What アルバック・ファイ（株） does

ULVAC-PHI, Inc. (アルバック・ファイ株式会社) is a Japanese manufacturer of high-end surface analysis instruments and a privately-held group company of ULVAC, Inc., the diversified vacuum-technology conglomerate. Headquartered in Chigasaki, Kanagawa, the company develops, produces and sells capital equipment based on four core analytical techniques — X-ray Photoelectron Spectroscopy (XPS), Auger Electron Spectroscopy (AES), Time-of-Flight Secondary Ion Mass Spectrometry (TOF-SIMS) and Quadrupole SIMS (Q-pole-SIMS) — with a 50+ year brand heritage under the PHI name. Its flagship PHI GENESIS integrates scanning micro-XPS, HAXPES, fully automated robotics and cluster-ion organic depth profiling in a single platform; PHI 710 holds the world's only AES instrument guarantee of ≤8 nm spatial resolution; PHI nanoTOF 3+ deploys the proprietary TRIFT analyzer for shadow-free TOF-SIMS imaging; and PHI ADEPT 2 targets ppb-level depth profiling for semiconductor process control.

The company monetizes instruments via direct capital-equipment sales, with a complementary software stack (PHI MultiPak, StrataPHI module), reference publications and databases (XPS Handbook, AES Handbook, TOF-SIMS book, XPS Polymer Database, Static SIMS Library), factory-refurbished used instruments with a one-year warranty, and recurring maintenance and remote-support services (LogMeIn/TeamViewer-based) bundled through the CLUB PHI member portal. Pricing is quote-based; the only publicly disclosed price point is a ¥580,000 (ex-tax) OS upgrade service. Distribution runs through the Japanese sales department, Physical Electronics USA, and since November 2023 a wholly-owned Nanjing subsidiary (ULVAC PHI Instruments Co., Ltd.) that replaced the prior agent model in China. End markets span semiconductor process development (the primary vertical), thin films and coatings, materials R&D, magnetic media, polymers, pharmaceuticals and biomedical/biotech, with high-profile academic adoption including Stanford University's Cryo-XPS battery-SEI research published in Nature in October 2025.

The firm holds ISO 9001, ISO 14001 and ISO 45001 certifications, has earned Japan's Health & Productivity Management Organization recognition in the SME category for six consecutive years (2020-2026), and participates in 8+ international conferences per year. Leadership is led by President and Representative Director Akihisa Takahashi, Managing Director Koichi Iwasaki and Chairman Yasuhiro Hara (who also serves as Executive Officer of parent ULVAC, Inc.). Recent strategic emphasis is on automating flagship platforms, expanding the China footprint, and broadening the battery-R&D and organic-materials application footprint, while consolidating Japanese operations at the Chigasaki HQ following the August 2023 closure of the Osaka Sales Office.

Name

アルバック・ファイ（株）

Legal name

アルバック・ファイ株式会社

Website

https://ulvac-phi.com

Company type

Private

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

ULVAC-PHI is a Japanese manufacturer of world-class surface analysis instruments (XPS, AES, TOF-SIMS, Q-pole-SIMS) serving semiconductor process development, materials R&D, battery research, pharmaceutical and biomedical laboratories worldwide through direct sales and software/service subscriptions.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Chigasaki (茅ヶ崎)

HQ country

Japan

HQ region

Asia

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Surface Analysis Instruments: Sale of high-value scientific instruments including XPS (PHI GENESIS, PHI VersaProbe 4), AES (PHI 710), TOF-SIMS (PHI nanoTOF 3+), and Q-pole-SIMS (PHI ADEPT 2). These are capital equipment purchases with long sales cycles, typical of B2B scientific instrument sales.
2. Software Licenses and Updates: PHI MultiPak data analysis software and updates (e.g., Version 9.9.0) available through CLUB PHI member portal. StrataPHI depth profile module as MultiPak option.
3. Maintenance and Support Services: Remote support services, maintenance contracts, repair services, and consumables sales. The Customer Service Department provides remote support via LogMeIn/TeamViewer. Paid OS upgrade service also offered (¥580,000 excluding tax).
4. Books and Reference Databases: Sale of reference books (XPS Handbook, AES Handbook, TOF-SIMS book, Surface Analysis by Auger and XPS) and databases (XPS Polymer Database, Static SIMS Library) published by SurfaceSpectra.
5. Refurbished Equipment: Sale of factory-repaired and -refurbished used instruments with 1-year warranty, sold through the sales department.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

ULVAC-PHI develops, manufactures, and sells world-class surface analysis instruments, including XPS (X-ray Photoelectron Spectroscopy), AES (Auger Electron Spectroscopy), TOF-SIMS (Time-of-Flight Secondary Ion Mass Spectrometry), and Q-pole-SIMS (Quadrupole SIMS) systems for nanoscale chemical characterization of material surfaces. The company supplies flagship instruments such as PHI GENESIS, PHI 710, PHI nanoTOF 3+, and PHI ADEPT 2 to semiconductor, materials, pharmaceutical, biomedical, and battery research customers, complemented by PHI MultiPak data analysis software, spectral reference databases, and remote support services.

Product overview

ULVAC-PHI develops, manufactures, and sells world-class surface analysis instruments and provides related software, databases, and services. The product portfolio centers on four core analytical instruments: PHI GENESIS (flagship XPS/HAXPES with full automation), PHI 710 (AES with 8nm spatial resolution), PHI nanoTOF 3+ (TOF-SIMS with 3D mapping), and PHI ADEPT 2 (Q-pole-SIMS for depth profiling). Supporting these instruments is PHI MultiPak data analysis software that integrates XPS, AES, and TOF-SIMS data processing, with StrataPHI as an optional depth profiling module. The company also offers reference publications (handbooks for XPS, AES, TOF-SIMS), spectral databases (XPS Polymer Database, Static SIMS Library), refurbished equipment with warranty, and remote support services using LogMeIn/TeamViewer. Applications span semiconductor, materials R&D, pharmaceuticals, biomedical, polymers, thin films, magnetic media, and batteries including all-solid-state batteries.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• PHI GENESIS: Flagship fully-automated multi-technique scanning XPS/HAXPES instrument with highest-class sensitivity and spatial resolution.
• PHI 710
• PHI nanoTOF 3+
• PHI ADEPT 2
• PHI MultiPak
• CLUB PHI

Products and services

• PHI GENESIS Flagship fully-automated multi-technique scanning X-ray photoelectron spectrometer (XPS/HAXPES) with high-speed, high-sensitivity micro XPS analysis, automated multi-sample analysis, and automatic sample exchange for battery R&D, semiconductor, ceramic, and organic material applications.
• PHI 710

Quantifiable outcome

• Cryo-XPS enabled direct observation of SEI in pristine state, enabling more reliable quantitative evaluation of SEI components and more accurate SEI thickness determination than ever before

Named customers2 records

Segments7 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration3 records

Feature10 records

Partnerships

Four partnerships are on record, tiered secondary and core.

• HORIBA TECHNO SERVICE Co., Ltd.secondaryStrategic or Co-development Partner · 28 March 2024Joint online workshop 'Characterization of Advanced Battery Materials' co-hosted on May 22, 2024. Collaboration introduced Nano-GPS, a coordinate sharing system for seamless data acquisition from multiple instruments (XPS and Raman) at the same sample location. Joint exhibition at 72nd Japan Society of Applied Physics Spring Meeting (March 2025) with luncheon seminar.
• ULVAC PHI Instruments Co., Ltd. (UPN) / 爱发科费恩斯（南京）仪器有限公司coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 1 November 2023Wholly-owned subsidiary of ULVAC-PHI, Inc. established in November 2023 in Nanjing, China. Handles direct sales and customer support for all ULVAC-PHI products within China. Prior to this, business was conducted through sales agents since 2010. Registered capital: 5 million Chinese yuan. 100% owned by ULVAC-PHI, Inc. Chairman: Yasuhiro Hara (non-executive, also President of ULVAC-PHI, Inc.).
• Physical Electronics USA, Inc. (PHI USA)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSubsidiary of ULVAC-PHI, Inc. based in the USA. Has developed world-first XPS analysis technologies jointly with ULVAC-PHI. Presents at AVS and other US conferences. Contributed to the development of PHI GENESIS technologies including scanning micro XPS and HAXPES.
• ULVAC, Inc. (アルバック株式会社)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerParent company of ULVAC-PHI, Inc. ULVAC-PHI is a group company of ULVAC. Yasuhiro Hara serves as Chairman of UPN (non-executive) and is also an Executive Officer of ULVAC, Inc. Joint green procurement standards and sustainability policies under the ULVAC Group umbrella. Compliance hotlines and internal reporting systems shared with parent company.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Market position

Strengths4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/%E3%82%A2%E3%83%AB%E3%83%90%E3%83%83%E3%82%AF%E3%83%BB%E3%83%95%E3%82%A1%E3%82%A4%EF%BC%88%E6%A0%AA%EF%BC%89

Compliance4 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 records

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 アルバック・ファイ（株）