Meikodo Company

What Meikodo Company does

Meikodo Co., Ltd. (株式会社明光堂) is a privately-held Japanese precision manufacturer founded in April 1949 in Hiroshima, specializing in needle and pin manufacturing, wire and metal processing, insert molding, and custom production machine design. The company operates a 51-100 employee organization with its headquarters and main production facility in Fuchu-cho, Aki-gun, Hiroshima, an additional factory in Higashiosaka-shi, Osaka (focused on press die-cut products and apparel components), and wholly-owned subsidiaries in China — a trading company in Shanghai (established 2010) and a hard tools manufacturer in Jiangyin (established 1999). A Cambodia manufacturing subsidiary was established in 2012 but withdrawn in March 2019. The company carries the CROWN FOX international trademark and is positioned as part of the Hiroshima Needle (広島針) heritage tradition, with manufacturing history spanning 300-400 years in the region.

Name

Meikodo Company

Legal name

Meikodo Co., Ltd.

Website

https://meikodo.co.jp

Company type

Private

Founded year

1949

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

Meikodo is a 75+ year-old privately-held Japanese precision manufacturer based in Hiroshima specializing in ultra-fine needle and pin production, wire/metal processing, insert molding, and custom production machine design, serving industrial, medical, electronics, apparel, and handicraft customers across Japan and Asia.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Precision Pin and Needle Manufacturing

NAICS

Cut and Sew Apparel Manufacturing (3152)

SIC

Apparel & Other Finishd Prods Of Fabrics & Similar Matl (2300), Screw Machine Products (3451)

akta.pro primary industry

Threads, Yarns & Sewing Notions (Sewing Thread/Embroidery Thread/Bobbins/Needles) (IMAOALAE)

Keywords

• Precision pin manufacturing
• Ultra-fine needle production
• Wire metal processing
• Insert molding services
• Press die-cutting products

Headquarters

HQ city

Hiroshima

HQ country

Japan

HQ region

Asia

Offices4 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Pin and Needle Manufacturing: Manufactures and sells various types of pins including straight pins, T-pins, safety pins, insect pins, and special needles for handicraft, industrial, and medical applications. Revenue generated through direct product sales with pricing per unit or weight.
2. Wire and Metal Processing Services: Provides wire and metal processing services including bending, crushing, shearing, pressing, and manufacturing of metal clips, hooks, and precision components for various industries.
3. Plastic and Insert Molding Products: Manufactures plastic molded articles including push pins, needle caps, cases, and insert molded products combining resin and metal components.
4. Press Die-Cutting Products: Produces collar stays, collar supporters, and press die-cut products from flexible materials including PET sheets, felt, and paper for apparel and packaging industries.
5. Silicone Products: Manufactures silicone products including water bottles, scrubbing brushes, cups, mats, and makeup brushes for consumer and industrial applications.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

Meikodo manufactures precision pins, special needles, wire and metal processed components, insert molded products, plastic molded articles, press die-cut products, and silicone products. Built on 70+ years of Hiroshima needle-making heritage, the company designs and builds its own production equipment and serves industrial, medical, electrical, apparel, and handicraft markets from facilities in Japan and China.

Product overview

Meikodo Company is a manufacturer specializing in pins and special needles with over 70 years of experience. The company offers a comprehensive portfolio of needle and metal processing products including Sharp Point Needles (Ø0.05–Ø2.0mm), Straight Pins, Plastic Head Pins, Glass Head Pins, T Pins, Safety Pins, and Wire/Metal Processing products. Additional offerings include Electrical Parts (discharge needles, current collection rods), Plastic Products via injection and insert molding, Press Die-Cutting products, Silicone Products, and in-house Design and Manufacturing of Production Machines. The company's core competency lies in needle manufacturing technology developed from Hiroshima's traditional needle-making heritage, with capabilities in ultra-fine wire processing down to Ø0.05mm. They also hold a Medical Device Manufacturing License (registered October 2025) enabling expansion into medical and healthcare fields.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• CROWN FOX: International trademark brand for Meikodo needles

Products and services

• Sharp Point Needle/Pin Ultra-fine precision sharp-point pins with diameters from ø0.05mm to ø2.0mm in iron, steel, stainless steel, brass, tungsten, beryllium copper, and phosphor bronze. Used by medical device, electronics, and handicraft customers needing precision tips.
• Straight Pins

Quantifiable outcome

• 95%+ of production lines developed in-house
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers2 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature5 records

Partnerships

Four partnerships are on record, tiered historical and minor.

• Toyobo Co., Ltd.historicalStrategic or Co-development PartnerStarted production of pearl shirt pins in cooperation with Toyobo Co., Ltd. in September 1951. This was an early strategic partnership for product development and manufacturing collaboration.
• DAIKIN INDUSTRIES Ltd.historicalTechnology or IntegrationStarted delivery of electrical components to DAIKIN INDUSTRIES Ltd. in February 1986, including collector pins for alkali dry cells and anode discharge needles.
• Variamore AkiminorOthersLocal amateur adult soccer team based in Fuchu-cho, Aki-gun, Hiroshima. Meikodo is a sponsor of the team, renamed from H'IDE FC to Variamore Aki in 2024.
• Hiroshima City Handicapped Employment Support Program (社会福祉法人広島市手をつなぐ育成会)minorOthersMeikodo participates in workplace experience programs for people with disabilities through cooperation with the Hiroshima City Handicapped Employment Support Program.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves12 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Tulip Company Limited: Japanese manufacturer of sewing needles including specialty and ultra-fine needles. Direct competitor in the high-precision, premium handicraft needle segment where Meikodo competes with its Hiroshima Needle and Crown Fox brands.
• Bohin France: French manufacturer specializing in pins and sewing needles with comparable precision manufacturing heritage. Directly comparable as a focused specialty needle/pin producer competing in similar handicraft and industrial channels.
• John James Needles: UK-based heritage sewing needle manufacturer serving both handicraft and industrial markets. Comparable as a long-established specialty needle maker with similar product mix and craft/industrial customer segments.
• Clover Manufacturing Co., Ltd. Japanese maker of sewing and handicraft needles and notions. Direct overlap with Meikodo's handicraft and sewing pins business, including T-pins and marking pins; comparable customer base in craft stores.
• Organ Needle Co., Ltd. Japanese sewing/industrial needle manufacturer with overlapping product portfolio (sewing machine needles, industrial needles, pins). Closest direct competitor to Meikodo in Japan with similar heritage and enterprise distribution channels.

Emerging players

• Kai Industries Co., Ltd. Japanese precision blade and cutting tool manufacturer with growing sewing tool line. Adjacent competitor in Japan's quality sewing-tools segment, with comparable precision manufacturing capabilities and craft-channel distribution.

Broad incumbents

• Coats Group plc: Global thread and sewing materials manufacturer with adjacent product overlap (sewing supplies, industrial thread, fastening). Larger incumbent whose broad notions portfolio includes categories adjacent to Meikodo's pins and needles.
• Prym Consumer Europe GmbH: Global leader in sewing notions, pins, needles and haberdashery. Much larger incumbent competing with Meikodo's pins across consumer markets worldwide, but with a broader product portfolio beyond needles.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/meikodo-company-limited

Compliance3 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

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 Meikodo Company