Original article published in Newsweek on October 21st, 2022. Written by the Worldfolio

Automation technology supporting
the world’s key industries
Through a diverse and comprehensive product line-up, CKD Corporation will playa key role in automating the factories of the future.
Established in 1943, CKD Corporation has been engaged in the
research and development of automation and fluid control technologies for almost 80 years.
With a commitment to newtechnology and high-quality products, CKD has been able to differentiate itself from competitors
while simultaneously developing
and producing a diverse line-up ofproducts, which are widely usedwithin today’s society.

It is worth noting, of course,that the company is already a major global player, with its chemicalvalves for semiconductor manufacturing equipment occupyinga high market share worldwide.
And it is the semiconductor industry, a rapidly-changing sector, on
which CKD has pledged to focus
its efforts in the future.
Though already manufacturing
and selling components which control fluids such as liquid chemicals

Fluid control components for the semiconductor industry
CKD’s business is centered on and process gases for semiconductwo fields: automated machin- tor device manufacturing facilities,
ery and components. “We have it is anticipated that the market
various types of automated ma- will continue to grow long-term.
chinery such as lithium-ion bat- With this in mind, CKD has retery manufacturing equipment, cently completed construction of a
packaging machines for pharma- new facility in Komatsu, Ishikawa
ceuticals and food products, and Prefecture. According to Mr. Kainspection machines for electronic jimoto, the aim of the new plant
circuit boards. The company’s is “to meet the expected increase
component products include air in demand for components for theand electric actuators and fluid semiconductor industry”.
control components, which are
Alongside its counterpart in
used in all types of manufactur- Kasugai, the new Hokuriku Plant

the aim of achieving carbon neutrality by 2050.
In particular, Mr. Kajimoto
highlights the company’s longlife products, which are used in
production lines in all industrial
sectors. With a lifespan four times
longer than conventional products,
customers are no longer required
to maintain their machines withsuch regularity, leading to an overall reduction in waste.
In terms of its international presence, although CKD has traditionally focused on developing its own
technologies without input fromother companies, this too is changing. There is a growing recognition
that increasing partnerships withdomestic and foreign entities leads
to a more efficient overall service.
“In order to deliver optimal products, technologies and services toour customers quickly and reliably,
we have established a global sales
network encompassing Europe,
North and South America, andAsia,” Mr. Kajimoto adds.
That network now totals 170production sites and bases aroundthe world. In addition to its existing five plants in Japan, CKD
boasts plants in China, Thailand,Malaysia, Korea, Indonesia andNorth America. The last of these,
completed in April of this year in
Austin, Texas, has recently begun
the production of semiconductor
manufacturing components.
With CKD’s overseas sales ratio
currently standing at about 30%, itis hoped that the company’s global
expansion will see this figure riseto 40% in the next four years. This
will involve an increased focus on
Europe, where as Mr. Kajimoto ac-“In the years to come,
we are aiming tobecome a total FA
worldwide supplier byintegrating automatedmachinery andcomponent producttechnologies.”
Kazunori Kajimoto,
Representative Director,Chairman & CEO,CKD Corporation
knowledges, CKD’s sales channels
are still underdeveloped.
Not that global expansion is
the only thing on Mr. Kajimoto’smind. Indeed, as the Corporation
approaches its 80th anniversary,
CKD’s chairman is anticipating
what the future holds.
“As we get older,” he says, “webegin to see the whole picture andthink about others in the domesticsociety, the international community, and about the global environment. It is important to accept alittle inconvenience, rather thansimply pursuing material abundance. In a book of the Chinese
philosopher Lao Tzu, there is aphrase about ‘knowing what isenough’. It talks about being satisfied with one’s lot. If this conceptof ‘contentment’ were to spreadthroughout the world, I am surethat it would be a better place.”

CKD’s Hokuriku plant in Japan (scheduled to be operational in 2024)
ing sites, including semiconductor, automotive and electronicparts manufacturing. It is hopedthat by integrating technologies
from automated machinery andcomponents, CKD corporation willachieve its aim of becoming aglobal supplier of factory automation (FA) components,” says chairman and CEO, Kazunori Kajimoto.

in Ishikawa will manufacture
valves for chemical solutions,while valves for process gases
will be manufactured at the company’s Tohoku Plant.
Beyond the semiconductor industry, CKD prides itself on thedevelopment and marketing ofproducts that contribute to thereduction of CO2 emissions – withPharmaceutical packaging machineswww.ckd.co.jp/en