Tsubaki’s Corporate Philosophy

Tsubaki Spirit

Tsubaki Spirit is the corporate philosophy shared throughout the Tsubaki Group.

To achieve our social mission and aspiration, we also rely on our founding philosophy and five principles of action.

Social Mission

Advance the “art of moving” beyond expectations

Aspiration

Monozukuri specialists taking the craft of manufacturing to new heights

Tsubaki’s History

Tsubakimoto Chain has been in business for more than 100 years.

100th ANNIVERSARY since 1917

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1917

Setsuzo Tsubakimoto, founder
Setsuzo Tsubakimoto, founder
Production in the early days
Production in the early days

Anticipating the Era of Mechanization

Tsubakimoto Chain began as a bicycle chain manufacturer. In anticipation of the age of mechanization, the company had completely shifted to manufacturing machinery chains within 11 years.

1945

Chains for conveying raw wood for paper mills
Chains for conveying raw wood for paper mills
Vertical conveyors for chemical fertilizer plants
Vertical conveyors for chemical fertilizer plants

Developing Next-Generation Products

During the post-war reconstruction period, Tsubakimoto Chain dedicated itself to high-quality chains by expanding manufacturing facilities and hiring engineers. We continuously developed new products to contribute to post-war reconstruction efforts, including chemical fertilizers and chains for conveying coal.

1955

Ceiling-mounted conveyor for automobile plants
Ceiling-mounted conveyor for
automobile plants
Early timing chain and special assembly machines
Early timing chain and special
assembly machines

Supporting High Economic Growth with Conveyors

Tsubakimoto Chain not only developed new automated conveyors for textile, consumer electronics, steel, and automobile plants but also began production of automobile timing chains.

1971

U.S. Tsubaki, the first sales base in the USA
U.S. Tsubaki, the first sales base in the USA
First chain manufacturing base in North America
First chain manufacturing base in North America

Adopting a Global Perspective

Tsubakimoto Chain established sales bases across the globe, starting in the USA and expanding to Europe and Asia.
Local production of machinery chains began in the USA in 1986.

2010

German cable carrier manufacturing company established as a consolidated subsidiary
German cable carrier manufacturing company established as a consolidated subsidiary
Seventh overseas manufacturing base for mobility (Czech Republic)
Seventh overseas manufacturing base for mobility (Czech Republic)

Accelerating Globalization

Tsubaki began an aggressive mergers and acquisitions campaign that resulted in 12 timing chain plants in eight countries, expanding the company’s share of the international market to meet the need of automobile manufacturers for fuel-efficient vehicles.

2011

Zip Chain Lifter
Zip Chain Lifter
Cleanveyor
Cleanveyor

Developing Products to Meet Growing Environmental Needs

The Tsubaki Group began accelerating the development of eco products to help customers reduce their environmental impact (Ecology) and increase value (Economy) including through energy savings, reduced use of resources, and efforts to improve the environment.

2013

Plant factory
Plant factory
EneDrive Chains for electric vehicles
EneDrive Chains for electric vehicles

Supporting “Motion” in a New Era

Tsubakimoto Chain is dedicated to taking on the challenges of “Motion” in new areas, including agri-business, power systems, and IoT-enabled products.
With an eye toward the next 100 years, we are exploring various new fields, including products for the electrification of automobiles.

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Challenge New Fields under
Tsubaki’s Four Main Businesses

Tsubaki’s diverse variety of products are used in a wide range of fields for various applications.

Chain Operations Chain Operations
Small size conveyor chains for apple processing plant sorting machines

01

Chain Operations

The Tsubaki lineup includes about 20,000 different types of chains for power transmission and conveyance. We provide the best chains for any industry, both domestically and internationally, to meet the needs of any application.

Motion Control Operations Motion Control Operations
Power Cylinders and other products for passenger boarding bridges at airports

02

Motion Control Operations

With our multiple technologies, we offer Motion & Control machine parts such as reducers, linear actuators and clutches suitable for power transmission applications.

Mobility Operations Mobility Operations
Automotive engine
timing chain systems

03

Mobility Operations

We provide timing chain systems that contribute to the operation of high-performance automobile engines for the world’s automobile manufacturers while also increasing energy efficiency. We are also developing products to support the next generation of eco-friendly automobiles, including electric cars.

Materials Handling Operations Materials Handling Operations
LINISORT S-C fruit and vegetable sorting system

04

Materials Handling Operations

We control the flow of materials and information with our conveyance, sorting, and storage systems. We also provide innovative solutions that help to improve our customers’ productivity.

New Businesses New Businesses
eLINK V2X bi-directional EV charging system

Beyond

New Businesses

We are excited to take on new challenges and new businesses beyond the boundaries of our existing areas, including EV power systems, agribusiness, and IoT-enabled monitoring systems.

Tsubaki’s Four Strengths

Since its founding in 1917, the Tsubaki Group has focused on reinforcing its strengths in value creation, with such efforts becoming the foundation of further growth.

Providing value that exceeds expectations

Expertise in providing solutions

  • Numerous examples of solutions that meet customer needs
  • A record of supplying the world’s top manufacturers

Product development capability

  • Products with the leading share of the global market
  • Provision of Eco Products (SDG-oriented Products)

Expertise in manufacturing

  • Preserving the expertise cultivated through 100 years of manufacturing with outstanding skill and advanced technology
  • Provision of safe, reliable and superior quality products

Global readiness

  • Establishing a global network of 81 companies in 26 countries and regions

1. Expertise in providing solutions

  • Numerous examples of solutions that meet customer needs
  • A record of supplying the world’s top manufacturers

2. Product development capability

  • Products with the leading share of the global market
  • Provision of Eco Products (SDG-oriented Products)

3. Expertise in manufacturing

  • Preserving the expertise cultivated through 100 years of manufacturing with outstanding skill and advanced technology
  • Provision of safe, reliable and superior quality products

4. Global readiness

  • Establishing a global network of 81 companies in 26 countries

Tsubaki by the Numbers

* Data taken from FY 2022 results.

Consolidated Sales

251.5 billion yen (FY 2022)

Consolidated Sales

Sales by Business Segment

Sales by Business Segment Sales by Business Segment

No. of Overseas Bases

82 companies in
26 countries and regions

Total No. of Employees

8,691

Overseas Sales Ratio

63%

Overseas Sales Ratio Overseas Sales Ratio

Overseas Employee Ratio

52%

Overseas Employee Ratio Overseas Employee Ratio
Global Network

Tsubaki’s
Sustainability Plan

As a manufacturing company, we offer unique innovations for addressing various social issues in an effort to achieve a sustainable society.

Tsubaki’s Sustainability Plan

Tsubaki as a Global Leader

* Data based on in-house research

No. 1 // Tsubaki Technology No. 1 // Tsubaki Technology

The world’s most silent chain

Top global market share

Tsubaki claims the world’s largest share of industrial steel chains and automobile timing chains.
More than a simple boast, this is proof of Tsubaki’s superior quality, performance, and global production and service systems. * Shares based on in-house research

The world’s smallest and largest chains

World’s smallest chain
World’s largest chain

Tsubaki’s smallest chain has a pitch of just 3.7465mm—the smallest in the world at about the size of an ant.
These chains are often used for medical and office equipment.
Tsubaki’s largest chain has a pitch of 1.2m—the largest in the world.
This chain is used for conveying iron ore at steelmaking plants.

World’s highest tensile strength

World’s highest tensile strength

Draw bench chains used in steelmaking plants have a mean tensile strength of 1600 tons.
This is a tensile strength equivalent to 40 Shinkansen Nozomi trains.

World’s first zipper-type chain

World’s first
zipper-type chain

Our Zip Chain—the first of its kind to be developed—includes two separate chains engaging like a zipper to form a single solid pillar.

Zip Chains create a “steel pillar” out of two previously flexible chains. With ultra-high-precision stopping in units of 1mm, Zip Chains are durable and can be used at high speeds, making them useful for lifting equipment in automobile plants and for stages.

Ultra-low-temperature high-tech refrigerator

Ultra-low-temperature
high-tech refrigerator

The Tsubaki LaboStocker 150L is the world’s first high-tech refrigerator. The ultra-low-temperature (−150°C) environment inside this industry-first refrigerator is ideal for storing cells, blood, and DNA for tens of thousands of people.
The device is also capable of speedy loading and unloading of the required samples automatically and accurately. This is our contribution to the evolution of cutting-edge medical treatment such as for cancer and iPS cell treatments.

World’s largest production volume

World’s largest
production volume

Tsubaki produces about 30,000km of RS roller chains and timing chains every year.
This is enough chain to go 3/4 of the way around the earth (which has a circumference of about 40,000km).
In other words, Tsubaki produces enough chain to stretch from Osaka across Europe to New York.

Toward a Sustainable Society

The Tsubaki Group is engaged in the “art of moving” and aims to provide value that exceeds expectations
to become a company that continues to be needed by society.