KKS

What KKS does

KKS Co., Ltd. (株式会社KKS) is a 107-year-old Japanese industrial automation company headquartered in Osaka that designs, manufactures, and integrates automated guided vehicles (AGVs) under the RELIROBO brand alongside specialized newspaper printing factory equipment. The company operates two distinct business lines: a factory automation (FA) division offering AGVs in payload classes from 350 kg to 1.5 tons with variants for outdoor use (shutter-equipped), low-clearance, fork-type, conveyor-equipped, robot-mounted, towing, and built-in-weighing configurations, supported by the AGV Operations Management System and the RaLC 3D simulation software; and a newspaper printing equipment division anchored by the Automatic Roll Paper Conveyor (AGS), paper splicers, counter stackers, and address-label systems, with a 23-year continuous operating history demonstrated at Kumamoto Nichinichi Shimbun as a durability reference. Revenue is generated through custom, quote-based B2B sales of engineered hardware plus system integration services combining AGVs with collaborative robots from partner Aizrobo and with customers' warehouse management systems. Distribution runs through direct enterprise sales, sales partnerships (Shin-Tomoe Denki), dedicated AGV microsite (agv.kks-j.co.jp), and active participation in Japanese logistics trade shows.

KKS is privately held as part of the TKS Group (which also includes Tokyo Kikai Seisakusho and AIZ Robo) and employs 51-100 people. Geographic reach is concentrated in Japan's Kansai and Kyushu regions, with named enterprise customers spanning newspaper publishing (Kumamoto Nichinichi Shimbun), chemicals (Toa Gosei), and food manufacturing (Ajinomoto). Pricing is fully custom with no public rate cards; each engagement is scoped around payload, integration complexity, and facility layout. In October 2024 KKS launched the DX NOVA Project to fold digital transformation into its product and operating model, and in April 2026 the company received the Japanese government's DX certification, formalizing that positioning. No external funding rounds, no public listing, and no disclosed financial figures are present in the available data; the company operates as a founder/management-owned entity within the TKS Group structure, led by President and Representative Director Masayuki Inukai (犬飼 政之).

Name

KKS

Legal name

株式会社KKS

Website

https://kks-j.co.jp

Company type

Private

Founded year

1919

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

KKS is a 107-year-old Osaka-based Japanese industrial automation firm that designs, manufactures, and integrates RELIROBO automated guided vehicles (AGVs) for factory and logistics customers, alongside specialized newspaper printing equipment such as its AGS roll paper conveyor, serving enterprise manufacturers and newspaper publishers primarily in Japan.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Industrial Automation Equipment

NAICS

Motor Vehicle Manufacturing (3361)

SIC

Industrial Trucks, Tractors, Trailors & Stackers (3537)

akta.pro primary industry

Automated Guided Vehicles (AGVs) & Autonomous Mobile Robots (AMRs) (IMAHABAB)

akta.pro secondary industry

Autonomous Mobile Robots (AMRs) & Automated Guided Vehicles (AGVs) (IMAHAHAC)

Keywords

• Automated guided vehicles
• Industrial AGV systems
• Newspaper printing equipment
• Factory automation equipment
• Material handling robots

Headquarters

HQ city

Tokyo

HQ country

Japan

HQ region

Asia

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. AGV Hardware Sales: Sale of automated guided vehicles including standard models, shutter-equipped models, forklift-type, low-floor models, and custom configurations for various industry applications
2. Newspaper Printing Equipment: Specialized equipment for newspaper printing factories including automatic paper roll conveyors, paper splicing devices, counter stackers, and address label systems
3. System Integration Services: Custom system integration combining AGV systems with warehouse management systems, collaborative robots, and total logistics solutions
4. Robotics SI Services: Robot system integration combining KKS AGVs with collaborative robots from partners for mobile robot solutions

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

KKS designs, manufactures, and sells automated guided vehicles (AGVs) under the RELIROBO brand for industrial material transport in manufacturing facilities, along with specialized newspaper printing equipment including automatic roll paper conveyors (AGS), paper splicing devices, counter stackers, and address label systems. The company also provides AGV fleet management software (RaLC simulation, AGV Operations Management System) and system integration services combining AGVs with collaborative robots and warehouse management systems for Japanese enterprise customers.

Product overview

KKS provides automated material transport and newspaper printing equipment. The product portfolio centers on AGV (Automated Guided Vehicle) systems for factory automation—including standard, shutter-equipped, fork-type, robot-mounted, weighing, and towing variants—complemented by AGV operations management software. Supporting products include chain conveyors and pallet magazines for integrated automation. In newspaper printing, KKS offers roll paper conveyors (AGS), paper splicers, counter stackers, and address label systems. The company has launched the DX NOVA Project for digital transformation initiatives.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• RELIROBO (レリロボ): Brand name for KKS's automated guided vehicle (AGV) product line, including models such as V1000, V800M-S, V1000H-B, V1500H-B, V1000H-R, H500S-T, V1000M-SC, and other variants.
• RELIROBO (レリロボ)
• AGS

Products and services

• Standard AGV (V1000H-B) Standard automated guided vehicle for indoor and outdoor material transport with reliable navigation capabilities, designed for factory automation applications.
• Shutter-Equipped AGV (V800M-S)

Named customers3 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

Integration1 record

Feature5 records

Partnerships

Two partnerships are on record, tiered core.

• Shin-Tomoe Denki (新トモエ電機工業株式会社)coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorSales partnership company for KKS products. Listed as a sales partnership (販売提携会社) on KKS website partner section.
• Aizrobo (アイズロボ株式会社)coreTechnology or IntegrationCollaborative robot partner. KKS combines their AGV systems with Aizrobo's collaborative robots to create mobile collaborative robots (移動型協働ロボット) that work while moving between stations, addressing labor shortages.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• KUKA: German robotics and automation company with AGV and mobile robot offerings. Competes in industrial automation globally with KMR (KUKA Mobile Robotics) platform combining mobile platforms and robotic arms.
• Omron: Industrial automation company with mobile robot (LD series) and SCARA robot offerings. Competes in factory automation space with technology-driven navigation systems versus KKS's magnetic guidance.
• Daifuku: Global leader in material handling systems including AGVs, conveyors, and automated warehousing. Direct competitor in Japanese factory and logistics automation with substantially broader product portfolio and international reach.
• Mitsubishi Logisnext: Forklift and material handling equipment manufacturer with AGV offerings. Competes in Japanese industrial vehicle market with broader product lines including warehousing solutions.
• Toyota Industries: Major manufacturer of forklifts and automated material handling systems through Toyota Material Handling. Competes in AGV and industrial truck market with global scale advantages.
• Swisslog: Swiss automation company specializing in warehouse automation and AGV systems. Competes in material handling automation with software-integrated solutions for distribution centers.
• Yaskawa Electric: Japanese industrial robotics and motion control company with AGV/motor control solutions. Competes in factory automation with Motoman robotics and related automation products.

Emerging players

• Geek+: Chinese AMR and warehouse robotics company serving logistics and manufacturing globally. Represents the new generation of AI-driven mobile robots expanding into Japanese and Asian markets.
• Mobile Industrial Robots (MiR): Danish manufacturer of autonomous mobile robots (AMRs) for industrial and logistics applications. Competes in collaborative mobile robot space with SLAM-based navigation versus KKS's magnetic-guided systems.

Direct peers

• Murata Machinery: Japanese manufacturer of AGVs, automated storage systems, and factory automation equipment. Competes directly with KKS in Japanese factory material handling with similar product breadth.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/@kks5084

Compliance2 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Subsidiaries1 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 KKS