What Ack does

Ack Co., Ltd. (株式会社アック) is a privately held Japanese paint and coatings trading company (sōgō shōsha-style specialist) headquartered in Nagoya, Aichi Prefecture, and operating since October 1, 1952, originally founded as Aichi Paint Co., Ltd. and rebranded in 1972. The company functions as an intermediary between paint and coatings manufacturers and end users, offering industrial coatings, heavy-duty protective coatings for bridges and infrastructure, building material coatings, and a Pro Tools & Materials division that supplies ancillary manufacturing and painting consumables, alongside construction and contracting, processing, and equipment services.

Its core technology base spans industrial coating formulations (electrophoretic, solvent-based, water-based, powder), heavy-duty corrosion-protection systems, and functional coatings including hydrophilic self-cleaning, heat-reflective, and photocatalytic anti-soiling technologies. Notable proprietary or co-developed systems include a water-based heavy-duty corrosion protection system (~50% VOC reduction), the G-MAX short-process anti-slip coating (~83% work-time reduction, joint with ITW Performance Polymers & Fry's Japan), MCU resin coatings, UV-curable FRP sheets (e-Sheet), and one-day concrete fall-off prevention systems — several of which are NETIS-registered for Japanese public works.

Ack serves a diversified B2B customer base across infrastructure operators (bridges, transmission towers, plants), industrial manufacturers (automotive, construction machinery, appliances, precision equipment), building-material producers, and construction/renovation end-users. Revenue is generated primarily through quote-based direct B2B sales of paint and coating products, supplemented by construction contracting, processing services, and equipment sales. No public pricing or revenue figures are disclosed; transactions are handled via direct inquiry and field sales across the Chubu region with a satellite office in Shizuoka (opened October 2020).

Name

Ack

Legal name

株式会社アック

Website

https://a-c-c.co.jp

Company type

Private

Founded year

1952

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

Ack is a 70-year-old Nagoya-based Japanese paint and coatings trading company that intermediates between manufacturers and B2B end users, supplying industrial, heavy-duty protective, and building-material coatings alongside a Pro Tools & Materials division to infrastructure operators, industrial manufacturers, and construction firms.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Industrial and Protective Coatings Distribution

NAICS

Paint and Coating Manufacturing (32551), Paint, Coating, and Adhesive Manufacturing (3255), Coating, Engraving, Heat Treating, and Allied Activities (3328)

SIC

Paints, Varnishes, Lacquers, Enamels & Allied Prods (2851), Coating, Engraving & Allied Services (3470)

akta.pro primary industry

Industrial Protective Coatings (IMAEAHAB)

akta.pro secondary industries

Industrial & Protective Coatings (IMAEAGAB), Application Equipment & Coating Services (Contract Coating, Surface Prep) (IMAEAGAL), Industrial Protective Coatings (IMADAKAB)

Keywords

• Industrial coatings
• Heavy-duty protective coatings
• Building material paints
• Coatings trading
• Painting tools

Headquarters

HQ city

Nagoya

HQ country

Japan

HQ region

Asia

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Paint and Coating Product Sales: Sale of industrial paints, heavy-duty protective coatings, building material paints, and functional coatings through direct sales and manufacturer partnerships.

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Ack is a paint and coatings trading company that intermediates between coating manufacturers and end users, distributing industrial coatings, heavy-duty protective coatings, building-material coatings, and painting-related tools/materials. In addition to product supply, the company provides technical proposal, coating-line optimization, troubleshooting, and on-site painting construction services for industrial, infrastructure, and building applications across Japan.

Product overview

株式会社アック (Acc Co., Ltd.) is a specialized paint and coatings trading company serving as an intermediary between manufacturers and end users. The company operates a portfolio of core product lines — industrial coatings (工業用涂料), heavy-duty protective coatings (重防食用涂料), and building material coatings (建材用涂料) — alongside a dedicated Pro Tools & Materials division (プロツール&マテリアル) that supplies painting-related accessories, power tools, safety equipment, and consumables. Service offerings span construction and contracting (工事·施工), processing (加工), and equipment (設備). A 'New things' sub-brand showcases newer product introductions such as digital signage and office comfort solutions. Together these offerings position the company as a full-service coatings specialist, combining product sales with technical proposal, stable supply, and on-site contracting capabilities.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Paint Center: Paint Center operated by 株式会社アック for residential and commercial painting services.
• プロツール＆マテリアル事业部 (Pro Tool & Material Division)

Products and services

• Industrial Coatings (工業用塗料) Supply and technical proposal of industrial coatings used in manufacturing of automobiles, electrical appliances, construction machinery, furniture, building materials, office equipment, and precision instruments. Includes stable supply of coating materials, proposal of appropriate coatings for products under development, and troubleshooting for ongoing coating operations.
• Heavy-Duty Protective Coatings (重防食用塗料) Coatings and coating systems designed for long-term corrosion protection of bridges, concrete structures, industrial plants, and transmission towers, covering new construction painting and repainting with a focus on lifecycle cost (LCC) reduction, VOC reduction, and long-term aesthetic preservation.
• Building Material Coatings (建材用塗料) Coatings for building materials such as ceiling, roof, wall, and floor products, primarily for factory pre-painting of exterior wall materials. Includes sidings, cement-based materials, and functional coatings with hydrophilic anti-fouling and heat-reflective properties.
• Pro Tools & Materials (プロツール&マテリアル) Division supplying a wide range of tools, safety equipment, and consumables for manufacturing and painting operations, including touch panel gloves, fire-retardant films, oil-free compressors, portable power stations, dust collectors, cup brushes, nitrile gloves, conductive air hoses, masking tape, protective sheets, safety glasses, and LED lights. Also offers repair services for power tools, resharpening of cutting tools, and calibration of measuring instruments.
• Construction & Contracting (工事・施工) Painting construction services for exteriors and roofs of individual homes, condominiums, corporate buildings, and factory structures, with end-to-end project execution and customer satisfaction focus.
• Processing (加工) Machining and processing services that contribute to cost reduction and regulatory compliance for customers.
• Equipment (設備) Equipment solutions targeting problem-solving, efficiency, work environment improvement, and return on investment, with post-operation peace of mind.
• New things — 43-inch Touch-Type Digital Signage Sub-brand showcasing newer product introductions, including a 43-inch touch-type digital signage solution marketed as offering low price, simple operation, and full support for customer-attraction and visitor-satisfaction use cases.
• New things — TOYOSTEEL Office Comfort Solutions Office comfort solutions under the TOYOSTEEL brand offering total support for creating comfortable work environments tailored to customers' working styles.

Quantifiable outcome

• V-GRAN MCU resin coating achieves equivalent or superior coating film performance to epoxy resin
• +3 more outcomes

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature11 records

Partnerships

14 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• 大日本涂料株式会社 (Dai Nippon Toryo)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerKey co-development partner for water-based heavy-duty corrosion protection systems (DN T Water-Based Heavy-Duty System), concrete protection systems (Resi Guard SD Method), and cylindrical cup injection coating technology for bolt/nut corrosion protection. Joint utility model registration on cylindrical cup injection method.
• 大同涂料株式会社 (Daito Toryo)coreTechnology or IntegrationManufacturer partner supplying MCU resin coatings (V-GRAN) and penetrating water-blocking agents (Aqua Seal 1400) for concrete structure protection. MCU resin coatings use atmospheric moisture reaction to form robust 3D network for long-term corrosion protection.
• 日塗化学株式会社 (Nippo Chemical)coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorChubu Electric Power transmission tower certified paint supplier, providing NB Coat 3000GWT-AE and NB Coat Super 3000G-Eco products. These enable one-day two-coat coating systems for power transmission tower maintenance.
• AGC株式会社 (AGC Corporation)coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorAcc is an authorized Lumifron support partner, having received the Bronze Award in 2018 for construction achievements. Lumifron is AGC's world-first solvent-soluble fluororesin coating (1982), used on Tokyo Skytree, Akashi Kaikyo Bridge, and other iconic structures.
• 山一化学工業株式会社 (Yamaichi Chemical Industry)minorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorSupplier of Bio Hakkuri X-WB water-based paint stripper, an alcohol-based coating removal agent that prevents hazardous substance diffusion. Compliant with PRTR Act and REACH regulations with no SVHC substances.
• 大伸化学株式会社 (Daishin Chemical)minorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorSupplier of Pelican Remover Series water-based paint strippers for structural use, with selectable neutral or alkaline types depending on coating type and environmental conditions.
• 大同化学株式会社 (Daido Chemical)minorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorManufacturer of V-Flon HB series ultra-durable thick-film fluororesin coatings, including V-Flon HB and weak-solvent low-contamination V-Flon HB Cleanness Smile products. Used in Tokyo Skytree applications.
• サンコーテクノ株式会社 (Sanko Techno)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerManufacturer of e-Sheet UV-curable FRP sheet — an environmentally responsive UV-hardening FRP sheet for pedestrian bridge nosing and step surfaces. NETIS-registered product providing corrosion and salt barrier with high water-seal performance.
• SUREFIRE (シュアファイア社)minorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorUS-based lighting manufacturer founded 1969, known for ruggedness and high quality. Acc distributes SUREFIRE LED lights (model STILETTO, 2.03cm thin, 650lm output, 78m range, ¥28,750/unit) in Japan through the Pro Tools & Materials division.
• 中部電力 (Chubu Electric Power)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerChubu Electric Power has certified Acc's paint products for transmission tower use (So-den Top DUAL, NB Coat series) and Acc has adopted Green Denki (green electricity) at its headquarters as part of decarbonization initiatives.
• ニチバン (Nichiban)minorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorManufacturer of building masking tape products distributed through Acc's Pro Tools & Materials division. Nichiban masking tape (launched 2017) features easy pull, clean tear, and excellent adhesion with water resistance suitable for exterior painting applications.
• アキレス (Achilles)minorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorSupplier of non-combustible film Achilles Funen Clear 2, designated as non-combustible film by Minister of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism. Used in special buildings and fire-use facilities requiring non-combustible interior materials.
• ITWパフォーマンスポリマーズ＆フルイズジャパン (ITW Performance Polymers & Fry's Japan)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerJoint development partner for G-MAX short-process anti-slip coating material for steel finger joints. ITW and American Safety Co. developed the product jointly, with Acc participating in joint patent application. Also manufacturer of Brusher-M ultra-thick solvent-free ceramic epoxy.
• 名古屋テレビ (Nagoya TV / TV Asahi Network)minorOthersTV Asahi network affiliate covering Acc's infrastructure maintenance work through the 'Ushiwaka Project' program featuring young skilled workers maintaining Japan's aging bridges. Also broadcast on Kyushu Asahi Broadcasting, Nagasaki Cultural Broadcasting, Hokuriku Asahi Broadcasting, and Hiroshima Home TV.

Scale indicators2 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• Nippon Paint Holdings Co., Ltd. Japan's largest paint company with broad industrial, automotive, marine, and architectural coatings portfolios. Comparable because its protective-coatings and industrial-coatings lines compete head-to-head with the products Acc distributes to infrastructure and OEM customers.
• SK Kaken Co., Ltd. Japanese paint manufacturer specializing in architectural coatings, insulation, and renovation systems. Comparable because its building-material and exterior coating lines intersect with Acc's building-material coatings distribution business.
• TOHPE Corporation: Japanese specialty paint manufacturer producing industrial coatings and plastic paints. Comparable because its industrial-coatings product range overlaps with Acc's automotive and home-appliance customer use cases.
• ROCK PAINT Co., Ltd. Japanese paint manufacturer serving industrial, automotive refinish, and DIY markets. Comparable because its industrial coatings portfolio competes for the same OEM and industrial manufacturing customers Acc serves in the Chubu region.
• Dai Nippon Toryo Co., Ltd. Major Japanese paint manufacturer and Acc's primary co-development partner. Comparable because it manufactures industrial, heavy-duty protective, and architectural coatings that overlap directly with Acc's distributed product lines, while also operating its own nationwide distribution network.
• Kansai Paint Co., Ltd. One of Japan's largest paint manufacturers with strong automotive, industrial, and protective coatings franchises. Comparable because it serves many of the same industrial OEM and infrastructure customers Acc targets, often through dedicated distributor networks.
• Fujikura Kasei Co., Ltd. Japanese specialty chemical manufacturer producing coatings, inks, and functional materials. Comparable because its specialty coatings business overlaps with the protective and functional coating products Acc distributes to infrastructure and building-material customers.
• Chugoku Marine Paints, Ltd. Japanese specialty coatings manufacturer focused on marine, heavy-duty protective, and container coatings. Comparable because its heavy-duty protective product range overlaps with Acc's bridge, tower, and plant corrosion-protection lines.

Regional players

• Jotun A/S: Norway-based global coatings manufacturer with leading positions in marine, protective, and powder coatings. Comparable because its protective-coatings portfolio competes with the heavy-duty systems Acc distributes to Japanese infrastructure and industrial customers.
• Hempel A/S: Denmark-based global protective coatings manufacturer with strong presence in marine, infrastructure, and industrial segments. Comparable because its heavy-duty protective coatings compete with products Acc distributes in Japan and represent the international benchmark for the category.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 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 Ack