What Ihara Science Corp does

Ihara Science Corporation is a privately-held Japanese manufacturer of high-pressure tube fittings, valves, and integrated piping systems, founded in 1941 and headquartered in Tokyo (Minato-ku). The company operates two business divisions: the CP Division (Clean Piping), which serves semiconductor, LCD, pharmaceutical, food, and pure-water applications via high-purity gas/liquid fittings (BI-Lok, VTF, AWF, NTFF), bellows and diaphragm valves, and in-line filters; and the GP Division (General Piping), which supplies bite-type tube fittings, swivel joints, stop/ball/check/piston valves, and metal flexible hoses for hydraulic systems in construction machinery, machine tools, shipbuilding, and railway vehicles. Ihara Science originated Japan's first domestic bite-type tube fitting and has built a proprietary portfolio of weld-less and quick-connect products (I-fit, Oi-sugu Flange, QF) protected by ISO 9001/14001 certification and product type approvals from major marine classification societies (ClassNK, ABS, LR, BV, TUV, DNV GL).

The business is primarily B2B and sales-led, with three domestic sales offices (Tokyo, Nagoya, Osaka) and wholly-owned subsidiaries in the United States (California and Pennsylvania), Taiwan, South Korea, and China (Nantong and Jiangsu), supplemented by authorized distributors in Thailand, India, Vietnam, and Singapore. Revenue is generated through hardware sales of fittings, valves, hoses/tubes, and pre-assembled piping modules (cassettes, units), plus design-to-maintenance services bundled under the 'Optimum Piping System' offering. The company was taken private via an MBO led by EN-I-MU Corporation in June 2023 (delisted from JASDAQ ticker 5999), employing 681 staff as of December 31, 2024 across five Japanese plants and three Chinese factories, with active capacity expansion underway (Izu-Nagaoka No.2 Factory, October 2025) and recent leadership transition to a 7th President (Susumu Karasawa, April 2025).

Name

Ihara Science Corp

Legal name

IHARA SCIENCE CORPORATION

Website

https://ihara-sc.co.jp

Company type

Private

Founded year

1941

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

501–1,000 employees

Short description

Ihara Science Corp is a Japanese manufacturer of bite-type tube fittings, valves, and integrated piping systems serving semiconductor, construction machinery, machine tool, shipbuilding, and railway OEMs globally.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Industrial Piping Components and Fittings

NAICS

Fluid Power Valve and Hose Fitting Manufacturing (332912), Other Metal Valve and Pipe Fitting Manufacturing (332919), Fabricated Pipe and Pipe Fitting Manufacturing (332996)

SIC

Gaskets, Packg & Sealg Devices & Rubber & Plastics Hose (3050), Steel Pipe & Tubes (3317)

akta.pro primary industry

Hoses, Tubing & Fittings (Hydraulic/Pneumatic Lines & Connectors) (IMAHAGAH)

akta.pro secondary industries

Pipe Fittings, Couplings & Connectors (IMADALAD), Industrial/Process Piping & Mechanical Contracting (IMAFALAG), Industrial Process & Chemical-Resistant Pipe Systems (CPVC/PVDF/PP) (IMANADAF)

Keywords

• Industrial tube fittings
• High-pressure piping systems
• Clean fluid valves
• Hydraulic fittings manufacturer
• Semiconductor gas piping

Headquarters

HQ city

Minato

HQ country

Japan

HQ region

Asia

Offices16 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Piping Components (Fittings and Valves): Sale of proprietary fittings (bite-type, double ferrule, weld-less, quick joint, etc.) and valves (bellows, diaphragm, stop, ball, check, piston) to industrial customers across multiple sectors.
2. Piping Systems and Assemblies: Design, processing, assembly, and maintenance of total piping systems including cassettes, units, and custom assemblies. The 'Optimum Piping System' provides end-to-end solutions from design to installation and maintenance.
3. Pipes and Hoses: Metal flexible hoses (SUS316L), stainless steel tubes optimized for BI-Lok fittings, and precision carbon steel galvanized tubes for bite-type fittings.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Ihara Science Corp manufactures and sells industrial tube fittings, valves, hoses, and precision tubes used to build piping systems for hydraulic, pneumatic, and high-purity fluid applications. Through its Clean Piping (CP) Division and General Piping (GP) Division, the company supplies proprietary products such as BI-Lok double-ferrule fittings, I-fit single-ferrule fittings, Oi-sugu weld-less flanges, QF quick fittings, bellows and diaphragm valves, plus the integrated 'Optimum Piping System' offering that covers design, fabrication, assembly, and maintenance for industrial customers across semiconductors, construction machinery, machine tools, shipbuilding, railway, energy, food, and medical markets.

Product overview

Ihara Science Corp is a manufacturer specializing in fittings, valves, and piping systems for industrial applications. The product portfolio centers on two business divisions: (1) CP Division (Clean Piping) offering fittings (BI-Lok, I-fit, VTF, AWF, NTFF, Quick Joint), bellows valves, metal diaphragm valves, and in-line filters for semiconductor, LCD, pharmaceutical, food, and pure water applications requiring high-purity fluid handling; and (2) GP Division (General Piping) providing bite type tube fittings (NE, CE), swivel joints, stop valves, ball valves, check valves, piston valves, hose adapters (NNT), and metal flexible tubes for hydraulic systems in construction machinery, machine tools, shipbuilding, and railway vehicles. Supporting products include E-Tube stainless steel and carbon steel tubes, tube cutters (ISTEC), and pre-set devices. The company also offers comprehensive Optimum Piping System services encompassing design, processing, assembly, and maintenance for total piping solutions across multiple industry sectors.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• BI-Lok: Double ferrule type tube fitting product line
• I-fit
• e-fit
• Yamagata-Ihara Co., Ltd.

Products and services

• BI-Lok Double Ferrule Tube Fitting (ダブルフェルールタイプ継手) Mechanical double-ferrule tube fitting in which the back ferrule holds the tube while the front ferrule creates a fluid seal. Wetted parts are all the same material, supporting a wide temperature range and various fluids from low to high temperature. RoHS compliant in stainless versions.
• I-fit Single-Ferrule Fitting (ワンフェルールタイプ継手) Two-part fitting (nut and body) with the ferrule integrated into the nut, eliminating dropping/losing ferrules and ferrule-orientation errors during assembly. Available in rotation-control and full-nut-tightening variants.
• Bite Type Tube Fitting (くい込み継手) Weld-less high-pressure fitting for hydraulic applications that eliminates the need for threading, welding, flaring, or brazing, with tube-bending compatibility. Holds the top market share for bite-type tube fittings in Japan.
• Oi-sugu Weld-less Flange (溶接レスフランジ) Flange connection without welding that achieves weld-equivalent strength via a sleeve-wedging structure. No fire precautions or acid washing required, reducing equipment downtime. Good Design Award winner.
• QF Full-Flow Quick Fitting (FF脱着くん フルフロー脱着継手) Quick attach/detach fitting with a maximized flow path (full flow) that reduces pressure loss and conserves energy, with a foolproof mechanism preventing incorrect operation.
• Plastic Tube Fitting (EP-FIT/PTF 樹脂チューブ用継手) Two-part fitting for plastic tubes that enables easy, secure connection.
• AWF Automatic Welding Fitting (自動溶接継手) Automatic-welding fitting designed for high-purity gas systems in semiconductor manufacturing equipment.
• VTF Metal Gasket Seal Fitting (メタルガスケットシール継手 Oリング) Metal gasket surface-seal fitting for high-purity gas that enables leak-free connection from vacuum to high pressure.
• NTFF Clamp-Type Metal Gasket Seal Fitting (クランプ式) Clamp-type metal gasket seal fitting for semiconductor high-purity gas that solves conventional problems of twisting during piping work and particle generation during thread tightening.
• Swivel Joint (スイベルジョイント) Compact, low-torque swivel joint for hydraulic applications that prevents hose twisting.
• Quick Joint (クイックジョイント) Stainless one-touch connecting joint for quick and easy connection/detachment of piping.
• NNT Hose Joint (ホースジョイント) Hose adapter with a smooth flow design for low pressure loss, low noise, and low vibration.
• Bunki-kun Branch Header Piping (分岐くん) Branch header piping that enables multi-branch connections without individual fittings, reducing flow resistance. Directional corrugated shapes can be manufactured.
• INF2 In-Line Filter (インラインフィルター) In-line filter for high-purity gas with replaceable element for easy maintenance.
• ISO-Compliant Bite Type Fitting (E-FIT Fシリーズ) ISO-compliant bite-type tube fitting targeted at the machine tools market for hydraulic piping.
• High-Pressure Threaded / Socket-Weld Fittings (高圧管用継手) High-pressure threaded and socket-weld fittings for medium- to high-pressure hydraulic piping.
• Metal Bellows Valves (CVY/CVF/HBV/GCV/CVB series) Valves using metallic bellows for external seal to achieve high leak tightness; ideal for toxic gases requiring high leak prevention. Available in manual and automatic versions, up to 450°C for the CVF-NC.
• Metal Diaphragm Valves (HFD/DVF/DVEK/DVKA series) High-purity fluid valves using a metallic diaphragm for external seal, providing high leak tightness, high durability, and a dead-space-free design.
• Stop Valves (V series) Stop valves available across a wide range of pressures and temperatures.
• Ball Valves (IVF3F / B series) Ball valves rated for pressures up to 30 MPa, available in various specifications including oil-free.
• Stainless Steel Check Valves (ZC/ZD series) Stainless steel check valves with excellent cracking characteristics and various connection options.
• Piston Valves (WEARLESS VALVE) Single-acting piston valve supporting hemming sealers, designed for high-viscosity fluids including glass bead adhesives.
• Metal Flexible Tubes (MHM/MHF メタルフレキシブルチューブ) SUS316L metal flexible hose with flexible MHM type or shape-maintaining MHF type, available with or without braid.
• Stainless Steel Tube E-Tube-SS Stainless steel tube optimized for BI-Lok double-ferrule fittings, with optimized tube tolerance and surface hardness.
• Precision Carbon Steel Zinc-Plated Tube E-Tube-CS Precision carbon steel zinc-plated tube optimized for bite-type fittings, with optimized outside diameter, wall thickness, and surface hardness.
• ISTEC Tube Cutter (チューブカッター) Tube cutter that enables tube cutting without cutting oil, eliminating cleaning and suitable for clean environments including semiconductor manufacturing. Leaves no burrs on outer surface, allowing direct automatic welding.
• Pre-Set Devices (PSD-B/PSD-HT/PSD-S 予備締付装置) Pre-set devices for reliable bite-type fitting assembly, available in three types for different pipe sizes and applications.
• CP Division Clean Piping Solutions (CP事業部 クリーン流体配管) Clean Piping Division offering for high-purity gas, high-purity liquid, pharmaceuticals, food, and pure-water applications targeting semiconductor and LCD manufacturers.
• GP Division General Industrial Piping Solutions (GP事業部 一般産業用配管) General Piping Division offering for oil, air, water, steam, high-viscosity fluids, and gas applications serving construction machinery, machine tools, shipbuilding, and railway vehicles.
• Optimum Piping System (最適配管システム) Total piping system service including design, processing, assembly, and maintenance for optimal piping solutions across semiconductor, energy, food/medical, analysis/measurement, construction machinery, machine tools, shipbuilding, railway vehicle, and other industrial machinery sectors.

Quantifiable outcome

• Bite-type tube fittings hold top domestic market share in Japan
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers8 records

Segments5 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

Five partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• NANDEE INTER-TRADE CO., LTD.minorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorAuthorized overseas sales distributor in Thailand, covering Bangkok and surrounding areas. Handles marketing and sales of Ihara Science products in the Thai market.
• SHAKTI INDUSTRIAL CORPORATIONminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorAuthorized overseas sales distributor in India (Gurugram, Haryana). Handles sales of Ihara Science products in the Indian market.
• International Technical Trading Co., Ltd.minorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorAuthorized overseas sales distributor in Vietnam (Ho Chi Minh City). Handles sales of Ihara Science products in the Vietnamese market.
• Integrated Motion Technology Pte LtdminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorAuthorized overseas sales distributor in Singapore. Handles sales of Ihara Science products in the Singapore market.
• DNV (Det Norske Veritas)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerDNV provides ISO 9001/ISO 14001 certification for Ihara Science's manufacturing plants. Also provides product type approval (DNV GL) for shipbuilding applications alongside other classification societies (NK, ABS, LR, BV, TUV).

Scale indicators10 records

Recent moves10 records

Expansion highlights7 records

Broad incumbents

• SMC Corporation: Japan-headquartered global pneumatics and automation giant, the world's largest pneumatic component manufacturer. Overlaps with Ihara's pneumatic fittings and quick-connect products for industrial machinery and semiconductor automation, though SMC's portfolio is much broader.
• Parker Hannifin: US-based global motion and control technology leader with extensive fluid power fittings, valves, and hydraulic components. Competes with Ihara in hydraulic and pneumatic fittings for construction machinery, machine tools, and industrial applications, with far broader product breadth and global reach.

Direct peers

• Fujikin Incorporated: Japanese-headquartered manufacturer of specialty high-purity valves, fittings, and fluid control systems for semiconductor, pharmaceutical, and chemical processing. Closest Japan-based direct competitor to Ihara's CP Division, with strong presence in ultra-high-purity gas delivery.
• DK-Lok Corporation: Korean manufacturer of tube fittings and valves directly competing with Ihara in Asian and global markets. Offers double ferrule fittings, instrumentation valves, and clean-piping products for semiconductor and process industries — strong regional competitor in East Asia.
• Ham-Let Group: Israeli-founded global manufacturer of high-purity and high-pressure fittings, valves, and fluid handling components. Directly competes with Ihara's BI-Lok double ferrule fittings and clean-piping (CP) valve portfolio, particularly in semiconductor and analytical instrument applications.
• FITOK Group: Chinese-headquartered manufacturer of instrumentation fittings, valves, and fluid system products. Emerging direct competitor to Ihara in Asia-Pacific, particularly aggressive in semiconductor clean-piping and analytical instrument applications.
• Hylok Corporation: Korean manufacturer of instrumentation tube fittings, valves, and fluid system components. Direct competitor to Ihara's bite-type fittings for hydraulic, pneumatic, and clean-piping applications across Asian industrial markets.
• Swagelok Company: US-headquartered global leader in bite-type tube fittings, valves, and fluid system components. Direct competitor across Ihara's entire GP and CP product lines, with broader global distribution and stronger North American footprint — the primary incumbent Ihara competes against in industrial fittings.
• Superlok / BMT Group: Korean-headquartered manufacturer of instrumentation tube fittings, valves, and piping components serving industrial, semiconductor, and oil & gas customers. Direct competitor to Ihara in Asia-Pacific with comparable product breadth across bite-type fittings and clean piping.
• Hamai Co., Ltd. Japanese manufacturer of precision valves and fluid control components for semiconductor, LCD, and analytical instrument applications. Domestic Japanese peer competing in similar high-purity niches as Ihara's CP Division.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

Compliance8 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles8 records

Subsidiaries6 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 Ihara Science Corp