KANSAI SPECIAL / Morimoto Mfg. Co., ltd

What KANSAI SPECIAL / Morimoto Mfg. Co., ltd does

Morimoto Mfg. Co., Ltd. (株式会社森本製作所) is a privately-held Japanese manufacturer of industrial sewing machines that operates under the KANSAI SPECIAL brand, headquartered in Shijonawate (四條畷), Osaka Prefecture, Japan. The company has produced industrial sewing machines since 1948 and claims the No.1 global market share in industrial double chainstitch machines, with products in use across more than 100 countries. The product portfolio spans 17 machine series covering double chainstitch, cover stitch, overlock, decorative stitch, and specialized heavy-duty applications, organized around end uses that include jeans, T-shirts, shirts, sportswear, work gloves, automotive seats, and home textiles. Differentiated features include automatic chain thread trimming (ATC) with three fabric-edge sensors, differential feed mechanisms with ratios from 1:0.5 to 1:1.5, automatic fabric size detection for T-shirt hemming, and a premium Black Series introduced in February 2025 featuring a rare black coating finish.

The company monetizes through hardware sales of industrial sewing machines, quotes are negotiated through a global distributor and agent network rather than published pricing, and machines are sold directly from Japan and through subsidiaries including MORIMOTO SINGAPORE PTE LTD (with an India liaison office) and Kansai Special American Machine Corp. Local agents and distributors operate in India, Turkey (TETAS, ORTA DOGU), Colombia (Impocoser), and Southeast Asia. Marketing is centered on 15+ annual trade show participations (JIAM, FISMA, CISMA, INDO INTERTEX, GARMENT TECHNOLOGY BANGLADESH, EMITEX, etc.), augmented by YouTube, Instagram, and Facebook channels. Named enterprise customers include Levi's Japan, Uniqlo (Fast Retailing), and Shirt Makers Ltd. (Bangladesh). The company is family-controlled under President Yoshihide Morimoto and the trademark is actively defended against counterfeit producers, particularly in China.

Name

KANSAI SPECIAL / Morimoto Mfg. Co., ltd

Legal name

MORIMOTO MFG. CO., LTD.

Website

https://kansai-special.com

Company type

Private

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

KANSAI SPECIAL (Morimoto Mfg. Co., Ltd.) is a privately-held Japanese manufacturer of industrial sewing machines, claiming No.1 global share in industrial double chainstitch machines, serving apparel, automotive, and technical textile manufacturers across 100+ countries via a global distributor network.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Shijonawate (四条畷)

HQ country

Japan

HQ region

Asia

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Industrial Sewing Machine Sales: Sale of industrial double chainstitch machines, overlock machines, cover stitch machines, and automated sewing machines for apparel manufacturing. Products are sold directly and through distributors globally. The company also sells accessories, attachments, and merchandise through their online shop.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

KANSAI SPECIAL designs, manufactures, and sells industrial sewing machines — primarily double chainstitch, cover stitch, overlock, decorative, and heavy-duty machines — for apparel, knitwear, and technical textile manufacturers. The portfolio spans 17+ product series covering jeans hemming, waistband attaching, lap seaming, T-shirt hemming, belt loop making, elastic attaching, and ultra-heavy fabric sewing, with selected automated models featuring sensor-based thread trimming and fabric size detection.

Product overview

KANSAI SPECIAL is an industrial sewing machine manufacturer and original brand of Morimoto Mfg. Co., ltd, holding the No.1 world market share. The product portfolio consists of 17 distinct machine series producing double chain stitch, cover stitch, overlock, decorative stitch, and specialized machines. Key product families include: DLR SERIES (waistbanding), SQ SERIES (lap seaming), NR/NRE SERIES (automatic hemming), NC SERIES (jeans hemming), JJ SERIES (overlock), and the Black Series (black-coated premium models). Machines are categorized by stitch type (double chain stitch, cover stitch, overlock, zig-zag) and operation type (jeans, T-shirt, shirts, sportswear, work gloves, home textile). The company serves apparel, accessories, automotive, and industrial textile manufacturers in over 100 countries.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• DLR Series

Quantifiable outcome

• Significant production efficiency improvement through automated hemming machines
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers3 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

Feature6 records

Partnerships

Eight partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• Pearl Yacht Co., Ltd. (Tokyo International Gift Show)minorGTM or Marketing Partner · 6 February 2024Collaboration at the 97th Tokyo International Gift Show 2024, featuring Pearl Yacht's embroidery machine 'Aya' alongside KANSAI SPECIAL decorative stitching machines.
• Pearl Yacht Co., Ltd.minorGTM or Marketing Partner · 9 October 2023Pearl Yacht Co., Ltd. collaborated with KANSAI SPECIAL for the FAW TOKYO 2023 exhibition, featuring their embroidery machines alongside KANSAI SPECIAL sewing machines in the 'Shisyu Café Labo' concept. Pearl Yacht also collaborated on merchandise sales and hosted the KANSAI WEEK event at their café location in Taito-ku, Tokyo where visitors could experience KANSAI SPECIAL machines.
• Shirt Makers Ltd. (Bangladesh)minorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 9 October 2023Shirt Makers Ltd. featured KANSAI SPECIAL sewing machines in their PR video aired during the FAW TOKYO 2023 exhibition, demonstrating the machines in their Bangladesh factory.
• Koyama Sewing Machine CompanyminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 6 July 2023Koyama Sewing Machine Company sponsored the 7th Sewing Machine Show 2024 in Fukushima, with KANSAI SPECIAL participating as a joint exhibitor at their booth.
• India Authorized DistributorscoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 2 March 2023Multiple authorized distributors in India including those participating in GTE Ahmedabad 2023, Garment Technology Bangladesh Dhaka, and GARTEX TEXPROCESS INDIA MUMBAI 2023. MORIMOTO SINGAPORE PTE LTD operates an India liaison office to support the Indian market.
• TETAS & ORTA DOGU (Turkey)coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 12 October 2022Turkish local agencies TETAS and ORTA DOGU exhibited KANSAI SPECIAL products at Fashion Prime 2022 in Izmir and CNRKONFEK 2022 in Istanbul.
• India Distributors (Bangalore)coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 8 October 2022Local distributors in India exhibited KANSAI SPECIAL products at Garment Technology EXPO 2022 in Bangalore and subsequent exhibitions.
• Impocoser (Colombia)coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 9 August 2022Colombian local agency Impocoser exhibited KANSAI SPECIAL products at CREATEX 2022 exhibition in Bogotá, Colombia.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves12 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Dürkopp Adler AG: Germany-based manufacturer of industrial sewing machines and sewing automation systems for apparel, automotive interiors, and technical textiles. Closely comparable technology and customer overlap with KANSAI SPECIAL's HDX/SPX automotive-and-technical-textile offerings.
• Brother Industries, Ltd. Diversified Japanese industrial group whose Industrial Sewing Machine division competes head-on with KANSAI SPECIAL in apparel sewing equipment, including automated and computerized machines for garment factories worldwide.
• Pegasus Sewing Machine Mfg. Co., Ltd. Japanese manufacturer specializing in overlock and chainstitch industrial sewing machines for apparel. Closely comparable to KANSAI SPECIAL in stitch-type specialization and global apparel-manufacturer customer base.
• JUKI Corporation: Japan-based global leader in industrial sewing machines for apparel manufacturing, offering a broad lineup of double chainstitch, overlock, and automated machines. Directly comparable to KANSAI SPECIAL across product category and customer base, but at significantly larger scale and with public listing.
• Rimoldi & C. S.r.l. Italian industrial sewing machine maker specializing in chainstitch and coverstitch equipment for apparel and knitwear. Directly comparable to KANSAI SPECIAL on stitch-type specialization and European/global customer base.
• Zoje Sewing Machine Co., Ltd. Chinese industrial sewing machine producer with broad chainstitch and lockstitch lineups sold to global apparel manufacturers. Comparable to KANSAI SPECIAL as a competing industrial sewing equipment supplier, particularly in lower-cost segments.
• Jack Sewing Machine Co., Ltd. One of China's largest industrial sewing machine manufacturers, offering chainstitch, overlock, and automated machines for apparel production. Directly competes with KANSAI SPECIAL on price-sensitive segments in Asia and emerging markets.
• Sunstar (KS Sewing Machine / Korea): Korean industrial sewing machine manufacturer producing overlock and chainstitch machines for apparel factories. Comparable to KANSAI SPECIAL as another mid-sized Asian competitor in chainstitch sewing equipment.
• Typical (China) Sewing Machine Co., Ltd. Major Chinese manufacturer of industrial sewing machines including overlock and chainstitch models serving apparel manufacturers globally. Directly comparable as a competing supplier to the same garment factory buyers.

Broad incumbents

• Mitsubishi Electric (Industrial Sewing Machinery Division): Diversified Japanese conglomerate with a long-standing industrial sewing machine business. Overlaps with KANSAI SPECIAL's product lines but operates as part of a much larger portfolio across factory automation and electronics.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/user/kansaispecialjapan
• Facebookfacebook.com/kansaispecialjapan
• Instagraminstagram.com/kansai_special_japan
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/kansai-special-morimoto-mfg.-co.-ltd

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Subsidiaries2 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 KANSAI SPECIAL / Morimoto Mfg. Co., ltd