NIKIGLASS CO., LTD.

What NIKIGLASS CO., LTD. does

NIKIGLASS Co., Ltd. is a Japanese technology trading company (技術商社) founded in 1923 as the Niki Glass Crafts Workshop, headquartered in Tokyo with sales operations in Osaka and a Yokohama R&D Center. The company imports and distributes high-end scientific instruments in Japan on behalf of more than 50 Western manufacturers, spanning cryogenic systems (Oxford Instruments, Cryo Industries, Cryomagnetics, Zero Point Cryogenics, Danaher Cryogenics), radiation and X-ray detection (Amptek, KromeK, PHDS, LND, Rapiscan, Mesytec, XIA), quantum computing hardware (QBLOX, KIUTRA, Bluefors), and laboratory materials (Goodfellow, Adelphe, BSI). Its customer base is Japanese research institutions, universities, and laboratories that require specialized, low-temperature, or radiation-measurement equipment that is not economically viable for them to source directly.

In parallel with its distribution business, NIKIGLASS designs and manufactures proprietary original products, including 3He and 4He closed-cycle refrigerators and VME radiation measurement modules. The company operates five subsidiaries, including entities established in the United States in 1975 and 1988 (NK Research), and has been a privately held member of the Azuma Holdings Group since 2021. Its operating model is agency-based distribution with technical integration, installation, and after-sales support, supplemented by margin on proprietary hardware. The company is led by CEO Seki Hiroshi (関博司), with a registered capital of JPY 10 million and a small core staff of 6 employees in the parent organization. In December 2023, NIKIGLASS lost its exclusive Japanese distribution rights for CRYOMECH following Bluefors' acquisition of CRYOMECH, a meaningful disruption to its cryogenics portfolio.

Name

NIKIGLASS CO., LTD.

Legal name

仁木工芸株式会社

Website

https://nikiglass.co.jp

Company type

Private

Founded year

1923

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Founded in 1923, NIKIGLASS is a Japanese technology trading company that imports and distributes high-end scientific instruments — cryogenic systems, radiation detectors, and quantum hardware — from 50+ Western manufacturers, while manufacturing proprietary 3He/4He closed-cycle refrigerators and VME radiation measurement modules for Japanese research institutions.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

NAICS

Irradiation Apparatus Manufacturing (334517), Analytical Laboratory Instrument Manufacturing (334516), Navigational, Measuring, Electromedical, and Control Instruments Manufacturing (3345)

SIC

X-Ray Apparatus & Tubes & Related Irradiation Apparatus (3844), Laboratory Analytical Instruments (3826), Industrial Instruments For Measurement, Display, And Control (3823), Search, Detection, Navagation, Guidance, Aeronautical Sys (3812)

akta.pro primary industry

Radiation Detection Instruments & Systems (Portal monitors, spectrometers, contamination monitors) (EUAKAIAK)

Keywords

• Scientific instrument distribution
• Cryogenic equipment import
• Radiation detection systems
• X-ray measurement equipment
• Laboratory instruments supply

Headquarters

HQ city

Shinagawa-ku, Tokyo

HQ country

Japan

HQ region

Asia

Offices3 records

Markets served

Revenue model

1. Import and Sale of Scientific Instruments: Import and sale of advanced scientific instruments and measurement systems from international manufacturers, including cryogenic equipment, X-ray/accelerator components, radiation detection instruments, bio-related equipment, and special materials. Revenue is generated through one-time product sales, maintenance contracts, repair services, and related technical support. The company acts as a technology trading company (技術、商社) adding its own technology and expertise to imported products.
2. Proprietary Product Sales: Sale of original NIKIGLASS-branded products including closed-cycle 3He/4He refrigerators and VME radiation measurement modules. Revenue generated through one-time product sales and potentially after-sales support.
3. Technical Services and Repair: Technical support, repair services, and consultation for imported and proprietary products. Revenue from repair fees and technical service engagements.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels3 records

Core offering

NIKIGLASS CO., LTD. (仁木工芸株式会社) is a Japanese technology trading company (技術商社) that imports, distributes, and integrates advanced scientific instruments from international manufacturers for Japanese research institutions and industrial users. Core offerings span cryogenic and superconducting magnets, X-ray and accelerator components, radiation measurement instruments, bio-related laboratory equipment, special materials, and security-related equipment. The company also develops original proprietary products including closed-cycle 3He/4He refrigerators and A3n00 series VME radiation measurement modules.

Product overview

NIKIGLASS CO., LTD. is a technology trading company established in 1923, distributing a diverse portfolio of scientific instruments and equipment primarily imported from international manufacturers, along with some proprietary products. The core offering includes six main product categories: (1) Cryogenic & Superconducting Magnets encompassing cryostats, temperature controllers, SQUID sensors, He3/He4 refrigerators, superconducting magnets, and liquid helium containers; (2) X-Ray & Accelerator Equipment including beamline instruments, optical elements, X-ray sources and detectors; (3) Radiation Measurement Instruments comprising Ge semiconductor detectors, proportional counters, neutron detectors, NIM/VME circuits, MCA systems; (4) Bio-Related Equipment such as liquid nitrogen containers and controlled rate freezers; (5) Special Materials including metals, alloys, nanomaterials, carbon films, and piezoelectric elements; and (6) Security Equipment for radiation detection and X-ray inspection. The company also develops original products including 3He & 4He closed-cycle refrigerators and VME data acquisition modules. This is a distribution/integration-focused business model rather than a unified software platform.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Quantifiable outcome

• Over 100 years of continuous operation since 1923, serving generations of Japanese researchers

Segments3 records

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

28 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Azuma Holdings Co., Ltd. (アヅマホールディングス株式会社)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNIKIGLASS joined the Azuma Holdings Group in 2021 (Reiwa 3). Azuma Holdings is the parent company that consolidated NIKIGLASS as part of its group of companies specializing in vacuum, optics, measurement, and control technologies.
• Fujikouki Co., Ltd. (富士工機株式会社)minorOthersAffiliated company contributing to the environment and social infrastructure.
• Fujitest Co., Ltd. (株式会社富士試験機製作所)minorOthersAffiliated company specializing in materials testing machines and JCSS calibration/maintenance services.
• Ad Science Co., Ltd. (株式会社アド・サイエンス)minorOthersAffiliated company in the visual solutions field (various cameras and related products).
• MC Rise Group Co., Ltd. (MCライズグループ株式会社)minorOthersListed as a group company on the company website's link page.
• Goodfellow Cambridge LimitedminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorUK-based global supplier of metals, alloys, ceramics, polymers, and other materials for science and industry. NIKIGLASS distributes Goodfellow products in Japan. Goodfellow offers 70,000+ catalog products with most items delivered within 48 hours.
• Bluefors Cryocooler Technologies, Inc. (via Bluefors Corporation)minorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorNIKIGLASS previously served as Japanese general agent for US-based CRYOMECH. Following CRYOMECH's acquisition by Bluefors in 2024, the agency relationship ended on December 31, 2023, with Bluefors now handling sales and maintenance support directly through Bluefors Corporation Japan.
• IC Biomedical, LLCminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorUS-based manufacturer of cryogenic storage and transport equipment. NIKIGLASS distributes IC Biomedical products in Japan, including liquid helium dewars, liquid nitrogen storage containers, and related cryogenic equipment for biological sample preservation.
• CRYO INDUSTRIES of America, Inc.minorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorUS-based cryogenic equipment manufacturer specializing in cryostats. NIKIGLASS distributes CRYO INDUSTRIES products in Japan including liquid helium bus cryostats, superconducting magnet systems, and helium gas cooling systems.
• CRYOMAGNETICS, Inc.minorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorUS-based superconducting magnet specialist. NIKIGLASS distributes Cryomagnetics products in Japan including compact solenoid magnets, split magnets, high-field magnets, cryogen-free magnet systems, NMR magnet systems, and related electronics.
• KromeK Group plcminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorUK-based manufacturer of CdZnTe semiconductor detectors, CsI detectors, MCA instruments, and radiation detection solutions. NIKIGLASS distributes KromeK products in Japan.
• PHDs Co.minorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorUS-based manufacturer of high-purity Ge semiconductor Compton camera detectors. NIKIGLASS distributes PHDS products including GeGI5, NP Imager, Fulcrum, and LoPro Ge detector systems in Japan.
• LND, Inc.minorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorUS-based manufacturer of neutron detectors, GM tubes, ionization chambers, and X-ray proportional counters. NIKIGLASS distributes LND products in Japan.
• Rapiscan Systems (NucSafe)minorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorUS-based radiation detection and security screening manufacturer. NIKIGLASS distributes Rapiscan products in Japan including portal monitors, pedestrian monitors, conveyor systems, mobile units, backpack systems, area monitors, handheld detectors, and neutron detectors.
• SUNPOWER, Inc.minorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorUS-based Stirling cycle cryocooler manufacturer. NIKIGLASS distributes SUNPOWER CryoTel products in Japan including split series and integral series cryocoolers used in Ge detectors, IR detectors, radio telescopes, satellites, and laser diode cooling.
• Oxford Instruments plcminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorUK-based X-ray source manufacturer. NIKIGLASS distributes Oxford Instruments products including microfocus X-ray tubes (Scafell Pike, Trinity, UltraBright, Nova, Pinnacle, Neptune, Jupiter, Apogee series), glass X-ray tubes, and water-cooled radiation shielded tubes.
• Amptek Inc.minorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorUS-based manufacturer of X-ray detectors (Si-PIN, SDD, CdTe), MCA instruments, X-ray generators, and hybrid ICs. NIKIGLASS distributes Amptek products in Japan.
• Tristan Technologies, Inc.minorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorUS-based manufacturer of LTS & HTS SQUID sensors, scanning SQUID microscope systems (SMM-770), and measurement systems. NIKIGLASS distributes Tristan Technologies products in Japan.
• Mesytec GmbH & Co. KGminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorGerman manufacturer of nuclear instrumentation electronics including VME modules (MDPP, MADC, MQDC, MTDC), preamplifiers, shaping amplifiers, discriminators, HV supplies, neutron scattering readout systems, and DAQ software.
• ITECH Instruments SASminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorFrench manufacturer of MCA, MCS, and HV power supply instruments. NIKIGLASS distributes ITECH products in Japan including ORION, Venus-E, Quad-MCS, ULTRA-MCS, and ZEUS HV modules.
• XIA LLCminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorUS-based manufacturer of digital gamma finder (DGF) modules, digital X-ray processors (DXP), and alpha particle counters. NIKIGLASS distributes XIA products in Japan.
• BALTIC SCIENTIFIC INSTRUMENTS (BSI)minorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorLatvian manufacturer of HPGe semiconductor detectors (coaxial, well-type, planar types). NIKIGLASS distributes BSI products in Japan. BSI is a leading European HPGe detector manufacturer.
• Adelphi Technology Inc.minorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorUS-based manufacturer of neutron generators using D-D and D-T reactions. NIKIGLASS distributes Adelphi products in Japan including DD108, DD109, DT108AP, and DT110 neutron generators for materials analysis, forensics, mining, healthcare, and security applications.
• KIUTRA GmbHminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorGerman manufacturer of rapid-cooling continuous adiabatic demagnetization refrigerators (ADR). NIKIGLASS distributes KIUTRA products in Japan.
• QBLOX B.V.minorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorDutch manufacturer of quantum bit controllers for quantum computing applications. NIKIGLASS distributes QBLOX products in Japan.
• Zero Point Cryogenics Inc.minorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorCanadian manufacturer of refrigerant-free dilution refrigerators. NIKIGLASS distributes Zero Point Cryogenics products in Japan.
• Danaher CryogenicsminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorUS-based manufacturer of HPD adiabatic demagnetization refrigerators. NIKIGLASS distributes Danaher Cryogenics products in Japan.
• TMS Corporation (TMS株式会社)minorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorJapanese company providing DBOX-type X-ray inspection systems (NDX-DB portable non-destructive X-ray inspection device). NIKIGLASS distributes TMS products in Japan. TMS also provides technical engineering support, prototyping support, and collaboration with specialized technology companies.

Scale indicators2 records

Recent moves21 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Regional players

• Pfeiffer Vacuum: German-based vacuum and leak-detection equipment manufacturer with global scientific instrumentation footprint. Comparable as a precision instrument specialist relevant to cryogenic/vacuum research customers served by NIKIGLASS.

Broad incumbents

• AMETEK Inc. US-based diversified manufacturer of electronic instruments and electromechanical devices, including radiation detection and scientific measurement products. Relevant broader incumbent given NIKIGLASS's radiation measurement and analytical instrument distribution.
• HORIBA Scientific: Japanese-headquartered manufacturer of scientific analytical and measurement instruments, including X-ray and radiation detection systems. Comparable as a Japan-based scientific instrument company serving similar research customer segments.
• Rigaku Corporation: Japanese manufacturer of X-ray diffraction, X-ray fluorescence, and radiation measurement instrumentation. Comparable given NIKIGLASS's X-ray/accelerator and radiation measurement product lines, with overlapping end customers in Japanese research institutions.
• Oxford Instruments: UK-based manufacturer of scientific instruments including X-ray sources and cryogenic systems. NIKIGLASS is a Japanese distributor for Oxford Instruments' X-ray tubes, but Oxford could choose to serve Japan directly through its own subsidiary, making it a relevant incumbent peer.
• JEOL Ltd. Major Japanese manufacturer of electron microscopes, X-ray instruments, and analytical equipment. Comparable as a Japanese scientific instrumentation business serving overlapping research customers, though JEOL is a manufacturer rather than a distributor.

Direct peers

• Quantum Design Inc. US-based manufacturer and distributor of cryogenic, magnetic, and high-precision measurement systems for research. Direct peer competing in physical property measurement instruments sold to Japanese researchers — a similar category to NIKIGLASS's proprietary cryostat portfolio.
• Bluefors Cryocooler Technologies: Manufacturer of cryogenic measurement systems and dilution refrigerators that absorbed CRYOMECH (previously distributed by NIKIGLASS) and now sells directly into Japan via Bluefors Corporation. Highly comparable as a cryogenic equipment specialist now competing with NIKIGLASS in the Japanese market.
• Toyoko Kagaku Co., Ltd. (Toyo Corporation): Japanese scientific instrument distributor serving physics, materials science, and chemistry research communities with imported and proprietary cryogenic/X-ray products. Closest direct peer to NIKIGLASS as a B2B scientific instrument technology trading company in Japan.

Emerging players

• MRX Solutions (Cryogenic & Vacuum Specialists): Niche distributor/integrator of cryogenic and vacuum scientific instruments serving research customers. Comparable as an emerging technology trading company focused on advanced scientific instrumentation, similar in business model to NIKIGLASS.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/nikiglass_offic
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/nikiglass-co-ltd

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Subsidiaries5 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 NIKIGLASS CO., LTD.