What KeePer Giken Co., Ltd. does

KeePer Giken Co., Ltd. is a Japanese specialty chemicals and equipment company founded in 1993 and headquartered in Obu, Aichi. The company develops and manufactures proprietary car body coatings (glass, polymer, and resin systems), hand-wash car-washing machines, pure water (RO) generation equipment, and interior sterilization chemistry under the KeePer brand. Premium coatings such as Diamond Keeper are co-developed with German automotive care company SONAX. The company holds multiple Japanese patents covering pure water washing methodology, polymer coatings, water-stain removal, and cantilever car-wash equipment design, and operates an industrial-design portfolio including its KeePer-branded Kai-sen equipment line.

The business operates a dual-channel network model. The KeePer PROSHOP channel comprises 6,632 independently owned car wash and detailing shops across Japan that purchase and apply KeePer-branded products under a technology-certification regime; this channel is supplemented by 184 KeePer LABO specialty stores (mix of corporate- and franchise-owned) offering professional coating and hand-wash services directly to consumers via online reservation (keeperyoyaku.jp, keeperlabo-reserve.jp). Direct-to-consumer sales are conducted through keeperonline.jp and a Rakuten marketplace storefront, while training services are delivered through a dedicated KeePer technical school with certification examinations and an annual KeePer Technical Championship. Revenue streams span hardware sales (proprietary equipment and consumables), licensing/partner registrations, managed services at LABO stores, professional training fees, and DTC e-commerce.

Marketing is anchored by long-running brand-building activity — sponsorship of the SUPER GT motorsport series (KeePer TOM'S RC F), seasonal TV commercials, the in-house KeePer TIMES monthly magazine, and a multi-domain SEO footprint aggregating 2 million monthly pageviews as of 2015. The company is publicly listed on the Tokyo Stock Exchange Mothers market under ticker 6036.T (IPO 2015) and is actively pursuing adjacent automotive-ecosystem exposure, including a February 2026 strategic investment in used-car P2P platform Aracan/Kababa (Series C, ¥1.35B total) alongside JAFCO Group. Operating geographies are restricted to Japan, with no disclosed international expansion.

Name

KeePer Giken Co., Ltd.

Legal name

KeePer技研株式会社

Website

https://keepergiken.co.jp

Company type

Public

Founded year

1993

Operating status

Operating

Short description

KeePer Giken Co., Ltd. is a publicly listed Japanese (TSE Mothers, 6036.T) specialty chemicals and equipment company that develops proprietary car coatings, hand-wash machines, and interior sterilization chemistry, distributed through 6,632 KeePer PROSHOP certified partner shops and 184 KeePer LABO specialty stores across Japan, plus DTC e-commerce.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Automotive Car Care Products and Equipment

NAICS

Polish and Other Sanitation Good Manufacturing (325612), Soap and Cleaning Compound Manufacturing (32561)

SIC

Specialty Cleaning, Polishing And Sanitation Preparations (2842)

akta.pro primary industry

Eco-Friendly Specialty Cleaners (Oven, Degreasers, Limescale, Metal) (CRAJAOAK)

Keywords

• Car coating chemicals
• Car wash equipment
• Automotive surface protection
• Hand wash systems
• Vehicle coating franchise

Headquarters

HQ city

Obu

HQ country

Japan

HQ region

Asia

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Chemical Products (Coating Agents, Cleaners, Consumables): KeePer develops and sells a wide range of proprietary chemical products including coating agents (Diamond Keeper, Crystal Keeper, Pure Keeper, Resin2), cleaning agents (Ba-ku-tsuya, Bakuhaku ONE, iron removers), interior cleaners, and car wash foam shampoos. Products are sold to PROSHOP partners and directly to consumers via the official online shop.
2. Car Washing Equipment and Machines: Sale of proprietary car washing equipment including the Kai-sen Jr. series, Kai-sen 7, Kai-sen WING II, and pure water generators. Equipment is sold to PROSHOP partners and direct service stores.
3. Franchise / Partner Network (PROSHOP Registration): Independent car wash and detailing shops register as KeePer PROSHOP partners, receiving access to branded products, technical certification, marketing materials, and business support. Revenue comes from product sales to registered partners.
4. Direct Service Stores (KeePer LABO FC): KeePer LABO franchise stores (184 locations nationwide) operate as professional coating specialty shops directly owned or franchised under the KeePer LABO brand. These stores offer coating and washing services directly to consumers.
5. Training, Certification, and School Services: The company operates training schools and certification programs for coating and car wash technicians. Training sessions, examinations, and skill certification programs generate revenue through course fees and certification charges.
6. Online Retail (Direct-to-Consumer E-commerce): Direct-to-consumer sales through the KeePer official online shop (keeperonline.jp) selling chemicals, tools, and accessories to individual car owners. Also available via Rakuten marketplace store.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels9 records

Core offering

KeePer Giken develops, manufactures, and sells proprietary car body coating chemicals (glass, polymer, and resin coatings), hand-wash car washing equipment with reverse-osmosis pure water systems (Kai-sen series), interior sterilization products, and specialized tools. The company distributes through a nationwide franchise/certification network of 6,632 KeePer PROSHOP partners and 184 KeePer LABO specialty stores, complemented by direct-to-consumer online retail (keeperonline.jp) and Rakuten marketplace.

Product overview

KeePer Giken Co., Ltd. is a Japanese company specializing in car washing and coating products and services. The company's product portfolio centers on proprietary car washing machines (快洗Jr. series, 快洗WING II, 快洗7), pure water generation systems (快洗ROII), and professional-grade coating and cleaning chemicals (Diamond Keeper, Crystal Keeper, Resin 2, Power Base Coat, Bakuhaku ONE, Bakutsuya). The ecosystem is supported by specialized tools (La Mop II, KeePer Cloths) and two service networks: KeePer PROSHOP (6,632 certified stores) and KeePer LABO (184 professional specialty stores). Products are sold through direct sales, the online shop (keeperonline.jp), and franchise partnerships.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• KeePer PROSHOP: Car coating technology certification stores offering professional coating services
• KeePer LABO
• 洗車.com
• KeePer MotorSports

Products and services

• Kai-sen Jr.5RO (快洗 Jr.5RO) Hand-Wash Car Washing Machine with Pure Water System Portable hand-wash car washing machine with built-in reverse-osmosis pure-water finishing system for car wash and detailing operations. Designed for use by PROSHOP/LABO partners and high-end car-wash operations.
• Kai-sen Jr.5N (快洗 Jr.5N) Hand-Wash Car Washing Machine (Normal Type) Bestselling 100V mobile hand-wash car washing machine (normal type without a built-in pure water system) for hand-wash car care operators.
• Kai-sen Jr.200 (快洗 Jr.200) High-Power 200V Hand-Wash Car Washing Machine High-power 200V hand-wash car washing machine with strong high-pressure output for stubborn dirt and snow, with a built-in water-tank heater for cold-region operation, aimed at professional car-wash shops.
• Kai-sen WING II (快洗 WING II) Cantilever Hand-Wash Car Washing Machine Space-saving cantilever hand-wash car washing machine with joystick-controlled variable speed and about 40% water savings, optionally connectable to a pure-water system; protected by Patent No. 4509948 and Design Registration No. 1290653.
• Kai-sen ROII (快洗 ROII) Pure Water Generator (Reverse Osmosis) Pure water generator based on reverse-osmosis membrane filtration, configurable from 1 to 3 modules for 60L/h, 120L/h, or 180L/h output, with a 52L storage tank and low running costs; supports spot-free vehicle finishing in PROSHOP/LABO operations.
• KeePer Final 1 (キーパーファイナル1) Polymer Coating Agent Polymer coating agent for all car colors that simultaneously cleans, adds gloss, and protects paint, with paint-condition improvement on repeated use (Patent No. 3058784); sold to PROSHOP/LABO partners and direct consumers.
• Diamond Keeper (ダイヤモンドキーパー) Premium Glass Coating Agent Premium body glass coating agent co-developed with German automotive-care company SONAX, delivering high-quality gloss and luster with safe application that does not damage paint; flagship KeePer coating for PROSHOP/LABO professionals and premium consumers.
• Resin 2 (レジン2) Resin Coating Agent Resin coating agent for automotive paint offering improved workability and effective prevention of water-spot adhesion (Patent Application 2009-112952); sold via PROSHOP/LABO and consumer channels.
• Bakuhaku ONE (爆白ONE) Alkaline + Ultra-Fine Water-Stain Remover Strong water-stain remover that combines alkaline chemical action with ultra-fine physical cleaning while remaining safe on paint, used for pre-coating surface preparation and water-stain removal (Patent No. 4077734).
• Bakutsuya (爆ツヤ) Paint-Safe Strong Cleaner / Gloss Enhancer Ultra-safe strong cleaner that adds gloss without scratching paint even under vigorous scrubbing, ideal for new cars and black vehicles, and can serve as a pre-coating degreasing agent.
• Glass Polisher GP III (グラスポリッシャーGPIII) Glass Oil-Film Remover Professional automotive glass oil-film and water-spot remover applied by hand polishing to eliminate the film that causes glare during rain; sold through the official KeePer online shop.
• Power Mooth 4 (パワームース4) Car-Wash Foam Agent Car-wash machine foam agent with high retention and fine bubble texture for efficient hand-wash operations, providing strong dirt-removal capability; used with KeePer hand-wash machines.
• Power Base Coat 2 (パワーベースコート2) Super Water-Repellent Coating Agent Long-selling super water-repellent coating agent for use in KeePer car-wash machines, with high compatibility with Power Mooth 4 foam agent.
• AC-1 Instant Sterilizing Deodorant (AC-1 瞬間除菌消臭剤) Instant sterilizing and deodorizing agent for vehicle interiors using a safe water-based formula (special food-sterilization water approved by Japan's Ministry of Health); part of KeePer's All Clear interior system.
• L-2 Long-lasting Antibacterial Deodorant (L-2 長期抗菌消臭剤) Long-lasting silver-ion antibacterial and deodorizing agent for vehicle interiors, registered with SIAA, providing 3-6 months of protection by coating interior surfaces to seal out bacteria and odors; part of KeePer's All Clear interior system.
• La Mop II (ラ・モップII) Hand-Wash Mop Hand-wash mop made of high-quality Australian wool with a glove-type design for gentle, detailed-area vehicle cleaning.
• KeePer Cloth (キーパークロス) Microfiber Wiping Cloth Special-structured microfiber cloth for the final wipe-down of coated vehicles, using ultra-fine fibers to quickly remove contaminants while preserving coating effectiveness.
• KeePer PROSHOP Certified Coating-Service Partner Network Franchise/certified partner network of 6,632 car-wash, auto-detailing, and dealership shops across Japan that apply KeePer chemicals, equipment, and certified techniques to serve end car owners under the PROSHOP brand.
• KeePer LABO Specialty Coating & Hand-Wash Store Network (184 locations) Nationwide chain of 184 KeePer LABO specialty stores (company-operated and franchised) offering professional coating and hand-wash services to end consumers, with bookings via the official online reservation system.

Quantifiable outcome

• 6,632 PROSHOP certified partner stores nationwide
• +4 more outcomes

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature6 records

Partnerships

Three partnerships are on record, tiered core.

• SONAX GmbH (Germany)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerKeePer co-developed premium glass coating products (Diamond Keeper Chemical, Glass Protect) with German automotive care company SONAX. This is a product co-development partnership bringing German coating technology to the Japanese market under the KeePer brand.
• KeePer PROSHOP Network PartnerscoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor6,632 independent car wash, auto detailing, and car dealership shops across Japan are registered as KeePer PROSHOP certified partners. These partners use KeePer-branded products and certified techniques, distributing KeePer products and services to end consumers.
• KeePer LABO FranchiseescoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor184 KeePer LABO franchise stores operate under the KeePer LABO brand, offering professional coating and hand-wash services. Franchisees receive access to proprietary products, training, brand support, and a proven business model.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• 3M: Diversified industrial conglomerate whose Automotive Aftermarket division sells polishes, compounds, and detailing products. It is a broad incumbent whose chemistry, training programs, and dealer-channel presence overlap with KeePer's professional and consumer chemical range.
• Turtle Wax: Global mass-market car-care brand offering waxes, ceramic sprays, and detailing kits. While not premium-coating focused, Turtle Wax competes on price-tier chemistry and increasingly on hybrid ceramic coatings, overlapping with KeePer's lower-priced consumer SKUs.
• Meguiar's (3M): Heritage car-care brand owned by 3M, selling polishes, waxes, coatings, and detailing chemicals to both consumers and professional detailers worldwide. It competes with KeePer's chemical range and serves overlapping detailing and PROSHOP-equivalent channels globally.

Emerging players

• Ceramic Pro: Specialist in professional ceramic coatings with a global certified-installer network and multi-year warranty programs. Ceramic Pro competes head-on with KeePer's Diamond Keeper glass coatings at the high end of the consumer coating market.
• Gtechniq: UK-based premium ceramic coating and surface protection brand with strong detailing-channel presence. Gtechniq's certified-detailer model and ultra-premium positioning compete with KeePer's PROSHOP certification and Diamond Keeper premium tier.
• Chemical Guys: US-based car-care chemicals brand popular with enthusiasts and detailers, selling soaps, polishes, sealants, and ceramic-style sprays. Chemical Guys is comparable to KeePer's consumer and detailer chemical portfolio, though it lacks KeePer's equipment and franchise systems.
• XPEL, Inc. US-listed leader in paint protection film (PPF) that has expanded into ceramic coatings (FUSION PLUS) via a certified-installer network. XPEL's installer network and FUSION PLUS coatings compete with KeePer's coated-car value proposition at the premium end.

Direct peers

• Soft99 Corporation: Soft99 is the leading Japanese maker of car wax, glass coatings, and cleaning chemicals (Fukupika, Glaco, Rain Drop) sold through auto-supply and gas-station channels. It is the closest Japan-headquartered competitor to KeePer's chemical and coating product lines and competes for the same consumer and detailer customers.
• SONAX GmbH: German premium car-care brand and KeePer's co-development partner for Diamond Keeper and Glass Protect. SONAX sells its own professional and consumer coating line globally and overlaps directly with KeePer on glass coating chemistry and detailing consumables.

Regional players

• Wash Co. (Waco Holdings / WashHouse / local car-wash chains): Japanese car-wash chain operators such as Waco Holdings run branded wash and light-coating service networks across Japan. They compete with KeePer LABO for consumer service traffic and represent the regional/Japan-only service-network comparable to KeePer's LABO model.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xtwitter.com/keepergiken
• YouTubeyoutube.com/@itacgiken

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments1 record

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about KeePer Giken Co., Ltd.