From commercialization of optical interferometric gas detectors to becoming an industrial gas detection and alarm equipment manufacturer

In 1939, RIKEN KEIKI Co., Ltd. was established to commercialize and mass produce the optical interference gas detector invented at the Institute of Physical and Chemical Research (RIKEN).
From the 1920s, when coal was the main energy source, explosions in coal mines and oil tankers occurred frequently. Our technology started with a gas detector to help preventing industrial disasters in coal mines and explosions in tankers.
Today, as an industrial gas detection and alarm equipment manufacturer, we have grown to have consolidated net sales of 45.0 billion yen and continue to protect the safe working environments in various fields.

1. Established in 1939
2. Industrial gas detection and alarm equipment manufacturer
3. Growth to 45.0 billion yen

Approximately 70% market share in the semiconductor industry (Japan)

The 1980s was the dawn of Japan’s semiconductor industry. The generation of toxic gases that are extremely harmful to the human body during the semiconductor manufacturing process has led to a need for gas detection systems that can detect semiconductor material gases.
We were the first company to develop and provide a gas sensor for such a low level of concentration gas detection in Japan. In addition, we were able to deliver not only gas detection alarms but also instrumentation panels incorporating sampling equipment and touch panels to major semiconductor manufacturing factories. The data of a large number of gas detectors is centrally managed through instrumentation panels, making them a high-value-added product where it is difficult for other companies to enter the market with their stand-alone products.
More than 40% of our net sales are to the semiconductor industry, and the market share of gas detectors for domestic semiconductor factories remains at a top level of 70%.

Gas sensing technology developed in-house

We have the advantage of developing most of our gas sensing technology in-house. A development center and a production center were established in the city of Kasukabe in Saitama Prefecture in 2015 and 2020, respectively, as bases for gas sensor development and gas sensor production.
By considering customer requests at the maintenance stage when developing new products, we are constantly coming up with sensing technologies that meet customer needs. For example, we have developed a potentiostatic electrolysis method sensor, which is widely used in semiconductor factories, and a catalytic combustion method sensor, which is used in a wide range of work sites, and developed the “Opt-Sonic” sensing principle, which combines and advances the optical sensor, since our foundation, with the sonic sensor.
Interference gas removal filters are also one of our essential sensing technologies. Detecting the presence of untargeted gas in the atmosphere can lead to false detection. Interference gas removal filters are placed in front of the sensor to achieve highly accurate detection.

Stable maintenance business that is less affected by the economy

1. Approximately 70% market share in the semiconductor industry (Japan)
2. Gas sensing
   technology developed in-house
3. Stable maintenance demand that is less affected by the economy

You can check the business status of RIKEN KEIKI.

Expand overseas business

RIKEN KEIKI is expanding its sales to overseas markets by utilizing its know-how in sensing technology and maintenance services cultivated in Japan.
Over the last 10 years, our strategy to expand our overseas sales has been to develop products that meet global standards applicable to overseas markets, establish a system for overseas subsidiaries and expand their overseas sales network by increasing share ratio to a wholly-owned subsidiary.
As a result of focusing on overseas business, mainly in Asia and North America and other areas, the ratio of overseas net sales reached 41.8% in the fiscal year ended March 31, 2023, compared with 23.9% in the fiscal year ended March 31, 2016.
From a medium- to long-term view, we expect that demand for gas detection for semiconductor factories will continue to grow as information technology advances, as the IoT and AI technology spread, and as the market for EVs (electric vehicles) expands, and we will continue striving to boost our overseas ratio.

Medium-term Management Vision

We have newly set our medium-term management vison of “in response to sustainable social and customer needs such as IoT and decarbonization, the RIKEN KEIKI Group aims to develop new technologies and expand overseas markets to become a global company that achieves sustainable growth by utilizing the power of ‘people’ and ‘technology,’” and the RIKEN KEIKI Group will lead its development of technologies and commercialization, including basic development, to contribute to realizing a sustainable society.

1. Increase market share in overseas markets
2. Expectations in the methanation field
3. Achieve sustainable growth by mid-term management vision

You can see the targets set forth by RIKEN KEIKI and the path to reach them.

• Established in1939
• Market share for
  the domestic
  semiconductor
  industry
  Approximately 70%
• Consolidated
  net sales
  for the fiscal year
  ended March 31, 2023:45.0billion yen
• Overseas
  net sales ratio
  for the fiscal year
  ended
  March 31, 2023:41.8%
• Medium-term
  net sales target
  for the fiscal year
  ending March 31, 2026:50.0billion yen