Rigaku Expands Yamanashi Plant with New State-of-the-Art Facility to Meet Global Demand
Rigaku Corporation, a global leader in X-ray analytical technologies and a group company of Rigaku Holdings Corporation (headquarters: Akishima, Tokyo; President and CEO: Jun Kawakami), has completed the construction of a new manufacturing building at its Yamanashi Plant. This facility serves as the centerpiece of Rigaku’s production framework, designed to meet the surging global demand for advanced X-ray analytical solutions. With a dramatic 2.7-fold increase in floor space, the expansion underscores Rigaku’s commitment to supporting its growth trajectory while ensuring high-quality, reliable products for customers worldwide.
Doubling Production Capacity to Support Global Growth
The demand for X-ray analytical solutions has skyrocketed in recent years, driven by rapid advancements in critical industries such as semiconductors, electronic components, batteries, battery materials, and life sciences. To address this growing demand, Rigaku has strategically expanded its production capabilities with two primary objectives in mind.
First, the company aims to reinforce its ability to serve rapidly expanding fields that rely on cutting-edge technologies, including semiconductor manufacturing, battery development, and life sciences research. These sectors require highly precise and reliable analytical tools, which Rigaku specializes in providing.
Second, the expansion is designed to significantly boost the production capacity of core components that underpin Rigaku’s diverse product lineup. These components represent the crystallization of Rigaku’s proprietary technologies and are the foundation of its competitive advantage. By scaling up production, Rigaku ensures it can meet customer needs efficiently while maintaining the superior quality its clients expect.
To achieve these goals, Rigaku plans to double its overall manufacturing capacity by 2027 compared to 2022 levels (on a unit basis). This ambitious target will be supported by the newly constructed building at Yamanashi Plant, as well as expansions at Osaka Plant and collaborations with external partners. Additionally, Rigaku is focused on streamlining its supply chain and reducing lead times to enhance operational efficiency and responsiveness to customer demands.
Yamanashi Plant: A Comprehensive Manufacturing Hub
With the completion of the New Building, Yamanashi Plant’s total floor space has expanded from 8,500 square meters to an impressive 23,000 square meters—a nearly threefold increase. This expansion allows Rigaku to consolidate previously dispersed processes for manufacturing, assembly, and shipping of X-ray diffraction systems into one centralized location. By concentrating these operations at Yamanashi Plant, Rigaku achieves a quantum leap in operational efficiency, ensuring a stable supply of high-quality products to its global customer base.
In addition to increased space, Rigaku is advancing efforts to automate production processes at Yamanashi Plant. The company envisions transforming the facility into a “smart factory,” where cutting-edge automation technologies optimize both efficiency and product quality. This initiative aligns with Rigaku’s broader strategy to leverage innovation and technology to maintain its leadership in the X-ray analytical solutions market.
An Eco-Friendly Facility in Harmony with Nature
Sustainability is a core focus of Rigaku’s operations, and the New Building reflects the company’s commitment to reducing its environmental impact. Constructed using eco-friendly methods, the facility incorporates high-efficiency equipment and solar-power generation systems to minimize energy waste and CO2 emissions.
By prioritizing environmentally conscious design and operations, Rigaku demonstrates its dedication to contributing to a sustainable society. The New Building stands as a testament to the company’s vision of creating a “plant in harmony with nature,” balancing industrial progress with ecological responsibility.
Leadership Vision: Strengthening Rigaku’s Competitive Edge
Jun Kawakami, President and CEO of Rigaku, shared his perspective on the significance of this expansion:
“With this major floor space expansion, Rigaku is boosting manufacturing capacity and enhancing product quality to support its substantial growth. It also strengthens our ability to produce the components of our products, which are the foundation of Rigaku’s competitive advantage. This facility is the key to ensuring that our existing customers continue to choose Rigaku, as well as helping Rigaku acquire new customers globally.”
Kawakami’s comments highlight the strategic importance of the Yamanashi Plant expansion. By increasing production capacity and improving operational efficiency, Rigaku is well-positioned to meet the evolving needs of its diverse customer base. Furthermore, the company’s focus on sustainability and innovation ensures it remains a trusted partner for organizations seeking advanced analytical solutions.
Meeting the Challenges of Tomorrow
As industries such as semiconductors, batteries, and life sciences continue to grow, the demand for high-precision X-ray analytical tools is expected to rise further. Rigaku’s investment in the Yamanashi Plant positions the company to not only meet current demand but also anticipate future challenges.
The expanded facility enables Rigaku to streamline production, reduce lead times, and enhance the quality of its products. These improvements will empower customers to accelerate their own research and development efforts, driving innovation across multiple sectors.
Why This Expansion Matters for Customers
For Rigaku’s global clientele, the Yamanashi Plant expansion represents a significant milestone. Increased production capacity ensures faster delivery times and greater product availability, while advancements in automation and sustainability contribute to higher-quality, eco-friendly solutions. Whether you’re in the semiconductor industry, developing next-generation batteries, or conducting life sciences research, Rigaku’s expanded capabilities offer tangible benefits to your operations.
