HORIBA Advanced Techno "Kyoto Fukuchiyama Factory" Commences Full-Scale Operations

HORIBA Advanced Techno Co., Ltd. (11-5 Kamitoba Hokotate-cho, Minami-ku, Kyoto, President Takeshi Miyamoto), responsible for the semiconductor business within the HORIBA Group, has officially begun full-scale operations at its "Kyoto Fukuchiyama Factory" (hereinafter referred to as the "Fukuchiyama Factory"), which produces core products such as Mass Flow Controllers (MFCs) and chemical concentration monitors.

The Fukuchiyama Factory, with a total floor area of approximately 23,000 square meters, serves as a core plant driving mass production technology through the introduction of "automated" (jidoka) lines and automated transport systems to achieve a highly efficient production structure. The aim is to establish a system that can flexibly respond to fluctuations in production volume, even in the semiconductor market where demand can be volatile.

This expansion will enable a future increase in domestic MFC production capacity by up to approximately three times and chemical concentration monitor production capacity by up to approximately two times, establishing a long-term stable supply system.

Furthermore, to advance factory operations, HORIBA will combine its proprietary data management system with diverse measurement and control technologies. By integrating and visualizing equipment operational data and various monitoring information, the company will work towards optimizing production management and energy usage. The factory will also function as a showcase for HORIBA's measurement and control solutions, supporting customer proposals and technological outreach.

Leveraging the commencement of operations at this factory, HORIBA will also fully integrate operations with the adjacent research and development base, the "Kyoto Fukuchiyama Technology Center." This will establish the Fukuchiyama area as a hub responsible for everything from R&D to mass production for the semiconductor business. By accelerating efforts that balance stable supply with technological innovation, HORIBA aims to contribute to the growth of the HORIBA Group and the evolution of the global semiconductor industry as a leading partner in measurement and control.

【Features of the Fukuchiyama Factory】

1. Establishment of a Stable Mass Production System through Automated Lines and Automated Transport Systems

Robot arm on the automated line

The expansive production area of approximately 10,000 square meters will produce not only MFCs and chemical concentration monitors, the main products of the semiconductor business, but also printed circuit boards used in HORIBA's own products.

For MFC production, robot arms will be introduced to automate adjustment processes that previously required manual labor. This will not only reduce labor but also stabilize quality by minimizing variations in work procedures.

Additionally, automated guided vehicles (AGVs)※2 and autonomous mobile robots (AMRs)※3 will be used for internal transport, promoting efficiency throughout the entire process. By establishing a mass production system with automated equipment, domestic MFC production capacity can be expanded up to approximately three times in the future, and chemical concentration monitor production capacity up to approximately two times.

2. Streamlining Factory Operations and R&D through Data Integration and Visualization

HORIBA is promoting centralized management of information dispersed within the factory by utilizing its proprietary data management system.

In the cleanroom for MFC production, HORIBA's measurement equipment is installed in various locations, such as the AMC monitoring system※4, which measures atmospheric contamination levels. By visualizing and analyzing equipment operational data and various monitoring information, the company will enhance factory operations and optimize energy usage.

Furthermore, characteristic data for each device obtained during the production process will be shared with the adjacent "Kyoto Fukuchiyama Technology Center." By leveraging AI and digital twin※5 technologies, this will lead to more efficient product development and earlier implementation of next-generation technologies.

3. Promoting Decarbonization through the Utilization of Renewable Energy

The new factory achieves ZEB (Net Zero Energy Building), promoted by Japan's Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry, Ministry of the Environment, and Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism, and is engaged in energy utilization using solar power and hydrogen.

Solar panels with a total area of approximately 5,000 square meters are installed on the rooftop, maximizing the use of generated electricity within the factory.

Surplus electricity is converted to hydrogen through water electrolysis and stored. Power is then generated using fuel cells, realizing an energy cycle of "generate, store, and use."

Through these initiatives, HORIBA aims to contribute to the realization of a decarbonized society while optimizing operations, including operational costs.

【Facility Overview】

Name

HORIBA Advanced Techno Kyoto Fukuchiyama Factory

Location

4 Miwa, Sanwa-cho, Fukuchiyama City, Kyoto Prefecture

Site Area

36,011 m²

Total Floor Area

23,292 m² (2 stories)

Structure

SRC (Steel Reinforced Concrete)

Construction Start

July 2024

Completion

January 2026

Number of Employees

Approximately 50 (as of the end of May 2026, including contract workers and part-time employees)

Aiming for a workforce of 600-800 by 2030, with phased expansion

Total Investment

Approximately 17 billion yen

※1 "Automated" (Jidoka) refers to a system that autonomously operates while maintaining quality, detecting abnormalities, and stopping/notifying as needed.

※2 AGV (Automated Guided Vehicle): An unmanned transport vehicle that travels along a pre-set route.

※3 AMR (Autonomous Mobile Robot): An autonomous mobile robot that determines its own travel path.

※4 HORIBA's system for monitoring airborne molecular contamination (AMC) in cleanrooms.

※5 Analysis and optimization technology using virtual models that accurately reproduce physical phenomena.

※6 ZEB (Net Zero Energy Building): An environmentally conscious building aiming for a net zero annual energy balance through energy saving and energy creation (e.g., solar power).