Koken Chemical

What Koken Chemical does

Koken Chemical Co., Ltd. (コーケン化学株式会社) is a Japanese precision metal processing manufacturer founded in 1973 in Yokohama and wholly owned by United Precision Technologies Co., Ltd. (UPT) since 2017. Its core technology is photo-etching — a photolithographic chemical precision processing method that forms corrosion-resistant film patterns on metals and selectively corrodes exposed areas to produce micron-scale features without burrs, deformation, or work hardening. The company supplements photo-etching with diffusion bonding (thermo-compression bonding), which joins etched plates at the atomic level to produce complex 3D structures, deep holes, tapered holes, flow channels, and thick-plate products. It also offers secondary processing such as plating, spot welding, laser cutting, and wire cutting for a one-stop manufacturing service.

Koken Chemical's product portfolio is organized around four categories — filters and meshes, industrial parts, jigs and trays, and original parts — all produced from the same photo-etching process. The company serves customers in electronics and semiconductors (lead frames, heat spreaders, deposition masks, VCM springs for smartphone camera optical image stabilization), automotive (electronic components, sensor parts, oil filters, battery separators), and industrial equipment (fuel cell separators, heat exchangers, carrier tape). Maximum processing size is 500×2,000mm with plate thickness of 0.005–2.0mm, and quoted precision includes ±0.002mm stainless steel spacers.

The company operates a direct, sales-engineer-led go-to-market model from prototype (next-day shipping available) through mass production (1 unit to 10 million+ units), with pricing provided on a custom quote basis. As of January 2022, Koken Chemical's sales functions were integrated into UPT's sales department, while Koken Chemical continues as the manufacturing entity within the UPT Group network, which includes Kyosei Co., Ltd., Kyosei Factory (Thailand), Kyosei USA, and Kyosei Korea. The group reports world No. 1 market share in OIS VCM springs for high-end smartphones (2019 external survey) and was selected by Japan's METI as a 2020 Global Niche Top Company.

Name

Koken Chemical

Legal name

KOKEN CHEMICAL CO.,LTD.

Website

https://kohkenc.co.jp

Company type

Private

Founded year

1973

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Koken Chemical Co., Ltd. is a Japanese precision metal processing manufacturer (founded 1973, Yokohama) specializing in photo-etching and diffusion bonding for micron-scale components. Wholly owned by UPT Group, it serves electronics, semiconductor, automotive, and industrial OEMs with custom precision parts.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Precision Metal Parts Manufacturing

NAICS

Other Fabricated Metal Product Manufacturing (3329), Chemical Manufacturing (325), All Other Miscellaneous Chemical Product and Preparation Manufacturing (325998)

SIC

Miscellaneous Fabricated Metal Products (3490), Miscellaneous Chemical Products (2890)

akta.pro primary industry

Electronic & High-Purity Specialty Chemicals (IMAEABAD)

Keywords

• Photo etching services
• Precision metal parts
• Diffusion bonding
• Semiconductor lead frames
• Automotive electronic parts

Headquarters

HQ city

Yokohama

HQ country

Japan

HQ region

Asia

Offices6 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Precision Metal Parts Manufacturing: Custom precision metal parts manufacturing using photo-etching technology, serving customers from prototype to mass production. Revenue is generated through one-time manufacturing orders and production contracts for precision components across various industries including electronics, automotive, and semiconductors.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Koken Chemical Co., Ltd. is a contract manufacturer of precision metal parts produced via photo-etching (chemical precision processing) and diffusion bonding, with plate thickness from 0.005mm to 2.0mm and maximum processing size of 500×2,000mm. The company serves electronics, semiconductor, automotive, and industrial equipment OEMs with custom parts ranging from single-unit prototypes to mass production runs in the tens of millions, complemented by in-house plating, welding, and cutting services.

Product overview

Koken Chemical is a precision metal processing company offering a unified portfolio of photo-etching-based manufacturing services. The core offering centers on photo-etching technology for precision metal parts, supplemented by diffusion bonding for 3D structures and secondary processing services (plating, welding, cutting). Product categories include Filters and Meshes, Industrial Parts, Original Parts, and Jigs and Trays, all manufactured using the same core photo-etching process.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Filters and Meshes Precision metal filters and meshes manufactured using photo-etching technology, suitable for simultaneously drilling multiple holes and for thin plates laminated and joined by diffusion bonding to achieve high-aspect-ratio holes. Designed for industrial filtration applications.
• Industrial Parts Precision metal parts for industrial applications including spacers, printing machine parts, optical components, heat sinks, semiconductor package components, encoders, and cutter parts manufactured via photo-etching.
• Original Parts Custom-designed metal products such as book markers, clips, and coasters used for gifts and promotional purposes, produced using the company's precision metal processing technology.
• Jigs and Trays Metal jigs and trays for semiconductor and electronic component manufacturing, including trays, carriers, and metal masks used in deposition processes.
• Various Processing Technologies (Secondary Processing Services) Secondary processing services including bending, plating (gold, tin, nickel, black plating), spot welding, laser cutting, wire cutting, glass masks, and special PCBs offered as one-stop finishing capabilities alongside photo-etching.

Quantifiable outcome

• Prototype shipping in as little as 1-2 days
• +5 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

One partnership is on record.

• United Precision Technologies Co., Ltd. (UPT)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2022UPT is the parent holding company of Koken Chemical (100% subsidiary). On January 1, 2022, Koken Chemical's sales functions were integrated into UPT's sales department to provide unified customer service. UPT was established in 2015 as a fine precision technology integration company, with photo-etching as its core technology. It holds world No. 1 market share in OIS VCM springs for high-end smartphones and was selected as a 2020 Global Niche Top Company by METI.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Fotofab: US photo-chemical machining (PCM) company producing custom precision metal parts and etched components. Directly comparable to Koken's photo-etching service model and target verticals.
• TECH-ETCH: US photochemical etching manufacturer producing precision metal parts, flat springs, and EMI/RFI shields. Direct competitor in photo-etching services for electronics and medical device OEMs.
• Etchform: Dutch photochemical etching specialist producing precision metal components for electronics, medical and automotive customers. Comparable process technology and customer mix to Koken Chemical.
• MicroStamp: US precision metal parts manufacturer using photo-etching and stamping technologies to produce flat metal components for medical, electronics and aerospace OEMs. Direct comparable in process and customer overlap.
• Precision Micro: UK-based specialist in photochemical etching (photo-etching) of precision metal components. Direct competitor in the same chemical precision processing niche, serving electronics, medical, automotive and aerospace customers.

Broad incumbents

• Resonac (formerly Showa Denko): Japanese diversified specialty chemicals and electronic materials producer including semiconductor packaging materials and high-purity chemicals. Broader incumbent operating in adjacent categories to Koken's specialty chemical etching solutions.
• Mitsui High-tec: Japanese manufacturer of semiconductor lead frames and motor core parts, serving many of the same semiconductor and electronics OEMs as Koken. Comparable in semiconductor packaging components and automotive electronics exposure.
• Dai Nippon Printing (DNP): Japanese printing and electronics company producing photomasks, electronic devices, and fine-precision components. Overlap with Koken in photolithography-derived precision components and semiconductor/electronics customer base.
• Toppan Holdings: Japanese diversified printing and electronics company with photolithography and electronic component capabilities including photomasks and semiconductor-related products. Comparable in photolithographic process technology and electronics customer base.

Others

• Kyosei Co., Ltd. Sibling company within the UPT Group, providing complementary precision manufacturing services to global customers. Not a direct competitor but operates within the same parent ecosystem serving overlapping end markets.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCSZ8o187RkPnLwGG_ogtcDA
• Facebookfacebook.com/United-Precision-Technologies-Co-Ltd-658156388134586
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/united-precision-technologies-co-ltd

Compliance2 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 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 Koken Chemical