METEK

What METEK does

METEK CO., LTD. is a Kyoto-headquartered, privately held Japanese metal surface treatment company founded in 1918 by Kitamura Wazo, specializing in precision electroplating services for electronic components, semiconductor lead frames, and automotive parts. The company offers a comprehensive plating portfolio covering gold (Au), silver (Ag), copper (Cu), nickel (Ni), palladium (Pd), tin (Sn), and zinc (Zn) coatings, applied via barrel, rack, hoop, and strip plating methods, plus specialty variants such as heat-resistant Ni/Pd/Au three-layer plating (maintaining solder wettability at 430-450°C with palladium reduced from 30nm to 10nm), silver-graphite co-deposition plating (20,000+ sliding cycles), high-hardness silver plating (150-210Hv), direct gold plating on stainless steel without nickel underlayer (medical/biocompatible), and on-site circuit breaker silver plating repair technology jointly patented with Hokkaido Electric Power Network.

The company operates seven production bases — five domestic (Kyoto HQ/R&D, Hokkaido, Tokushima, Kagoshima, Miyazaki) and two overseas through wholly-owned subsidiaries in Malaysia and Thailand — supported by advanced analytical capabilities including JEOL SEM-EDX, Keyence VHX-X1 digital microscopy, XRF coating thickness measurement, and ion milling. METEK generates revenue on a job-work (processing) basis, charging customers based on part type, material, plating specifications (type, thickness, layer count), and volume, with all sales conducted through direct enterprise inquiry and consultation. Its primary customer verticals are domestic Japanese semiconductor manufacturers (lead frame plating for discretes, optos, and LSIs), automotive parts manufacturers (cumulative 13 billion parts processed through integrated barrel polishing → vacuum annealing → nickel barrel plating), power utilities (jointly-developed circuit breaker repair), and medical device manufacturers. The company is ISO 14001 certified (since 2002), RBA Code of Conduct compliant, and has accumulated more than a century of proprietary plating process knowledge under third-generation family leadership (President Takayuki Kitamura since 2001).

Name

METEK

Legal name

METEK CO., LTD. (メテック株式会社)

Website

https://metek.co.jp

Company type

Private

Founded year

1918

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

METEK is a privately held Japanese electroplating services provider founded in 1918, offering precision Au, Ag, Cu, Ni, Pd, Sn, and Zn plating for semiconductor lead frames, automotive parts, power infrastructure, and medical devices across seven production bases in Japan, Malaysia, and Thailand.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Electroplating and Surface Treatment Services

NAICS

Electroplating, Plating, Polishing, Anodizing, and Coloring (332813), Metal Coating, Engraving (except Jewelry and Silverware), and Allied Services to Manufacturers (332812), Coating, Engraving, Heat Treating, and Allied Activities (33281)

SIC

Coating, Engraving & Allied Services (3470)

akta.pro primary industry

Wet Process Chemicals (Etchants/Cleaners/Strippers/SC-1/SC-2/BOE) (HDAHAGAF)

akta.pro secondary industry

Packaging Materials & Chemicals (Underfill/Mold Compound/Die Attach/Solders) (HDAHAGAM)

Keywords

• Electroplating services
• Surface treatment
• Metal plating
• Semiconductor lead frames
• Automotive parts plating

Headquarters

HQ city

Minamiku

HQ country

Japan

HQ region

Asia

Offices7 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Electroplating / surface treatment services: METEK generates revenue by providing electroplating and surface treatment services on a job-work (processing) basis. Customers send parts (lead frames, electronic components, automotive parts, etc.) and METEK applies metallic coatings (Au, Ag, Cu, Ni, Pd, Sn, Zn, and alloys) per customer specifications, charging based on surface area, material type, number of layers, and processing complexity. The company also offers integrated one-stop processing combining barrel polishing, heat treatment, and plating in a single workflow.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

METEK is a contract electroplating and surface treatment service provider that applies metallic coatings (Au, Ag, Cu, Ni, Pd, Sn, Zn, and alloys) onto customer-supplied parts including semiconductor lead frames, electronic components, automotive parts, and power infrastructure components. The company offers specialized processes such as heat-resistant Ni/Pd/Au plating, silver-graphite self-lubricating plating, high-hardness silver plating, direct gold-on-stainless-steel plating, electroless plating in confined areas, and an integrated one-stop service combining barrel polishing, vacuum annealing, and nickel barrel plating. METEK operates 7 production bases across Japan, Malaysia, and Thailand serving semiconductor, automotive, power utility, and medical device manufacturers.

Product overview

METEK is a surface treatment / electroplating services company offering a comprehensive portfolio of metal plating services for electronic components and industrial parts. The core product lineup comprises six primary metal plating services: Au Gold Plating, Ag Silver Plating, Cu Copper Plating, Ni Nickel Plating, Pd Palladium Plating, and Zn Zinc Plating. Supporting services include Sn Tin Plating for finished products (including Pb-free solder alloys), Other Plating (zinc chromate, solder, speculum alloy, Sn-Co), and an Integrated Processing service that combines barrel grinding, vacuum annealing, and nickel barrel plating into a single continuous workflow. The company operates inspection and analysis equipment (XRF coating thickness gauges, CNC vision measuring systems, SEM-EDX, digital microscopes) to support quality control across all plating lines. The portfolio is organized around different plating methods: hoop plating, strip plating, barrel plating, and rack plating, with capabilities spanning from high-volume automotive parts to precision semiconductor lead frames.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Au Gold Plating Gold electroplating service used for decoration and industrial applications including electrical contacts, terminals, connector pins, lead frames, ICs, and medical implants. Sold as a contract processing service to B2B manufacturers.
• Ag Silver Plating Silver electroplating service offering the highest electrical conductivity among metals, used for LED reflectors, connectors, lead frames, bearings, and medical/optical equipment. Sold as a contract processing service to B2B manufacturers.
• Cu Copper Plating Copper electroplating service providing excellent electrical and thermal conductivity, used as base plating, in printed circuit board through-holes (via fill), and copper foil manufacturing. Sold as a contract processing service to B2B manufacturers.
• Ni Nickel Plating Nickel electroplating service with excellent corrosion resistance and hardness, available in glossy, matte, roughened, and black finishes; used as decorative chrome base, diffusion barrier, and electroforming for CD/DVD stampers. Sold as a contract processing service to B2B manufacturers.
• Pd Palladium Plating Palladium electroplating service used as Pd-PPF (Palladium Pre-Plated Leadframe), typically as a three-layer Ni-Pd-Au plating to function as a nickel diffusion barrier, enabling thinner gold layers and cost reduction. Sold as a contract processing service to B2B semiconductor and electronics manufacturers.
• Zn Zinc Plating Zinc electroplating service for rust prevention on iron and steel, where zinc corrodes preferentially to protect the base metal; commonly applied to bolts, nuts, and automotive/machine/relay components. Sold as a contract processing service to B2B manufacturers.
• Sn Tin Plating (Finished Products) Tin electroplating service for finished products including Pb-free solder plating (Sn/Bi, Sn/Cu alloys), used in RoHS-compliant electrical/electronic components for soldering, sliding parts, and contact terminals. Sold as a contract processing service to B2B manufacturers.
• Other Plating (Zinc Chromate, Solder, Speculum Alloy, Sn-Co) Additional plating services including zinc chromate conversion coating, lead-free solder plating (Sn-Bi, Cu-Sn), speculum alloy (Cu-Sn) plating as a nickel alternative, and Sn-Co decorative plating. Sold as a contract processing service to B2B manufacturers.
• Integrated Processing (Barrel Grinding / Annealing / Ni Barrel Plating) One-stop integrated processing for iron-based components combining barrel grinding (deburring, scale removal), vacuum annealing (600-900°C for softening and stress relief), and nickel barrel plating; achieves stable quality, reduced lead times, and cumulative automotive production of 13 billion parts. Sold as a contract processing service to B2B automotive and industrial manufacturers.

Quantifiable outcome

• Silver-graphite plating achieves 20,000+ sliding cycles vs. 20-60 cycles for hard silver plating under same test conditions (1,000gf, 5mm reciprocating, Cu ball with Ag plating)
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature12 records

Partnerships

One partnership is on record.

• Hokkaido Electric Power Network Inc. (北海道電力ネットワーク株式会社)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 April 2019Joint patent development for on-site silver plating repair technology for circuit breaker conductive contacts. This technology enables power utilities to restore worn silver plating in the field rather than replacing entire components, achieving significant cost reduction. Patent jointly filed and granted April 2019. METEK provides the plating expertise while Hokkaido Electric Power provides application context for power infrastructure maintenance.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves10 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• MEC Company Ltd. Japanese specialty chemical company focused on surface treatment and adhesion promotion for electronics packaging, including lead frame plating. Directly comparable niche Japanese specialty surface treatment player serving semiconductor customers.
• Daiwa Fine Chemicals Co., Ltd. Japanese specialty chemical manufacturer supplying plating chemicals, surface treatment agents, and electronic materials. Closely comparable to METEK in Japanese specialty surface treatment chemistry for electronics.
• C. Uyemura & Co., Ltd. Tokyo Stock Exchange-listed Japanese specialty plating chemicals and surface treatment provider serving semiconductor, electronics, and automotive markets. Closest public comparable to METEK in geography, customer mix, and precious-metal plating focus.
• Nippon Hyomen Kagaku K.K. Japanese specialty plating service and chemical supplier serving electronics, automotive, and industrial markets. Directly comparable niche Japanese plating service provider with overlapping precious-metal plating capabilities.
• JCU Corporation: Japanese-listed specialty chemical supplier focused on plating chemicals and surface treatment for electronics and automotive customers. Directly comparable to METEK in plating chemistry portfolio and Japanese OEM customer base.
• Technic Inc. US-headquartered global supplier of plating chemistry, equipment, and surface treatment services for electronics, semiconductor, and industrial customers. Comparable to METEK in precious-metal plating technology offering, with broader geographic coverage.

Broad incumbents

• Tanaka Holdings Co., Ltd. Japanese precious metals group providing plating materials, gold/silver/palladium products, and industrial plating services. Comparable to METEK as a precious-metal-focused Japanese plating player with broader materials presence.
• DuPont Electronics & Industrial: Global materials supplier offering plating chemistries and electronic materials to semiconductor packaging and electronics customers. Broad incumbent comparable to METEK in semiconductor plating chemistry, with significantly larger R&D and global footprint.
• Atotech (MKS Instruments): Global leader in plating chemistry and equipment, now part of MKS Instruments, serving semiconductor packaging, electronics, and automotive markets worldwide. Comparable to METEK as a global plating technology incumbent with broader geographic reach.
• MacDermid Enthone Electronics Solutions (Element Solutions Inc.): Global supplier of plating chemistry and surface treatment solutions for electronics and industrial customers under Element Solutions Inc. Comparable to METEK in serving semiconductor and automotive electronics plating needs at global scale.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Instagraminstagram.com/metek1918
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/metek-kitamura-co-ltd-

Compliance2 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles4 records

Subsidiaries7 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 METEK