What NPC does

NPC (株式会社エヌ・ピー・シー) is a Japanese factory-automation and solar-industry equipment manufacturer founded in 1992 and headquartered in Tokyo, with primary production at the Matsuyama Factory in Ehime Prefecture. The company entered the solar cell industry in 1994 and has since built a vertically integrated product portfolio spanning solar cell and panel manufacturing equipment (vacuum lamination, plasma cleaning, FA automation), end-of-life solar panel recycling systems, on-site inspection services, and a small-scale plant-factory vegetable operation under the Hakohime brand. Its core technical differentiator is the proprietary Hot Knife Separation Method (Patent 6271468), which melts EVA encapsulant at approximately 300°C to separate glass from solar cells without breakage, combined with the Brush Scraping Method (Patent 7712718) and the Rakit multi-function high-speed I-V measurement system. The company's reporting model combines one-time capital equipment sales with recurring service revenue from inspection, operation & maintenance, and panel reuse transactions, supported by a nationwide Solar Wellness partner network in Japan and a customer base spanning utilities, construction, manufacturing, telecoms, and public-sector clients (e.g., LIXIL, AGC, KANEKA, JX Nippon Oil & Energy, Chuden Engineering, Furukawa Electric, Toyoda Gosei, MIRAIT, NTT Facilities, Matsuyama City, ENGIE, Panasonic, Toshiba, Sharp, Kyocera, Mitsubishi Electric, Fujitsu, among others). A 2024 partnership with South Korea's Gosan Tech extended the product line into perovskite solar cell manufacturing equipment, and the launch of the N-PiC AI-powered sorting machine has begun to extend the company's automation IP beyond solar-specific tooling into broader waste-sorting applications. No AI-native platform or proprietary ML model is disclosed; AI is a feature within the N-PiC product rather than a core capability. Financially, the input's reported revenue figures are unit-inconsistent and not directly usable; the most defensible central estimate is $25M–$50M USD annual revenue, consistent with a 101–250 employee small-cap industrial supplier listed on the Tokyo Stock Exchange Standard market (tyo:6255).

Name

NPC

Legal name

株式会社エヌ・ピー・シー

Website

https://npcgroup.net

Company type

Private

Founded year

1994

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

NPC (株式会社エヌ・ピー・シー) is a Japanese factory-automation and solar-industry equipment manufacturer (founded 1992) that supplies solar cell manufacturing and recycling equipment, inspection services, and AI-based waste sorting machines to industrial, utility, and public-sector customers in Japan and 50+ countries.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Solar Cell Manufacturing Equipment

NAICS

Electrical Equipment Manufacturing (3353), Semiconductor Machinery Manufacturing (333242)

SIC

Electronic & Other Electrical Equipment (No Computer Equip) (3600), Electrical Industrial Apparatus (3620), Misc Industrial & Commercial Machinery & Equipment (3590)

akta.pro primary industry

Solar PV Module Manufacturing (Cells, Modules, Thin-Film) (EUAMABAD)

akta.pro secondary industries

Solar End-of-Life, Recycling & Decommissioning (Panels, Inverters, Racking) (EUAMABAM), Solar Plant Components Supply & Manufacturing (Modules, Cells, Wafers, Mirrors, Heliostats) (EUACAGAK), Solar Panel Cleaning (HSAEAJAL)

Keywords

• Solar manufacturing equipment
• Factory automation systems
• Solar panel recycling
• PV inspection services
• Vacuum lamination equipment

Headquarters

HQ city

Tokyo

HQ country

Japan

HQ region

Asia

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Equipment Sales (Manufacturing Equipment): Sales of solar cell manufacturing equipment, FA (factory automation) equipment, vacuum lamination machines, and recycling equipment to manufacturers and industrial clients globally.
2. Inspection and Maintenance Services: Solar power plant inspection services using proprietary Rakit system and thermal imaging. O&M services for PV plants including performance and safety evaluations.
3. Panel Recycling Services: Intermediate processing of end-of-life solar panels using hot knife separation technology at Matsuyama factory. Separation yields: glass, aluminum frames, J-Box, cell sheets.
4. Panel Reuse Sales: Purchase and resale of reusable solar panels. Total sales: 120,774 panels (as of May 31, 2026). Markets include domestic and overseas.
5. Plant Factory Produce Sales: Sales of hydroponically grown vegetables 'Hakohime' from artificial light plant factory at Matsuyama factory.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

NPC designs and manufactures solar cell (photovoltaic) module manufacturing equipment, custom factory automation (FA) systems, sheet-by-sheet vacuum lamination machines, vacuum insulation panel sealing equipment, and AI-powered waste sorting machines. The company also operates a nationwide Solar Wellness partner network for solar power plant inspection services and offers solar panel reuse sales plus certified recycling intermediate processing using its proprietary Hot Knife Separation Method at the Matsuyama factory.

Product overview

NPC (株式会社エヌ・ピー・シー) is a Japanese FA equipment manufacturer offering a diverse portfolio centered on solar cell manufacturing equipment, factory automation systems, and solar energy lifecycle services. The core product line includes solar cell manufacturing equipment (covering crystalline silicon, thin-film, perovskite, and satellite/specialty cells), sheet-by-sheet vacuum lamination/bonding machines, and custom FA automation equipment. Complementary product lines include vacuum insulation panel sealers and AI-powered waste sorting equipment (N-PiC). On the services side, NPC operates a nationwide solar maintenance network (Solar Wellness), provides DC-side power generation analysis, and manages a reuse and certified recycling service for end-of-life solar panels using its proprietary Hot Knife Separation Method. The company also operates an indoor LED plant factory producing lettuce under the brand Hakohime, partially powered by reuse solar panels. The product ecosystem is unified by the company's manufacturing expertise (vacuum, thermal, and inspection technologies) applied across solar energy, automation, and environmental sectors.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Solar Wellness (ソーラーウェルネス): Maintenance network for solar panel inspection services connecting maintenance operators nationwide.
• Rakit (ラキット)
• Eptif (エプティフ)
• Hakohime (はこひめ)
• N-PiC
• Hot Knife Separation Method (ホットナイフ分離法)
• Brush Scraping Method (ブラシかきとり法)

Products and services

• Solar Cell (Photovoltaic) Manufacturing Equipment Complete range of solar cell/module manufacturing equipment for crystalline silicon, thin-film, perovskite, and special-application solar cells. Designed for cell and module manufacturers worldwide seeking automated production equipment. Covers the full production process from cell testing, stringing, layup, lamination, and framing.
• Sheet-by-Sheet Vacuum Bonding/Lamination Equipment Vacuum bonding equipment that applies high vacuum and pressure to bond films to glass or panels without bubbles. Includes diaphragm, flat-plate press, and proprietary press methods for manufacturers requiring defect-free lamination.
• FA (Factory Automation) Equipment Custom automation and labor-saving equipment (FA machinery) tailored to customer specifications, spanning automotive, electronics, displays, pharmaceuticals, and other manufacturing industries. Covers design, manufacturing, and maintenance of bespoke production lines and R&D equipment.
• Solar Panel Recycling/Dismantling Equipment Solar panel disassembly/recycling equipment based on the proprietary Hot Knife Separation Method, which separates glass from cell sheets without breaking the glass. Includes glass separation (Hot Knife), frame/J-box separation (Defleamer), and EVA scraper units for recycling operators.
• Vacuum Insulation Panel Sealing Equipment Vacuum insulation panel sealing equipment that operates at high vacuum levels (~1 Pa) for sealing vacuum insulation panels used in refrigerators and vending machines.
• AI-Powered Sorting Machine (N-PiC) AI-powered sorting machine that uses image recognition to automatically sort PET bottles, cans, and other specified items. Can be applied to various factory automation and waste recycling use cases.
• Multi-function High-Speed I-V Measurement System 'Rakit' Multi-functional high-speed I-V measurement system for solar power plant maintenance. Measures string-level current-voltage characteristics, performs STC conversion, and auto-generates analysis reports in approximately 3 minutes per MW.
• Solar Wellness Maintenance Network Service Nationwide network of maintenance operators offering solar power plant inspection services using NPC-developed inspection equipment. Services include I-V testing, EL/PL inspection, IR thermography, and insulation testing.
• Solar Power Plant Inspection Service Solar power plant inspection service using NPC's proprietary Rakit I-V measurement system and thermal imaging for performance and safety evaluations, including O&M services for PV plants.
• Solar Panel Reuse and Recycling Service Solar panel reuse purchase and resale service, plus recycling intermediate processing using NPC's own equipment at the Matsuyama factory. Handles take-back, inspection, and reuse sale or certified recycling of end-of-life solar panels.
• DC-Side Power Generation Analysis Service Remote monitoring data analysis service that analyzes DC-side power generation data to detect equipment anomalies and performance degradation in solar power plants, reducing the need for on-site inspections.
• Hakohime Plant Factory Vegetable Production LED-based indoor plant factory producing pesticide-free lettuce varieties (Frill, Green Leaf, Red Frill) at the Matsuyama factory. Power for cultivation is partially sourced from reuse solar panels on the factory roof.

Quantifiable outcome

• Recycling rate: 95.1%
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers7 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

AI capability2 records

Feature5 records

Partnerships

Nine partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• PV Techno Cycle (PVテクノサイクル)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 June 2019Joint venture with 浜田社 (Hamada) established in June 2019 for solar panel recycling business. PV Techno Cycle was responsible for panel recycling operations using NPC's hot knife separation technology. Jointly presented at EU PVSEC and other international conferences. Note: JV was closed in June 2019, but collaboration continues through other arrangements.
• Gosan Tech Co., Ltd.coreTechnology or IntegrationKorean company partnership for perovskite solar cell manufacturing equipment. NPC distributes Gosan's inkjet coating systems in Japan. Features precision pressure control (±5Pa), high uniformity, high-speed coating capability. Epson print heads compatible. Equipment series include Pulse, Wave, and Beat.
• AGCminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration for glass recycling from end-of-life solar panels. AGC uses glass separated by NPC's hot knife method as raw material for architectural glass production. Represents horizontal recycling initiative demonstrating circular economy approach.
• Mitsui & Co. Plant Systems (三井物産プランシステム)minorGTM or Marketing PartnerJoint presentation and promotion of 'Oh My Solar!' web service for solar power plant performance comparison. Mitsui provides free diagnosis and comparison of plant performance data for corporate customers.
• Power E NEXTcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorSolar Wellness partner company managing large-scale solar plants in Yamagata. Hosted intermediate partner meeting at their recycling center in Takatsuki, Osaka. Partner in nationwide inspection network.
• Yamagata Kankyo Engineering (山形環境エンジニアリング)minorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorSolar Wellness partner company. Co-hosted inspection demonstration and case study seminar at their managed mega-solar facility in Yamagata净化センター.
• AIST (National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerDemonstration of maintenance equipment at AIST Fukushima Renewable Energy Institute (FREA). Technical collaboration for outdoor EL inspection methods and standards development.
• Seal Eito (シール栄登)minorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorEast Japan regional partner for vacuum packaging equipment maintenance (F, FN, KZ, KX series transferred business in 2016). Contact for parts and service.
• MDJminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorWest Japan regional partner for vacuum packaging equipment maintenance (F, FN, KZ, KX series transferred business in 2016). Contact for parts and service in western Japan regions.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights10 records

Broad incumbents

• First Solar, Inc. Large integrated thin-film PV manufacturer with in-house take-back/recycling program. While a customer of equipment rather than a competitor in equipment per se, it represents the vertically-integrated lifecycle model NPC aspires to support with its services.
• Veolia Environmental Services: Large environmental services group with PV panel recycling operations in Europe. Provides adjacent recycling scale and infrastructure to NPC's panel recycling focus.

Direct peers

• Singulus Technologies AG: Provides vacuum/metallization equipment used in solar cell manufacturing and optical disc production. Competes with NPC in vacuum-based process equipment for PV modules.
• Centrotherm International AG: German manufacturer of solar cell and module production equipment (PECVD, diffusion, metallization). Direct peer to NPC in solar PV manufacturing equipment serving global c-Si and emerging tech manufacturers.
• Smit Thermal Solutions: Netherlands-based maker of lamination ovens and thermal processing equipment for solar module manufacturing. Directly competes with NPC's vacuum lamination and FA equipment.
• ROSI Solar: French company specializing in high-purity recycling of end-of-life silicon PV modules, recovering silver, silicon, glass, and copper. Closest pure-play peer to NPC's recycling/reuse service line.
• Manz AG: Germany-based equipment maker for PV module production lines, including lamination and cell-to-module assembly. Directly comparable to NPC's vacuum lamination and stringing/lamination equipment portfolio.

Emerging players

• Nines Photovoltaics / Nines PV: European supplier of inline PV metrology, I-V testing and EL inspection equipment. Competes with NPC's Rakit I-V measurement system in the inspection services segment.
• SunR GmbH: German startup offering solar module disassembly and high-value recycling using a hot-air separation process. Provides an alternative technological approach similar in concept to NPC's Hot Knife Separation Method.

Regional players

• Sharp Corporation: Japanese electronics and PV manufacturer that has been both a customer of NPC module equipment and operates its own panel production lines. Regional peer in Japan that touches the same end market as NPC's equipment business.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xtwitter.com/hakohime_npc
• YouTubeyoutube.com/watch?v=iiCNRShaet0
• Facebookfacebook.com/solarwellness2015
• Instagraminstagram.com/hakohime_npc
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/npc-america-automation-inc

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Subsidiaries1 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 NPC