What Fine Sinter does

Fine Sinter Co., Ltd. is a Japanese powder metallurgy specialist manufacturer founded in 1947 and publicly listed on the Nagoya Stock Exchange (ticker: 5994.T). The company designs and produces precision sintered metal components using technologies including near-net-shape forming, metal powder injection molding (MIM), two-layer forming, warm forming, laser hardening, and insulated compressed powder cores, with secondary processing such as heat treatment, surface treatment, and joining performed in-house. Over 80% of production serves automotive customers, with the remainder split across railway (JR Group, private railways, Shinkansen components), medical/dental equipment (A-dec hydraulic pumps), and industrial machinery. The company holds a claimed world top-class share in shock absorber components and supplies Toyota with award-winning components such as the RAV4 4WD disconnect mechanism (2019 Toyota Technology Development Award).

Fine Sinter operates a B2B project-design-in sales model, with engineers embedded in customer product development cycles to influence component specifications. Revenue is generated through custom-priced, multi-year supply contracts with automotive OEMs and tier-1 suppliers on a per-part-program basis. Beyond its core automotive/railway powder metallurgy business, the company operates two adjacent businesses: a hydraulic equipment division (continuous and short-time rating series, plus the newer DBC/PLC series) serving industrial and medical lift applications, and a diversification business in edible insect food products (cricket ramen, snacks, candy) developed through a partnership with FUTURENAUT. Fine Sinter employs approximately 1,958 people globally as of FY2025 and reported revenue of approximately ¥291 billion in FY2026, equivalent to roughly $1.9B USD, with operations headquartered in Kasugai City, Aichi Prefecture, Japan.

Name

Fine Sinter

Legal name

株式会社ファインシンター

Website

https://fine-sinter.com

Company type

Public

Founded year

1947

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1,001–5,000 employees

Short description

Fine Sinter is a Japanese powder metallurgy manufacturer producing precision sintered components, primarily for automotive OEMs (80%+ of output, including Toyota) and railway operators, with additional hydraulic equipment and edible insect food businesses. Founded 1947, listed on the Nagoya Stock Exchange (5994.T).

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Powder Metallurgy Components

NAICS

Powder Metallurgy Part Manufacturing (332117), Motor Vehicle Steering and Suspension Components (except Spring) Manufacturing (33633)

SIC

Screw Machine Products (3451)

akta.pro primary industry

Wheels, Tires, Brakes & Suspension Components Manufacturing (IMACAOAH)

Keywords

• Powder metallurgy components
• Sintered metal parts
• Automotive engine components
• Railway brake linings
• Hydraulic power units

Headquarters

HQ city

Kasugai

HQ country

Japan

HQ region

Asia

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Powder metallurgy component manufacturing and sales: Fine Sinter designs, manufactures, and sells powder metallurgy (sintered metal) components. The primary revenue stream comes from long-term supply contracts with automotive OEMs (Toyota and others) and tier-one automotive suppliers for engine, transmission, suspension, steering, and electric vehicle components. Revenue is generated through high-volume production of made-to-print precision parts, with pricing negotiated per component program.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Fine Sinter designs, manufactures, and sells powder metallurgy (sintered metal) precision components, with over 80% of production serving automotive applications including engine parts (valve seats, valve guides, titanium valves, VVT components), transmission parts (synchronizer rings, sprocket drives, disconnect products), shock absorber components (world top-class share), steering and electric parking brake parts, and EV-related reactor cores and motor cores. The company also produces railway components (brake linings, collector strips for Shinkansen and conventional rail), compact hydraulic power units (Continuous Rating and Short-Time Rating series, including DBC/PLC series), MIM stainless steel components, and sintered vent products, with a small diversification into edible insect foods.

Product overview

Fine Sinter Co., Ltd. is a powder metallurgy specialist manufacturer offering three main business segments: (1) Powder Metallurgy Products for automotive and railway vehicles, (2) Hydraulic Equipment, and (3) Insect Food Products. The powder metallurgy division is the core business (over 80% of revenue), producing precision components including engine parts (valve seats, valve guides, titanium valves, VVT components), transmission parts (synchronizer rings, sprocket drives, disconnect products), shock absorber components (pistons, valve cases, rod guides - world top share), steering components, electric parking brake components, and electric vehicle components (reactor cores, motor cores). Railway products include brake linings and collector shoes for Shinkansen. The hydraulic equipment division produces compact hydraulic power units including Continuous Rating Series (bi-directional, one-direction, combination types) and Short-Time Rating Series, along with DBC/PLC series. The company also operates a diversification business in edible insect foods including cricket ramen and protein products. Fine Sinter is a Tier 1 supplier to Toyota and was awarded the Toyota Technical Development Award in 2019.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Engine Valve Seats and Valve Guides (and Titanium Valves) Engine valve seats, valve guides, and titanium valves made from powder metallurgy materials that meet demanding requirements for fuel efficiency and emissions regulations including lean burn technology applications. Supplied to automotive OEMs.
• Variable Valve Timing (VVT) Components Shaft eccentric, rotor, housing, sprocket and other components for variable valve timing systems with complex thin-walled shapes and high dimensional accuracy achieved through near-net-shape forming. Supplied to automotive OEMs.
• Synchronizer Rings (Two-Layer Integrated) World's first two-layer integrated synchronizer rings combining high-strength material and friction material. Provides low-cost high-performance solutions for transmission synchronizers. Supplied to automotive OEMs.
• Chain Sprocket Drives (AT/CVT) Chain sprocket drives connecting AT main shaft and oil pump shaft. Features high precision, multi-stage gear shapes with multi-stage gear high-frequency quenching and flash machining for mass production.
• Disconnect Products (4WD Disconnect Mechanism) Four-wheel drive disconnect products for connecting and separating rear wheel drive, with complex shapes realized through advanced powder metallurgy forming technology. Supplied to automotive OEMs including Toyota.
• Hub Components Deep concave and complex profile components formed by CNC press near-net-shaping. Contributes to raw material reduction and cost reduction for automotive applications.
• Shock Absorber Components World top-class global market share shock absorber components including pistons, valve cases, and rod guides (HF pistons, banding pistons, SA product groups) for light vehicles and large trucks. Supplied globally to automotive OEMs.
• Steering Components Rack guides, detection rings, coil assemblies, gear tilt, and tilt cams for steering systems, featuring complex near-net-shape forming with soft magnetic materials and resin insert molding.
• Electric Parking Brake (EPB) Components Powder metallurgy gear components for electric parking brake systems. Multiple products adopted in EPB units for both passenger and commercial vehicles including large vehicles.
• Reactor Cores (for Hybrid/EV Inverters) Core components for hybrid vehicle inverters that boost battery voltage. Each compressed magnetic particle is insulated providing high electrical resistance and excellent electromagnetic conversion efficiency.
• Motor Cores (Insulated Compressed Powder Cores) Compressed powder cores using insulated coated iron powder as soft magnetic materials. Enables higher shape freedom compared to laminated steel plates, allowing miniaturization of motors for hybrid/EV applications.
• Railway Disc Brake Linings Disc brake linings for Shinkansen and railway vehicles with stable high friction coefficient, 3x longer life than other methods, superior heat resistance, and no fade phenomenon. Supplied to JR Group and private railways.
• Pantograph Collector Shoes/Strips Current collection strips for pantographs on electric trains. Available in copper-based, iron-based, and carbon-based materials with superior wear resistance and arc resistance to protect overhead wires. Supplied to JR Group and private railways.
• Sintered Collector Shoes (Foundational Product since 1947) Sintered collector strips developed since company founding in 1947. Features low wear, low power loss, no wire overheating or breakage risk, superior wear resistance and arc resistance. Supplied to JR Group and private railways.
• Continuous Rating Series Hydraulic Units Compact hydraulic power units integrating motors, pumps, relief valves, and oil tanks. Includes bi-directional rotation, one-direction rotation, and combination types. Features low noise and low vibration with internal gear pump design. Used for industrial lifters and medical/dental equipment.
• Short-Time Rating Series Hydraulic Units (TSM series) Compact hydraulic packages for lifters with simplified design and low cost. Features low noise (5-10dB reduction) and low pulsation (50% reduction) with new internal gear design, and non-leak check valves and solenoid valves.
• DBC/PLC Series Hydraulic Units New hydraulic unit series developed in response to customer requirements. Designed for compact, quiet operation with sustainable society requirements.
• MIM (Metal Injection Molding) Stainless Steel Products Metal powder injection molding products using metal powder mixed with resin for complex 3D shapes. Includes vane nozzles and flanges in stainless steel materials.
• Sintered Vents (焼結ベント®) Sintered vents with numerous parallel fine straight pores for air and gas venting. Used as filters for degassing in die casting and resin molding applications. Available in iron-based and carbon-based (C/C composite with copper infiltration) materials.
• Cricket Protein Food Products Insect-based food products including cricket ramen, cricket snacks (cricket crunch), and roasted cricket candy. Made using Fine Sinter's powder processing technology and heat treatment technology developed over many years, in partnership with FUTURENAUT Co., Ltd.

Quantifiable outcome

• Near-net-shape forming achieves 1/100mm dimensional precision
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature8 records

Partnerships

Four partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• 太陽グリーンエナジー株式会社 (Taiyo Green Energy Co., Ltd.)minorGTM or Marketing Partner · 2 July 2024Fine Sinter and Taiyo Green Energy Co., Ltd. jointly exhibited at SPORTEC2024 (Japan's largest sports and health city planning comprehensive exhibition). At the joint booth, they showcased three types of cricket-based protein products. This co-marketing arrangement allows both companies to reach the health-conscious consumer market together.
• FUTURENAUT株式会社 (FUTURENAUT Co., Ltd.)minorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 30 June 2021Fine Sinter and FUTURENAUT formed a partnership in June 2021 to collaborate on expanding the edible insect market. Fine Sinter applies its powder processing technology (粉末加工技術) and heat treatment technology (熱処理技術) to process crickets into food products. The partnership combines Fine Sinter's manufacturing expertise with FUTURENAUT's market development capabilities.
• A-deccoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerA-dec, a world-leading dental chair unit manufacturer based in the United States, is a key long-term customer for Fine Sinter's TSM series hydraulic motor pumps. The partnership was highlighted when cumulative production of the TSM series reached 7 million units, with A-dec CEO Scott Parrish participating in commemorative events. The TSM series is used in dental chairs requiring compact, quiet, and reliable hydraulic actuation.
• トヨタ自動車株式会社 (Toyota Motor Corporation)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFine Sinter and Toyota have a deep co-development relationship. Fine Sinter's disconnect mechanism sintered components were design-in for the new RAV4's 4WD system. Toyota awarded Fine Sinter the Technology Development Award at the 2019 Toyota Suppliers Convention. Fine Sinter supplies multiple component programs for Toyota vehicles, including those requiring advanced material and forming technologies.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Emerging players

• Indo-MIM: Indo-MIM is one of the world's largest Metal Injection Molding (MIM) producers, with recent Texas facility expansion noted in the same market report as Fine Sinter's Japan expansion. It competes in MIM components and is increasingly relevant as Fine Sinter expands its own MIM capability for complex 3D stainless steel parts.
• ARC Group Worldwide: ARC Group Worldwide is a US-based MIM and metal additive manufacturing specialist noted alongside Fine Sinter for recent automation investment in the same market report. It competes in MIM components for industrial and automotive applications with comparable technology focus.

Direct peers

• Diamet Corporation (Mitsubishi Materials): Diamet Corporation, part of the Mitsubishi Materials group, manufactures powder metallurgy products for automotive and industrial applications including soft magnetic composites. It is a direct Japanese competitor to Fine Sinter, particularly in PM soft magnetic components for EV motors and inductors.
• Porite Corporation: Porite Corporation is a Japan-based powder metallurgy specialist producing sintered parts for automotive engine, transmission, and electric components. It is one of Fine Sinter's closest direct competitors in the Japanese OEM supply base, with overlapping capabilities in MIM and near-net-shape forming.
• Stackpole International (Johnson Electric): Stackpole International is a Canadian-headquartered manufacturer of powder metallurgy components for automotive engine, transmission, and driveline applications. It serves similar global OEM customers with comparable sintered component technology and is a direct competitor in the global automotive PM market.
• Metal Powder Products (MPP): Metal Powder Products is a US-based manufacturer of powder metallurgy parts for automotive, industrial, and medical applications. It directly competes with Fine Sinter in sintered structural components, bearings, and gears, with similar business model and customer base.
• Hitachi Powdered Metals (now Mitsubishi Materials): Hitachi Powdered Metals, integrated into Mitsubishi Materials, produces sintered automotive components including valve guides, valve seats, and structural parts. It directly competes with Fine Sinter in Japan's automotive PM market for ICE-specific applications.

Broad incumbents

• Höganäs AB: Höganäs is the world's largest producer of metal powders for powder metallurgy and also manufactures finished PM components. As the global PM materials and components incumbent, it is comparable both as a competitor (finished parts) and as an enabling supplier to Fine Sinter's process technology.
• Sumitomo Electric Industries: Sumitomo Electric Industries operates a major powder metallurgy business alongside its broader wiring harness, electronics, and industrial materials portfolio. It is a leading Japanese supplier of PM automotive components (including synchronizer rings and engine parts) and is directly comparable as a domestic Japan PM competitor for OEMs like Toyota and Honda.
• GKN Powder Metallurgy (now part of Doosan Enerbility / Höganäs integration): GKN Powder Metallurgy is a global leader in automotive sintered components, with a broad product portfolio spanning engine, transmission, and chassis parts across multiple OEMs. It is directly comparable to Fine Sinter as a global automotive PM component supplier, with significantly larger scale and geographic footprint.

Market position

Strengths3 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

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

Investments

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

Frequently asked questions about Fine Sinter