity of 490-495kg. Sold to forestry operators and timber harvesting companies.
• UNIC Carrier Neo5 / NeoEX / NeoA Series (ユニックキャリア) Vehicle carriers for transporting construction equipment and vehicles, featuring low loading angles (~3-5°), hydraulic sliding mechanisms, and LED work lights. Sold to construction equipment transporters and vehicle haulage operators.
• UNIC Carrier Standard Series (ユニックキャリア) Vehicle carriers including UC-28, UC-36, and UC-21W (2-car carrier) models with various specifications for loading angles and vehicle capacities. Sold to vehicle transport and recovery service operators.
• Hi-Carrier (ハイキャリア) Heavy equipment transporters for medium to large trucks, featuring 4-10t winch capacity and horizontal balance mechanisms for uneven terrain operations. Sold to heavy equipment haulage and recovery operators.
• Medium UNIC Carrier (中型ユニックキャリア) Medium-sized vehicle carriers for 4-6.5t class trucks, including UC-45C and UC-41 series with various loading configurations. Sold to medium-duty vehicle transport operators.
• UNIC Crane with Carrier (ユニックキャリア クレーン付き) Vehicle carriers equipped with integrated G-FORCE truck-mounted cranes, combining transport and lifting capabilities in a single vehicle. Sold to vehicle recovery and roadside service operators.

Quantifiable outcome

• Up to 40% fuel consumption reduction (from 5.2L/hr to 3.1L/hr) achieved by U-can ECO series eco-crane technology
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers2 records

Segments7 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature11 records

Partnerships

Eight partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Furukawa Mechanical Metal Co., Ltd. (古河機械金属株式会社)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerParent company and sole investor in Furukawa Unic. Furukawa Mechanical Metal Group is a diversified industrial group established in 1875, operating mechanical and material businesses. The group comprises 3 mechanical companies and 3 material companies centered on the holding company Furukawa Mechanical Metal. Full ownership of Furukawa Unic with registered capital of ¥200 million.
• Furukawa Mechanical Metal Group (古河機械金属グループ)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCorporate group comprising Furukawa Mechanical Metal (holding company), Furukawa Unic, Furukawa Sanki Systems (pumps, crushers), Furukawa Rock Drill (tunneling equipment, hydraulic breakers), Furukawa Metal Resources (copper, gold, silver), Furukawa Electronics (semiconductor materials), and Furukawa Chemicals (sulfuric acid). Furukawa Unic is a core member of the group's machinery business segment.
• PALFINGER AGcoreTechnology or IntegrationAustrian manufacturer supplying crane components for the UNIC PAL general-purpose product line. Furukawa Unic distributes PALFINGER-manufactured knuckle boom cranes (PK series) under the UNIC PAL brand for general-purpose applications in the Japanese market.
• EPSILON ( Subsidiary of PALFINGER)coreTechnology or IntegrationCrane manufacturer supplying lifting equipment for the UNIC PAL forestry and waste/scrap processing product lines. EPSILON knuckle boom cranes (M, C, Q series) are distributed under the UNIC PAL brand in Japan, targeting forestry and industrial waste management applications.
• FURUKAWA UNIC(THAILAND) CO. LTDminorOthersWholly-owned subsidiary established in 1997 for manufacturing and sales operations in Thailand and Southeast Asian markets.
• Tai'an Furukawa Machinery Co., Ltd. (泰安古河机械有限公司)minorOthersWholly-owned subsidiary established in 2003 in Tai'an, Shandong Province, China, for manufacturing and sales operations. In 2020, this entity merged with Tai'an Furukawa Truck Crane Co., Ltd.
• Tai'an Furukawa Truck Crane Co., Ltd. (泰安古河随车起重机有限公司)minorOthersWholly-owned subsidiary established in 2009 in Tai'an, Shandong Province, China. This entity was merged into Tai'an Furukawa Machinery Co., Ltd. in 2020.
• LLC FURUKAWA UNIC RUSminorOthersWholly-owned subsidiary established in 2012 in Russia for manufacturing and sales operations in the Russian market.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• Manitowoc Cranes: Global heavy-lifting crane manufacturer (Grove, Potain, Manitowoc brands) producing crawler, mobile, and tower cranes. Competes with Furukawa Unic in larger lifting capacity segments and in international markets where Furukawa Unic expands.
• Terex Corporation: Global manufacturer of aerial work platforms, cranes, and materials processing equipment. Overlaps with Furukawa Unic in industrial/material handling applications, particularly in international markets.
• Liebherr: Global manufacturer of mobile and crawler cranes, with broad industrial equipment portfolio. Competes in truck-mounted segments across Asia and Oceania, with overlapping material handling applications.
• Kobelco Construction Machinery (Kobe Steel): Japanese heavy equipment manufacturer of crawler cranes and excavators. Comparable as a Japan-based machinery OEM serving construction and industrial end-markets with overlapping B2B dealer structures.

Direct peers

• Tadano Ltd. Japan's leading mobile crane manufacturer (truck-mounted, rough terrain, crawler cranes). Directly competes with Furukawa Unic in Japanese industrial/material handling crane market with similar B2B distribution and overlapping customer segments.
• Kato Works Co., Ltd. Japanese manufacturer of truck-mounted cranes, mini cranes, and aerial work platforms. Directly comparable as a Japan-based truck-mounted crane OEM serving similar customer base with overlapping B2B distribution.
• Maeda Seisakusho Co., Ltd. Japanese manufacturer of mini crawler cranes (spider cranes) and truck-mounted cranes. Direct competitor in compact/mini crawler segment where Furukawa Unic positions U-CUBE and URW series.
• PALFINGER AG: Austrian global leader in truck-mounted knuckle boom cranes and material handling equipment. Both a partner (supplying UNIC PAL line) and direct competitor across multiple product categories in Japan and Asia-Pacific. Highly comparable in product/customer/market.

Emerging players

• XCMG Group: One of the world's largest construction machinery manufacturers with a growing crane portfolio. Competes with Furukawa Unic in Asian and emerging markets on price; increasingly relevant competitor in Chinese and Southeast Asian geographies.
• Sany Heavy Industry: Chinese heavy equipment OEM rapidly expanding in mobile and crawler cranes globally. Direct competitor for cost-sensitive segments, particularly in Southeast Asia and other Furukawa Unic overseas markets.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCNUsDnorcr77fW4hxUnfs8Q
• Instagraminstagram.com/furukawa_unic_japan_official
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/furukawa-unic-corporation

Compliance2 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles7 records

Subsidiaries4 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 Furukawa Unic