Dainichiseika Color & Chemicals

What Dainichiseika Color & Chemicals does

Dainichiseika Color & Chemicals Mfg. Co., Ltd. (大日精化工業株式会社) is a Japanese specialty chemical manufacturer founded in 1931 and incorporated in 1939, headquartered in Chuo-ku, Tokyo, and listed on the Tokyo Stock Exchange Prime Market (ticker 4116). The company manufactures organic and inorganic pigments, processed pigments, plastic colorants, fiber colorants, printing inks (offset, gravure, flexographic, UV/EB-curable and water-based), polyurethane resins (including thermoplastic polyurethane and the CO2-based hydroxypolyurethane launched in 2016), natural polymer materials (chitosan), and functional materials (conductive, antistatic, gas-barrier). Operations are organized across nine business divisions — Pigments, Chemical Products, Resins & Materials (two), Coating Materials, Fine Polymer, Chemical Bio, Offset Ink, and Gravure Ink — serving automotive/mobility, IT/electronics, packaging, apparel/textiles, industrial materials/construction, and life science/personal care end markets.

The technical foundation rests on three proprietary core technologies: (1) organic/inorganic synthesis and pigment processing, (2) dispersion processing, and (3) resin synthesis. These enable custom formulation for demanding performance specifications such as heat resistance, color fastness, gas barrier properties, and conductivity. The company monetizes almost exclusively through B2B hardware/chemical product sales (pigments, inks, resins), with pricing not publicly disclosed and revenue generated via direct sales through regional Japanese branches (East Japan, Chubu, West Japan) and 14+ wholly-owned manufacturing and sales subsidiaries spanning China, Taiwan, South Korea, Indonesia, Vietnam, Thailand, India, the United States, and Italy.

For FY ending March 2026, the company reported consolidated revenue of ¥124,294 million and ordinary profit of ¥8,490 million, with 3,514 consolidated employees (1,379 non-consolidated). The business is led by President & CEO Koji Takahashi. Recent strategic direction is anchored in a mid-term plan emphasizing environmentally-friendly products (mobility and sustainable packaging), with the company already achieving a 53% reduction in Scope 1+2 GHG emissions versus FY2020, ISO 14001 and ISO 9001 certifications across operations, and ongoing HPU R&D backed by 50+ patents.

Name

Dainichiseika Color & Chemicals

Legal name

Dainichiseika Color & Chemicals Mfg. Co., Ltd. (大日精化工業株式会社)

Website

https://daicolor.co.jp

Company type

Public

Founded year

1931

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1,001–5,000 employees

Short description

Dainichiseika Color & Chemicals is a Japanese specialty chemical manufacturer producing pigments, colorants, printing inks, polyurethane resins, and functional materials for automotive, electronics, packaging, textile, construction, and life science customers across Asia, the US, and Europe.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Specialty Chemicals & Industrial Pigments

NAICS

Synthetic Dye and Pigment Manufacturing (32513), Paint and Coating Manufacturing (325510), Resin and Synthetic Rubber Manufacturing (32521)

SIC

Paints, Varnishes, Lacquers, Enamels & Allied Prods (2851), Industrial Organic Chemicals (2860), Miscellaneous Chemical Products (2890)

akta.pro primary industry

Pigments & Dyes (IMAEAHAJ)

akta.pro secondary industries

Color Masterbatches & Dispersions (IMAEAHAK), Synthetic/Artificial Colorants (FD&C Dyes, Lake Pigments) (AFAJAEAC), Textile, Leather & Paper Specialty Chemicals (IMAEABAM), Personal Care & Cosmetic Ingredients (IMAEABAJ)

Keywords

• Industrial pigments
• Printing inks
• Polyurethane resins
• Specialty colorants
• Functional materials

Headquarters

HQ city

Tokyo

HQ country

Japan

HQ region

Asia

Offices18 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Chemical Products Sales: Manufacture and sale of inorganic/organic pigments, processed pigments, plastic colorants, fiber colorants, printing inks, coating agents, synthetic leather materials, urethane resins, naturally-derived polymers, functional materials, and CCM systems.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

Dainichiseika Color & Chemicals manufactures and sells a diversified portfolio of colorants and chemical materials, including inorganic and organic pigments, processed pigments, plastic and fiber colorants, commercial printing inks (offset, gravure, flexographic, UV/EB curable), polyurethane and other synthetic resins, natural polymer materials (chitosan), thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU), and functional materials such as conductive and antistatic agents. Products are organized into nine business divisions (Pigment, Chemical Products, Resin & Materials x2, Coating Materials, Fine Polymer, Chemical Bio, Offset Ink, Gravure Ink) serving automotive, electronics, packaging, textiles, construction, and personal care industries.

Product overview

Dainichiseika Color & Chemicals is a diversified chemical manufacturer offering a portfolio of colorants and materials organized into nine business divisions: Pigment, Chemical Products, Resin & Materials (two divisions), Coating Materials, Fine Polymer, Chemical Bio, Offset Ink, and Gravure Ink. Core offerings include inorganic and organic pigments, plastic and fiber colorants, printing inks (offset, gravure, flexographic, UV/EB curable), polyurethane resins, and natural polymer materials (chitosan). The company also provides computer color matching (CCM) systems and the proprietary 7-color printing process. Strategic products include hydroxypolyurethane (HPU) developed from CO2 as a sustainable material. Products serve diverse markets including automotive coatings, electronics, packaging, textiles, construction materials, personal care, and life sciences.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Pigments (顔料) Organic and inorganic pigments and processed pigments used as colorants across art supplies, cosmetics, automotive coatings, printing inks, plastic colorants, digital printer inks, toners, and LCD panel color filters.
• Plastic Colorants (プラスチック用着色剤) Colorants for transparent or semi-transparent plastics, pre-dispersed with pigments in resin for uniform coloring of general-purpose to super-engineering plastics. Includes functional materials for conductivity and static prevention.
• Fiber Colorants (繊維用着色剤) Colorants for synthetic fibers including masterbatch for fiber spinning (spinning colorants) and pigments dispersed in binders for textile printing, requiring fine and uniform pigment processing.
• Printing Inks (印刷インキ) Commercial printing inks and industrial coating agents including offset printing inks (magazines), gravure printing inks (packaging), and flexographic printing inks (cardboard). Includes water-based and environmentally conscious formulations.
• Polyurethane Resins (ウレタン樹脂) Polyurethane resins for synthetic leather and related industrial adhesives and surface treatment agents. Includes imide resins developed using resin synthesis technology.
• Natural Polymer Materials (天然物由来高分子) Natural polymer materials including chitosan derived from chitin in crab and shrimp shells, with antibacterial, moisturizing, film-forming, moisture absorption/desorption, and deodorizing properties for cosmetics, textiles, food, agriculture, industry, water treatment, and medical applications.
• Hydroxypolyurethane (HPU) / CO2-based Polyurethane Environmentally conscious functional resin developed using CO2 as a raw material with excellent gas barrier properties and adhesion, marketed as a sustainable alternative polyurethane. Over 50 patent applications filed related to this technology.
• Computer Color Matching (CCM) Systems Computer color matching systems for industrial color formulation, using spectrophotometers to measure color samples and computers to calculate pigment formulations, including internet-based CCM and color management systems.
• Thermoplastic Polyurethane (TPU) Thermoplastic polyurethane used in tubing, hose materials, belt materials, and film applications for industrial materials, personal care composite materials, and electronics/automotive applications.
• Functional Materials (機能性材料) Functional materials including conductive and antistatic agents, liquid materials uniformly dispersed in resins, and moisture-absorbing materials applied across various industrial segments.

Quantifiable outcome

• GHG emissions reduced 53% from FY2020 levels (market basis, Scope 1+2)
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Three partnerships are on record, tiered core.

• Japan Chemical Industry Association (日本化学工業協会)coreOthers · 1 March 2023Member of the Japan Chemical Industry Association and its Responsible Care Committee; participates in JRCC (Japan Responsible Care Council) activities for environmental, safety, and health management since founding in 1995.
• Japan Responsible Care Council (JRCC)coreOthersActive participant in RC activities for environmental protection, safety, and health; signed RC Global Charter.
• Supply Chain PartnerscoreOthersPartnership Declaration (サプライチェーン全体の共存共栄と規模・系列を超えた新たな連携); collaborative sustainability initiatives including green initiatives, health management, and BCP with suppliers.

Scale indicators8 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• DIC Corporation: Japan-headquartered global leader in pigments, printing inks, and performance materials with overlapping product lines (organic/inorganic pigments, offset and gravure inks, polyurethane resins). Direct domestic and overseas competitor across virtually all of Dainichiseika's business divisions.
• Sakata INX Corporation: Japanese printing ink and colorant manufacturer with global presence. Comparable across offset/gravure inks, packaging inks, and UV-curable formulations, serving similar B2B printing and packaging customers.
• Toyo Ink (Artience Co., Ltd.): Japanese manufacturer of pigments, printing inks (offset, gravure), and polymer materials. Highly comparable in product mix and customer base, especially in packaging inks and colorants for plastics.

Emerging players

• Ferro Corporation: Specialty coatings and pigments supplier serving glass, ceramics, and industrial coatings markets. Overlap in specialty colorants and functional materials for industrial applications.
• Sensient Technologies: US-based specialty color manufacturer focused on high-performance pigments, dyes, and flavor/cosmetic colorants. Comparable in colorant technology for personal care, food, and specialty industrial applications.
• Heubach Group: Specialty pigments and pigment preparations manufacturer focused on organic and inorganic pigments for coatings, plastics, printing inks, and specialty applications. Comparable product portfolio to Dainichiseika's pigment and dispersion operations.

Broad incumbents

• LANXESS: German specialty chemicals company with inorganic pigments (iron oxide, chrome) and urethane systems. Comparable in specialty pigments and polyurethane resin offerings, with broader commodity chemical scale.
• Clariant: Swiss specialty chemicals company with pigments, masterbatches, and performance materials divisions. Direct overlap in masterbatch colorants and specialty pigments for plastics, coatings, and packaging.
• Sun Chemical: Subsidiary of DIC Corporation and the world's largest printing ink and pigment manufacturer. Competes with Dainichiseika in printing inks and pigments globally, with broader scale and broader portfolio.
• BASF: Global diversified chemical major with pigments, resins, and performance chemicals divisions. Competes in specialty pigments and coating materials but as part of a much broader chemicals portfolio.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

Compliance3 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles11 records

Subsidiaries20 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 Dainichiseika Color & Chemicals