KATSURA ROLLER

What KATSURA ROLLER does

Katsura Roller (株式会社加貫ローラ製作所) is a Japanese industrial manufacturer of custom rubber, metal, and composite rollers, founded in 1899 in Osaka. The company operates three domestic production bases (Osaka, Shiga/Nagahama, Chiba/Ibaraki, and Kitakyushu) and three overseas production subsidiaries — Suzhou, China (2012 joint venture with Huacheng), Taoyuan, Taiwan (2019 investment in Taiichi Kogyo/TKR), and Faridabad, India (2024 joint venture with Provian Group). Its product portfolio centers on printing rollers (offset, gravure, flexo, newspaper), industrial rollers (high-functional film, paper, textiles, steel plate, building materials, OA equipment), and metal rollers, supported by over ten proprietary surface treatments including Subelux, Mirax II/Neo, Aigiscoat, and micro-groove processing. Cumulative production of CFRP rollers has exceeded 10,000 units, and the company holds the foundational 1923 patent for Japan's first printing rubber roller (SK-type).

The company employs approximately 402 people as of January 2026 and is led by President Yasuhiro Akane with Chairman Junzo Akane, both of the founding Akane family. The business is privately held with registered capital of JPY 1 billion, no external PE/VC ownership identified, and revenue is not publicly disclosed. Approximately 90% of customers are long-term accounts with average relationships exceeding 16 years. Katsura is self-described as the #1 industrial rubber roller manufacturer in Western Japan and one of the top three in Japan overall, supported by ISO 9001, ISO 14001, and Gold Eco Tech certifications, plus recent ESG and information security frameworks established in 2025. A 1991 Korean joint venture and 2001 GRTG membership with ROTADYNE (USA) and MITEX (Germany) preceded the more recent China–Taiwan–India expansion axis.

The go-to-market is a relationship-based direct sales motion: 13 domestic sales offices provide on-site technical consultation, custom specification, and delivery to manufacturing customers in film, printing, paper, textile, steel, and building materials. Pricing is quote-based for custom rollers with multi-year contracts, supplemented by a web e-commerce storefront for maintenance accessories targeting smaller repeat orders. Revenue streams are predominantly custom one-off manufacturing orders, with film-handling testing services as a complementary professional service line. The company has progressively consolidated group subsidiaries (Shiga Katsura merged 2015, Tokyo Katsura and Katsura Engineering merged 2016, Kyushu Katsura merged 2016), and continues to exhibit at FilmTech Japan high-functional film trade shows through 2026.

Name

KATSURA ROLLER

Legal name

株式会社加貫罗拉製作所

Website

https://katsura-roller.co.jp

Company type

Private

Founded year

1899

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

251–500 employees

Short description

Katsura Roller (株式会社加貫ローラ製作所) is a 120+ year-old Osaka-based Japanese manufacturer of custom rubber, metal, and CFRP industrial rollers serving printing, high-functional film, paper, textile, steel, and building materials industries through direct field sales across Japan and production operations in China, Taiwan, and India.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Industrial Rubber and Metal Rollers

akta.pro primary industry

Rubber Rollers & Wheels (Industrial/Material Handling) (IMANALAE)

Keywords

• Industrial rubber rollers
• Metal roller manufacturing
• Printing rollers
• Film manufacturing rollers
• Roller surface treatment

Headquarters

HQ city

Osaka

HQ country

Japan

HQ region

Asia

Offices21 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Custom Industrial Roller Manufacturing: One-stop manufacturing of custom rubber, metal, and composite rollers. Each roller is made to order based on customer specifications for material, hardness, surface treatment, and structural design. Revenue generated from custom orders with direct sales and delivery.
2. Web Sales - Maintenance Products: E-commerce sales of roller maintenance supplies and accessories including YOGORE-N coating agents, Mild ink knives, Microcatch hand cleaner rollers, MC-PAD adhesive transfer sheets, KS silicone sheets, and Sucker suction rubbers
3. Film Handling Testing Services: Contract testing services where company conducts film conveyance tests using customer-provided films under various conditions to validate roller solutions before full implementation

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

KATSURA ROLLER is a comprehensive manufacturer of custom rubber, metal, and composite industrial rollers, producing made-to-order rollers for printing, high-functional film, paper, textile, steel plate, and building materials applications. The offering spans core rubber rollers (low-deflection, concave, silicone, polyurethane, CFRP, antistatic, e-Core), metal rollers and coatings (Aigis Coat, plating, thermal spray, alumite), surface modification treatments (Subelux, Mirax II, Mirax NEO, micro-groove), and maintenance supplies sold via web. Manufacturing, R&D, compounding, and direct sales-delivery are delivered as a one-stop service.

Product overview

KATSURA ROLLER is a comprehensive manufacturer of rubber and metal rollers for industrial applications. The product portfolio centers on core roller products (low deflection structure rollers, concave rollers, air rolls, metal elastic rollers, and cleaner rollers) combined with comprehensive surface treatment technologies (Subelux, Mirax II, Mirax NEO, metal surface release treatments, groove processing, plating, thermal spray, alumite) and related products (YOGORE-N anti-contamination coating, eco cleaners, greases, silicone sheets, doctor blades). Products are organized into three main categories: Printing Rollers (offset, gravure, flexo, newspaper), Industrial Rollers (film, building materials, textiles, paper, steel plates), and Metal Rollers (special structures, surface processing, metal materials, metal surface treatments). The company serves diverse industries including printing, film manufacturing, electronics (smartphones, EVs), construction, and packaging with customized solutions.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Low Deflection Structure Roller (低たわみ構造ローラー) Double-pipe structure roller with inner and outer tubes providing uniform nip pressure to reduce film wrinkles, air entrapment, and lamination defects in film manufacturing lines. Designed for manufacturers needing stable film handling.
• Concave Roller (コンケーブローラー) Reverse crown-shaped roller that uses peripheral speed differential between center and edges to stretch film and suppress wrinkle formation during film processing. Used by film manufacturers.
• Air Roll (エアーロール) Non-contact roller with mesh surface pattern that floats films using air pressure, enabling non-contact conveyance of coated surfaces to prevent scratches, wrinkles, and contamination.
• Aigis Coat (アイギスコート) Corrosion-resistant coating for metal guide rollers used in OPP/PET/paper films and drying environments up to 120°C, compliant with Ministry of Health food sanitation standards.
• Micro Groove Roller (マイクログルーブローラー) Roller with micro-level precision groove processing that prevents film slippage and scratches during high-speed conveyance, improving yield in film manufacturing.
• Metal Elastic Roller (金属弾性ローラー) Metal roller with thin metal sleeve supported by air pressure or rubber roll, combining metal durability with rubber-like elasticity for wide contact area in casting and touch roller applications.
• EC Dust Rel (ECダストレル) Light-colored antistatic high-strength adhesive roller for dust and particle removal, using no sulfur, silicone oil, plasticizer, carbon black, antistatic agents, adhesive agents, or silica for superior surface strength.
• EC Cleaner (ECクリーナー) Light-colored antistatic adhesive roller developed using new antistatic technology without conductive carbon black; removes dust and particles while reducing static electricity hazards.
• CFRP Roller (CFRPローラー) Carbon fiber reinforced plastic roller using pitch-based high-performance carbon fiber with E=8,000-28,000 kgf/mm² modulus, lightweight at 1/4 of steel, high rigidity, and low inertia; 10,000+ units produced.
• PUW/ECPUW Series Special polyurethane rubber rollers offering 3x dent recovery vs. conventional materials, plus superior abrasion, oil/chemical/ozone/heat resistance up to 120°C, and water resistance without hydrolysis degradation.
• LFE/BKLFE Antistatic Rubber Roller Series Surface-modified rollers with superior slip resistance via Subelux treatment, ozone resistance, and antistatic properties; sulfur-free to prevent contamination in metal foil processing.
• e-Core (e-コア) Rubber-coated winding core that absorbs film step differences at winding start, reducing film loss during winding; available in K, R, and RTS variants. Awarded Gold Eco Tech certification.
• Titan Series (タイタンシリーズ) High-strength heat-resistant rubber rollers with continuous heat resistance up to 150°C (max 180°C), excellent abrasion resistance, and superior ozone resistance.
• Silicone Roller (シリコーンローラー) Heat-resistant, release, and weather-resistant silicone rubber rollers with reinforced surface strength, available in white, black, and colored variants with hardness range 30-90.
• Printing Rollers (印刷ローラー) Complete line of printing rollers including offset, gravure, flexo, and newspaper applications, with UV-resistant, high-durability, and eco-friendly formulations for printing press manufacturers and converters.
• Industrial Rollers (工業ローラー) Industrial rollers for film, building materials, textiles, paper, and steel plate applications, including rubber surface treatments, silicone rollers, and specialized materials for various manufacturing processes.
• Metal Rollers (金属ローラー) Metal rollers including special structures (suction, heating/cooling), surface processing (anilox, knurling, grooves), metal materials (steel, aluminum, SUS, CFRP), and metal surface treatments (alumite, thermal spray, plating).
• YOGORE-N Anti-Contamination Coating Agent Anti-contamination coating agent applied to equipment surfaces to prevent adhesion of dirt and adhesive substances, with water/oil repellency and friction coefficient reduction effects.
• New Eco Cleaner (Newエコクリーナー) Specialized cleaning agent for restoring roller surface tack, applicable to all KATSURA cleaning roller materials and compliant with industrial safety and PRTR regulations.
• KS Silicone Sheet (KSシリコーンシート) High-friction silicone rubber coating sheet on PET substrate with adhesive backing, used for precision sealing, anti-slip, sheet feeding, anti-double-feed, and product-tipping prevention.
• Mild Ink Knife (マイルド) Special nylon-resin oil-ink doctor blade, oil-resistant and non-absorbent, with integrated elasticity enabling easy cleaning of can-bottom oil ink.
• Doctor Ace Ink Knife (ドクターエース) Special resin-type doctor blade compatible with oil-based and UV inks, providing stable ink removal performance and improving print quality and maintenance efficiency.
• Film Handling Testing Services Contract testing service where KATSURA conducts film conveyance tests using customer-provided films under various conditions to validate roller solutions before full implementation.

Quantifiable outcome

• Low-deflection rollers achieve nip width uniformity within 1mm difference between edge and center vs. significant variation in conventional rollers
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers2 records

Segments7 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature10 records

Partnerships

Three partnerships are on record, tiered core.

• Katsura Roller India Private LimitedcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 March 2024Joint venture with Provian Group (India) established March 2024 for roller manufacturing and sales in India. Located in Faridabad, Haryana.
• TKR Mfg., Ltd. (台日工業有限公司)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2019Investment in Taiwanese roller manufacturer TKR Mfg., Ltd. (Taiichi Kogyo) for local production in Taiwan market.
• Katsura Roller (Suzhou) Co., Ltd.coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 April 2012Joint venture established with Huacheng (Suzhou) Rubber Industrial Co., Ltd. (華成（蘇州）ゴム工業有限公司) for roller manufacturing in China. Serves the Chinese market with local production capability.

Scale indicators10 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• Böttcher GmbH & Co. KG: German family-owned manufacturer of printing rollers and chemical products for the graphic arts industry. Comparable as a large, established player in the printing rubber roller segment that KATSURA also serves, but with a broader product portfolio beyond rollers.

Direct peers

• American Roller Company: US-based manufacturer of custom industrial rollers including rubber-covered, metal, and composite rollers for converting, film, and printing applications. Comparable product portfolio to KATSURA, including engineered elastomer-covered rollers and specialty surface treatments.
• Hannecard: Belgian global rubber roller manufacturer with coating capabilities across printing, paper, film, and steel industries. Closely comparable in product range and target customer segments, with similar custom compounding and surface treatment expertise to KATSURA.
• ROTADYNE: US-based industrial rubber roller manufacturer and GRTG partner. Directly comparable as a global competitor in the same custom industrial rubber roller category serving printing, film, and converting industries, with which KATSURA has a technology-sharing alliance.
• MITEX (Mitex International): Germany-based industrial roller manufacturer and GRTG partner. Comparable as a competing rubber and metal roller producer serving European printing and converting markets, with technology exchange relationship through the Global Roller Technologies Group.
• U.S. Roller Company: US-based custom industrial rubber roller manufacturer serving printing, converting, film, and packaging industries. Directly comparable as a specialty roller manufacturer with custom compounding, surface treatments, and engineered solutions for web handling.
• Industrie Cotti S.p.A. Italian manufacturer of industrial rubber rollers for printing, paper, film, and textile industries. Comparable as a long-established specialty roller maker with custom compounding, similar to KATSURA's premium positioning in industrial roller manufacturing.

Emerging players

• Huacheng (Suzhou) Rubber Industrial Co., Ltd. Chinese rubber manufacturer and KATSURA's JV partner for the Suzhou subsidiary (2012). Comparable as a regional industrial rubber product manufacturer serving the Chinese market, with whom KATSURA has a deep commercial relationship.
• Provian Group: Indian industrial group and KATSURA's JV partner for Katsura Roller India (2024). Comparable as a local industrial player in India that supports KATSURA's entry into the South Asian market, sharing manufacturing and distribution expertise.

Regional players

• Taechang Engineering Co., Ltd. (KCC): Korean industrial roller manufacturer and former JV partner of KATSURA (Korean Katsura, 1991). Comparable in product category (industrial rubber rollers) but serves primarily the Korean market, providing a regional benchmark for KATSURA's expansion model.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

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Compliance8 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

Subsidiaries3 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 KATSURA ROLLER