What Kodama Chemical Industry does

Kodama Chemical Industry Co., Ltd. (TSE Standard Market: 4222) is a Japanese plastic products manufacturer founded in 1946 and listed since 1962, operating as a complete OEM supplier with design-to-manufacturing capability spanning mold fabrication, molding, assembly, and quality management. The company runs three business segments: Mobility (automotive interior and exterior plastic components supplied to Toyota, Honda, Mitsubishi, and Yamaha), Living Space (resin bathroom vanities, washbasins, bathtubs, and residential interior/exterior products for housing equipment OEMs), and Advanced & Essential (entertainment software packaging, IT device components such as the VAIO sub-1mm carbon fiber notebook chassis, medical equipment, and conveyor hydroponic resin trays for plant factories).

Core technology revolves around proprietary plastic molding processes, including the GMT New Method (glass mat reinforced thermoplastic press forming delivering steel-comparable rigidity at aluminum-like weight with metal part co-bonding), the TOM Surface Decoration Method (vacuum/pressure forming of high-quality printed films onto complex 3D substrates with precision trimming), the W-SHELL double-shell molding process, and a patent-pending New Composite Material Press Forming system for CFRP/CFRTP and C-SMC composites. The production footprint comprises four domestic factories in Japan (Tokyo HQ, Saitama Plants 1 and 2, Seisho/Odawara, Fukuroi), three manufacturing subsidiaries in Thailand (Thai Kodama Bangkok/Bang Pakong, Echo Autoparts Thailand Chonburi), one in Vietnam (Thai Kodama Vietnam, Dong Nai), and a new Indian subsidiary under Daimet opening in 2026.

The business model is OEM contract manufacturing under direct B2B supply agreements with major Japanese automotive and housing equipment manufacturers, with project-based pricing on customized components. The company underwent business rehabilitation ADR proceedings in 2020 due to capital impairment and funding constraints, leading to sponsor support via debt-for-equity swaps and third-party share allotments, and now operates with majority shareholder Endeavor United Fund No. 2 holding 62.47% of common shares as of March 2025. The KCI2025 medium-term plan set a FY2025 revenue target of ¥225B, and a new medium-term plan 2028 was announced in May 2026 to guide the next phase of group consolidation and expansion.

Name

Kodama Chemical Industry

Legal name

KODAMA CHEMICAL INDUSTRY CO.,LTD.

Website

https://kodama-chemical.co.jp

Company type

Public

Founded year

1946

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

501–1,000 employees

Short description

Kodama Chemical Industry is a Japanese plastic OEM manufacturer serving automotive (Toyota, Honda, Mitsubishi), housing equipment, and advanced technology customers with proprietary GMT, TOM, and composite press forming technologies across factories in Japan, Thailand, Vietnam, and India.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Automotive Plastic Components Manufacturing

NAICS

Plastics Product Manufacturing (3261), Plastics and Rubber Products Manufacturing (326), Motor Vehicle Parts Manufacturing (3363)

akta.pro primary industry

Automotive & Transportation Injection Molded Parts (IMANAFAB)

akta.pro secondary industries

Custom Injection Molding & Contract Manufacturing (Job Shops/CMs) (IMANAFAJ), Custom Thermoforming & Contract Manufacturing (IMANAHAI)

Keywords

• Plastic molding
• Automotive plastic components
• OEM plastic manufacturing
• GMT press forming
• Composite material forming

Headquarters

HQ city

Tokyo

HQ country

Japan

HQ region

Asia

Offices9 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Plastic product manufacturing and sales: Design-to-manufacturing complete OEM services for plastic products. The company operates as a comprehensive OEM manufacturer handling design, mold processing, molding, assembly, and management. Revenue is generated through the sale of manufactured plastic components to automotive manufacturers, housing equipment makers, and advanced technology companies.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels2 records

Core offering

Kodama Chemical Industry is a comprehensive OEM manufacturer of plastic molded components, providing design-to-manufacturing services for automotive interior and exterior plastic parts, housing equipment resin products (bathroom vanities, kitchens, toilets, baths), and advanced applications including entertainment software packaging, full-carbon notebook PC chassis, and conveyor hydroponic trays for plant factories. The company operates an integrated production system from mold fabrication through molding, assembly, and delivery, using proprietary GMT, TOM, and composite material forming technologies.

Product overview

Kodama Chemical Industry is a comprehensive OEM manufacturer of plastic molding products organized around three core business segments: Mobility (automotive interior and exterior plastic components), Living Space (bathroom vanities, kitchen, bath, and residential resin products), and Advanced & Essential (entertainment media packaging, full carbon body precision parts for IT devices, and conveyor hydroponic trays for plant factories). The company operates an integrated production system from design and mold fabrication through molding, assembly, and quality management. Key technology/product lines include the GMT New Method (glass fiber mat press for automotive structural parts enabling lightweight metal substitution), TOM Surface Decoration (vacuum/pressure forming with high-quality film lamination for 3D automotive trim), New Composite Material Press Forming (for CFRP/CFRTP and thermoset composite plates), full carbon body precision machining for premium notebooks, and conveyor hydroponic resin trays for automated plant factories.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Mobility Products (モビリティ事業) Automotive interior and exterior plastic components including rear seat structural members, center console moldings, door trim accent panels, door upper panels, back panels, and waist spoilers, as well as construction equipment cab exterior and tractor exterior ceiling parts, supplied to major automobile manufacturers with proposals for weight reduction through glass fiber mat press methods.
• Living Space Products (リビングスペース事業) Resin products for washroom vanities, kitchens, toilets, baths, residential interiors and exteriors, cold storage equipment, and bed care components. Includes washstand vanities, bathroom interior panels, towel hangers, mirror cabinets, toilet paper holders, and handrails.
• Advanced & Essential Products (アドバンスド＆エッセンシャル) Products spanning entertainment software packaging, high-performance mobile PC full carbon body (sub-1mm precision machined carbon fiber continuous fiber body adopted by VAIO), and hydroponic resin trays for automated plant factory systems designated as a disaster recovery project.
• GMT New Method Products (GMT新工法) Glass fiber mat press products enabling high rigidity comparable to steel at aluminum-level weight reduction, complex shaping, stable long-fiber glass dispersion, metal part co-bonding, and detailed surface texture transfer. Used for rear seat structural members adopted by major automobile manufacturers.
• TOM Surface Decoration Method Products (TOM表面加飾工法) Vacuum/pressure forming process applying high-quality printed and textured films onto complex 3D shaped substrates for premium automotive interior trim parts including center console components and door trim accent panels, with high-precision trimming technology.
• Full Carbon Body Precision Machined Parts World's first full carbon body with thickness under 1mm, produced using 3D molding across all surfaces of a notebook PC chassis made from continuous carbon fiber material. Kodama Chemical Industry handled the precision machining for this innovation.
• Conveyor Hydroponic Resin Trays (搬送水耕樹脂トレー) Resin trays for automated plant factory conveyor systems, developed for unmanned cultivation processes. Adopted at Higashimatsushima Farm plant factory, designated as a Great East Japan Earthquake reconstruction project.
• New Composite Material Press Forming (新複合材用プレス成形工法) Press forming system for composite materials including CFRP/CFRTP, enabling high-cycle molding with NC trimming. Products include PA+CF and PC+CF flat plates, and C-SMC thermosetting plates. Patent application pending.

Quantifiable outcome

• GMT new method adopted by major Japanese automotive manufacturer for rear seat structural components
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Four partnerships are on record, tiered core.

• Mepro Holdings Co., Ltd. (株式会社メプロホールディングス)coreOthersGroup company providing additional manufacturing capabilities within the Kodama Chemical Group.
• Yanagawa Seiki Co., Ltd. (柳河精機株式会社)coreOthersGroup company within the Kodama Chemical Group.
• Diamet Corporation (株式会社ダイヤメット)coreOthersGroup company within the Kodama Chemical Group.
• DIAMET SINTERED METAL INDIA Pvt. Ltd.coreOthersOverseas subsidiary of Diamet Corporation. Opening ceremony held in June 2026.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Nifco: Japanese plastic fastener and component manufacturer serving automotive interior, exterior, and functional applications. Comparable injection molding capabilities with global manufacturing footprint and Japanese OEM customer base.
• Toyoda Gosei: Japanese manufacturer of rubber and plastic automotive parts including interior/exterior components, weatherstrip, and functional parts. Direct peer in automotive plastics with similar OEM customer relationships and integrated molding capabilities.
• Toyota Boshoku: Major Japanese automotive interior components manufacturer supplying seats, door trims, and interior plastic modules to Toyota and other OEMs. Most direct comparable to Kodama's Mobility segment given overlapping customer base and product categories.
• Kasai Kogyo: Japanese automotive interior parts manufacturer producing instrument panels, door trims, consoles, and exterior plastic components for major Japanese OEMs. Closely comparable in customer base, product mix, and molding technologies.
• Inoac Corporation: Japanese plastic and rubber products manufacturer supplying automotive interior/exterior parts, housing equipment components, and consumer products. Comparable in serving both automotive and living space segments with similar molding technologies.
• DaikyoNishikawa: Japanese automotive plastic parts manufacturer specializing in fuel system components, interior modules, and exterior parts. Comparable in injection/blow molding capabilities with major Japanese OEM customer base.
• Howa Plastics (Maruwa Group): Japanese injection molding manufacturer producing automotive interior/exterior plastic parts and housing equipment components. Comparable product portfolio, customer mix, and integrated OEM manufacturing model.

Broad incumbents

• Sumitomo Riko: Large Japanese manufacturer of automotive rubber and plastic products including anti-vibration, hoses, and interior components. Comparable in automotive plastics with broader product portfolio and larger scale.
• Faurecia: Global French automotive interior and clean mobility supplier offering seating, interiors, and clean mobility solutions. Comparable in automotive interior plastic components serving global OEMs including Japanese manufacturers.
• Plastic Omnium: French global automotive plastics manufacturer specializing in exterior body parts, fuel systems, and clean energy solutions. Comparable in automotive plastic molded components serving global OEM customers.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

Compliance2 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

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 Kodama Chemical Industry