What Kodama does

株式会社コダマ (Kodama) is a privately held, Osaka-based comprehensive electroplating and metal surface treatment manufacturer founded in 1960 by Kodama Masahiro at age 19. The company offers 14+ plating types — gold, silver, tin, nickel, copper, hard chrome (up to Hv800), zinc, electroless nickel variants, electroless nickel-Teflon, electroless nickel-boron, electroless nickel-boron-tungsten, and Alodine/Sertect 650 chemical conversion coating — for automotive parts, electronic components, semiconductor devices, power transmission equipment, molds/tools, and defense equipment. Its proprietary Kotadect electroless nickel process (registered trademark 2003) provides ultra-corrosion resistance and is adopted in defense applications; the Gara Chrome Method (1992) enables cost-effective fine chrome plating.

The company operates two Osaka factories: the headquarters plant in Ikuno Ward (1960/1982) and the Tatsuminaka Factory completed in 2020 for the 60th anniversary, which houses the latest automated plating lines and QR-code-based digital traceability for automotive-focused work. Kodama is differentiated by precision partial plating capabilities (resist masking, brush plating, hand-applied resin coating), 1-day prototype lead times, and a qualified technical workforce of 17 plating technicians including national competition winners. The customer base spans 2,000+ active accounts with 5-10 new accounts added monthly; long-term enterprise relationships include Honda R&D, Toyota Central R&D, Daiichi Denki (15 years), Nisshinbo, Sumitomo Riko, NTN, and IDEC.

Kodama is a family-controlled business under Representative Director Kodama Masuko (since 2010) and Managing Director Kodama Yoshihiro, with no external institutional investors, PE/VC, or public listing. The company employs 51-52 people, is entirely self-funded through operating revenues, and pursues a sales-led, B2B direct model targeting Japanese industrial OEMs. Recent revenue has been declining (FY2023: 10.01億円; FY2024: 9.11億円; FY2025: 8.88億円), while the company invests in ESG positioning (SBT certification 2024, Osaka carbon-neutral declaration), workplace excellence (consecutive Health Management Excellence certifications 2022-2026), and brand-building through the Osaka-Kansai Expo 2025 and social media channels.

Name

Kodama

Legal name

株式会社コダマ

Website

https://fm-007.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1960

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

株式会社コダマ (Kodama) is an Osaka-based electroplating manufacturer founded in 1960, offering 14+ plating types for automotive, electronics, semiconductor, power, mold, and defense customers across Japan via two factories and direct B2B sales.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Osaka

HQ country

Japan

HQ region

Asia

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. 表面処理加工サービス: 金属部品へのめっき加工サービス。金、银、锡、镍、硬铬、锌、无电解镍等各种めっき加工を提供。試作から量産まで対応し、多品種少量生産が得意。顧客は年間2,000件以上の加工実績がある。

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Kodama is a comprehensive metal plating manufacturer providing electroplating and metal surface treatment services for industrial components. The company offers 14+ plating types including gold, silver, tin, nickel, copper, hard chrome, zinc, and various electroless nickel formulations (including proprietary Kodadect), plus precision partial plating for selective coating requirements. Services span prototyping to mass production with short lead times (1-day delivery), serving automotive, power generation, molds/tools, electronics/semiconductors, and defense equipment sectors.

Product overview

Kodama is a comprehensive metal plating manufacturer offering 14+ surface treatment services for industrial applications. Their core offerings include gold, silver, tin, nickel, copper, hard chrome, and various electroless nickel plating types. Their proprietary products include Kodadect (high-corrosion-resistant electroless nickel) and specialized partial plating services. The company serves automotive, aerospace, power, semiconductor, molds, tools, and defense equipment sectors, providing services from prototyping to mass production with short lead times.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• コダテクト: 登録商标を取得した超耐食性無電解ニッケル本町技術。防衛装備品にも採用されている。

Products and services

• Gold Plating
• Silver Plating
• Tin Plating
• Nickel Plating
• Copper Plating
• Hard Chrome Plating
• Electroless Nickel Plating [Kodadect]
• Electroless Nickel Plating
• Electroless Nickel Teflon Plating
• Electroless Nickel Boron Plating
• Electroless Nickel Boron Tungsten Plating
• Zinc Plating
• Alodine/Sertect 650 Treatment
• Precision Partial Plating

Quantifiable outcome

• 最短納期1日対応（试作到量产）
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers12 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

One partnership is on record.

• 大阪のものづくりおもろい未来展実行委員会minorOthers · 5 September 20252025年大阪・関西万博会场内で举行的「おもろい未来展」に出展。金めっき体験ブースを出展し、約1万人以上的来訪者にコダマの技術をPRした。

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves13 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Nihon Parkerizing: Major Japanese surface treatment company providing metal surface treatment chemicals and services including plating, anti-corrosion coatings, and lubrication. Comparable as a domestic Japanese competitor with broader product range and larger scale than Kodama.
• Ishihara Chemical (Yonezawa Chemical): Japanese manufacturer of surface treatment chemicals including plating, cleaning, and anti-corrosion agents. Competes with Kodama in the plating chemistry layer and serves overlapping automotive and electronics end-markets across Japan.
• Okuno Pharmaceutical Industries: Japanese specialty chemicals manufacturer producing plating chemicals, surface treatment agents, and cosmetics ingredients. Comparable to Kodama as a Japan-based plating chemistry specialist serving the same automotive and electronics customers with complementary product offerings (chemicals vs. application services).
• Daiwa Kasei Kogyo: Japanese surface treatment chemicals manufacturer serving automotive and industrial customers with plating and coating chemistries. Directly comparable to Kodama in serving the same customer base with plating-related offerings.
• JCU Corporation: Japanese chemical manufacturer specializing in plating chemicals for electronics, automotive, and decorative applications. Most directly comparable peer in terms of product range (electroless nickel, electrolytic plating chemistries) and customer overlap, though Kodama is a service provider and JCU is a chemistry supplier.

Broad incumbents

• MacDermid Enthone Electronics Solutions: Global specialty chemicals company providing plating chemistries for electronics, automotive, and industrial applications. Comparable as a competing supplier in the plating value chain with broader geographic reach and scale.
• Mitsui Mining & Smelting (Plating Materials): Japanese non-ferrous metals and specialty materials producer with plating-related product lines including electrolytic copper foil and surface treatment materials. Adjacent comparable as a larger Japanese materials supplier serving the same electronics and industrial customers with upstream inputs to plating processes.
• Rohm and Haas Electronic Materials (DuPont): Major global supplier of plating chemistries and electronic materials serving semiconductor, automotive, and industrial markets. Comparable as a global benchmark for plating chemistry pricing, scale, and technology requirements that shape customer expectations for Japanese platers like Kodama.
• Element Solutions (Coventya, MacDermid): Global specialty chemicals platform including plating chemistries and electronics materials. Comparable to Kodama in serving the same end-markets (automotive, electronics, industrial) but at global scale across chemistry, equipment, and service layers.
• Atotech (MKS Instruments): Global leader in plating chemistry and equipment, now part of MKS Instruments. Provides chemistry, equipment, and service for electronics and decorative plating worldwide. Significantly larger scale than Kodama and serves as a global benchmark for plating chemistry capabilities and customer requirements.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/@%E3%83%A1%E3%83%83%E3%82%AD%E5%8A%A0%E5%B7%A5%E3%81%AE%E3%82%B3%E3%83%80%E3%83%9E/featured
• Instagraminstagram.com/kodama_mekki
• TikToktiktok.com/@mekki.kodama

Compliance7 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles4 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 Kodama