Yano Giken

What Yano Giken does

Yano Giken (株式会社ヤノ技研) is a Japanese research, development, and manufacturing firm founded in December 2002 in Takarazuka, Hyogo Prefecture, with a dedicated Kobe laboratory for thermal storage technology development. The company designs, manufactures, and sells Enebank (エネバンク), a proprietary latent heat storage product consisting of inorganic phase change material (PCM) encapsulated in patented polyethylene capsules with a concave-convex (凹凸) surface design. Enebank capsules are offered in four size variants (B, D, L, S) across phase change temperatures from -20°C to +80°C, achieving 316 kJ/L thermal storage capacity, roughly 16x that of concrete and 7.5x that of water. The technology enables greenhouse agriculture, residential air conditioning, medical facility, industrial factory, and cold chain logistics applications, with documented field deployments yielding 11.6-26% fuel savings and a 17-year durability track record.

The company's business model is primarily direct B2B and B2C hardware sales via website inquiry and telephone, augmented by professional services including joint development and consulting, and full system integration combining Enebank capsules with heat pumps and ducts for residential and commercial HVAC. Pricing is not publicly disclosed and is negotiated on a per-inquiry basis. Distribution is entirely direct within Japan, with concentrated activity in the Kansai region and no international footprint. Marketing relies on trade show exhibitions (Kansai Machine Components Technology Exhibition, Smart Grid Expo), press coverage in major Japanese newspapers, technical documentation, and a network of technology partnerships including Tokyo Electric Power, Panasonic, and three Japanese universities.

Yano Giken is privately held with no disclosed external institutional investors. The company is led by founder and CEO Naomichi Yano, who transferred thermal storage and energy-saving patents from Kubota Corporation in 2003 to seed the commercial product line. Capitalization is small (33 million yen registered capital as of December 2014), and the company has sustained itself through a combination of product sales and government grants from METI, MLIT, Hyogo Prefecture, Kobe City, and the Kansai Bureau of Economy, Trade and Industry over its 20+ year history.

Name

Yano Giken

Legal name

株式会社ヤノ技研

Website

https://yano-giken.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2002

Operating status

Operating

Short description

Yano Giken is a Japanese R&D firm that develops, manufactures, and sells Enebank, its proprietary phase change material (PCM) thermal storage capsule technology, serving greenhouse agriculture, residential HVAC, industrial, and healthcare customers through direct sales across Japan.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Thermal Energy Storage Materials

NAICS

Ventilation, Heating, Air-Conditioning, and Commercial Refrigeration Equipment Manufacturing (33341)

SIC

Air-Cond & Warm Air Heatg Equip & Comm & Indl Refrig Equip (3585)

akta.pro primary industry

Chillers & Cooling Plant Equipment (IMAHAKAE)

Keywords

• Thermal energy storage
• Phase change materials
• Latent heat storage
• Greenhouse heating systems
• PCM encapsulation technology

Headquarters

HQ city

Takarazuka

HQ country

Japan

HQ region

Asia

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Enebank PCM capsule product sales: Manufacturing and sales of latent heat storage material (PCM) capsules in various sizes (B, D, L, S types) and temperature specifications (EB48 through EBM16 series, ranging from -16°C to 48°C phase change temperature). Products are sold directly to customers for greenhouse, residential, and industrial applications.
2. Consulting and joint development services: Collaborative development and consulting services for various application fields utilizing Enebank thermal storage technology, including greenhouse optimization, residential HVAC systems, and industrial temperature control applications.
3. System integration and application development: Development and provision of complete thermal storage air conditioning systems combining Enebank capsules with heat pumps, ducts, and air purification components for residential and commercial buildings.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

Yano Giken develops, manufactures, and sells "Enebank," a proprietary latent heat thermal storage product consisting of phase change material (PCM) encapsulated in patent-protected polyethylene capsules. The capsules store and release thermal energy through solid-to-liquid phase transitions at configurable temperature setpoints (-20°C to +80°C), and are sold for greenhouse agriculture, residential HVAC, and industrial temperature control applications. The company also provides joint development and consulting services for customized thermal storage solutions.

Product overview

Yano Giken is a Kobe-based technology venture company specializing in phase change material (PCM) heat storage technology. The core product line is the Enebank (エネルギabank) brand of latent heat storage capsules, which come in four size variants (B, D, L, S types) with various phase change temperatures ranging from -16°C to +48°C. These PCM-filled polyethylene capsules can be installed in greenhouses, residential air conditioning systems, and industrial facilities to store and release thermal energy, achieving approximately 25% fuel cost reduction. The product portfolio includes standalone PCM capsules, the Enebank heat storage air conditioning system for residential/commercial use, block configurations for customized installations, and specialized applications for cold chain logistics and temperature maintenance during power outages. The company was established in December 2002 and has accumulated 17 years of product durability.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Enebank (エネバンク): The company's primary product line - a phase change material (PCM) thermal storage capsule brand for various applications including greenhouse agriculture, residential HVAC, and industrial uses.

Products and services

• Enebank PCM Capsules (B/D/L/S Types) Polyethylene-encapsulated phase change material (PCM) capsules available in four size variants (B, D, L, S) with configurable phase change temperatures from -16°C to +48°C. The capsules feature a patent-protected concave-convex surface design for optimal solar heat absorption and heat dissipation. Used by greenhouse operators, residential builders, and industrial customers for thermal storage applications.
• Enebank Heat Storage Air Conditioning System (蓄熱空調システム) Complete residential and commercial air conditioning system that stacks Enebank PCM capsules in storage blocks and connects them to standard air conditioners via ducts. Enables off-peak electricity storage for heating and cooling, with one unit capable of whole-building climate control. Designed for homeowners, residential builders, and commercial facility operators.
• Cold Storage / Refrigerated Warehouse Temperature Maintenance Device

Quantifiable outcome

• 15.3% fuel savings in tomato greenhouse (Osaki City, Miyagi Prefecture)
• +5 more outcomes

Named customers7 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

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Seven partnerships are on record, tiered minor.

• Hyogo Prefecture Growth-Expected Enterprise CertificationminorOthers · 4 March 2009Certification from Hyogo Prefecture SMB Support Network identifying Yano Giken as a growth-expected enterprise.
• NPO Architectural Environment and Equipment Technology Information Center (AEI)minorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 December 2002Nonprofit organization providing technical support and technical cooperation for building environment and equipment technology.
• Setsunan University, Department of Architecture, Residential Environment Design (摂南大学工学部 住環境デザイン学科 森山研究室)minorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 December 2002Academic research collaboration with Setsunan University Moriyama Laboratory for residential environment design research.
• Kobe University Graduate School of Engineering, Urban Environment and Equipment Planning Laboratory (神戸大学大学院 工学研究科 都市環境・設備計画研究室)minorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 December 2002Academic research collaboration with Kobe University for urban environment and equipment planning studies.
• Tokai University, Department of Architecture (東海大学工学部建築学科)minorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 December 2002Academic research collaboration with Tokai University for building architecture and thermal storage applications.
• NIRO - New Industry Creation Research Organization (NIRO 了新産業創造研究機構)minorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 December 2002Public research organization providing technical support and technical cooperation for new industry creation.
• Kobe Dream Catch ProjectminorOthers · 1 December 2002Kobe Innovation Platform project certification for innovative business development.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Market position

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 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 Yano Giken