Canon Tokki
A Canon Group manufacturer of material-deposition and related production equipment for OLED displays.
Last updated August 26, 2026
AI crawler reads
No AI crawler has read this profile since Oct 28, 2026.
Overview
Canon Tokki is a Japanese industrial equipment company within the Canon Group. Its principal business is the development and manufacture of production systems used to make organic light-emitting diode displays, commonly known as OLED displays. The company is particularly associated with vacuum thin-film material-deposition equipment, including systems that deposit OLED materials and electrodes during display manufacturing. Its equipment is used in production environments where the uniform application of extremely thin layers is central to display performance and manufacturing yield. The company’s origins lie in a broader industrial-equipment business rather than in consumer electronics. Its predecessor activities included factory-automation systems, machine tools, and production tools. In 1983, the business began producing vacuum thin-film deposition equipment, establishing the technical direction that later became its most important specialization. In 1986, Tsugami Specialty Machine, Nagaoka Precision, Tsugami Robotics, and UPR Co., Ltd. merged to form Tokki Corporation Ltd. This consolidation brought together capabilities in automation, precision machinery, robotics, and production equipment. Tokki began researching OLED material-deposition equipment in 1993 and started selling such equipment in 1996. A notable development followed in 1999, when it produced an OLED mass-production system designed to handle OLED-material deposition, electrode-material deposition, and encapsulation within one system. The company also manufactures encapsulation equipment for both laboratory and mass-production applications. Encapsulation is an important part of OLED manufacturing because the organic materials used in OLED devices are sensitive to environmental exposure. The company expanded its production infrastructure in 2001 by purchasing the Niigata Factory from Niigata Keiso Co., Ltd. The facility became Tokki’s main production base and later served as the location of the company’s headquarters. In 2004, Tokki separated its factory-automation division into Tokki Industries Co., Ltd. In 2009, the headquarters moved from Tokyo to the Niigata factory. The following year, Tokki Industries was sold to Marubeni Corporation, while Tokki itself was acquired by Canon Inc. in 2010. The business adopted the name Canon Tokki in 2012. Canon Tokki is known for its specialized position in large-generation OLED thin-film-deposition equipment. Reference material identifies Canon Tokki and South Korea’s Sunic System as the two major manufacturers of production-scale OLED thin-film-deposition equipment for Generation 6 and larger display lines. This position has made Canon Tokki an important supplier within the OLED manufacturing-equipment ecosystem, even though it is not a consumer-facing display brand. Its market importance comes from the complexity, precision, and limited supplier base associated with large vacuum-deposition systems. Demand has followed the cyclical investment patterns of the display industry. An increase in orders led Canon Tokki to double its production capacity in 2016. By 2018, however, demand had declined as recovery in the display-equipment market lagged behind the recovery of the display market itself. The available reference material does not establish the company’s current order levels, customer list, revenue, employee count, or detailed product-generation roadmap. Canon Tokki is therefore best understood as a specialized, business-to-business Canon subsidiary whose identity is tied to OLED manufacturing equipment rather than to Canon’s better-known imaging products.
History
Canon Tokki developed from a Japanese industrial-equipment business with experience in factory automation, machine tools, production tools, robotics, and precision manufacturing. In 1983, its predecessor operations entered the vacuum thin-film-deposition field. This capability later became the foundation for the company’s specialization in equipment used to manufacture OLED displays. In 1986, Tsugami Specialty Machine, Nagaoka Precision, Tsugami Robotics, and UPR Co., Ltd. merged to establish Tokki Corporation Ltd. The combination brought together several equipment-related activities under one organization. Tokki subsequently focused increasing attention on display-manufacturing technology. It began research into OLED material-deposition equipment in 1993 and commercialized equipment for that purpose in 1996. A major technical milestone came in 1999, when Tokki developed an OLED mass-production system that combined deposition of OLED materials, deposition of electrode materials, and encapsulation in one system. In addition to integrated systems, the company produced encapsulation tools for laboratory use and for mass-production facilities. The business became associated with large-scale OLED thin-film-deposition equipment, a specialized category with a limited number of major suppliers. Tokki expanded its physical manufacturing base in 2001 by purchasing the Niigata Factory from Niigata Keiso Co., Ltd. The Niigata site became the company’s main production base. In 2004, Tokki separated its Factory Automation division into a subsidiary called Tokki Industries Co., Ltd. The headquarters moved from Tokyo to the Niigata factory in 2009. Corporate ownership changed in 2010. Tokki Industries was sold to Marubeni Corporation, while Tokki was acquired by Canon Inc. The acquisition placed Tokki within the Canon Group and linked its specialized industrial-equipment capabilities to one of Japan’s major technology companies. In 2012, the company adopted the Canon Tokki name. Canon Tokki’s principal market is production equipment for OLED displays. The company’s systems use vacuum thin-film deposition to apply extremely thin functional layers during display fabrication. The reference material identifies Canon Tokki and South Korea’s Sunic as the two major manufacturers of production-scale OLED thin-film-deposition equipment for Generation 6 and larger lines, giving Canon Tokki a highly concentrated position in its main field. Business conditions have been cyclical. Higher orders led Canon Tokki to double its production capacity in 2016. By 2018, demand had fallen because recovery in the equipment market had not kept pace with the recovery of the display market. The available sources do not provide current financial data, named executives, customer information, or a detailed account of operations after that period. Canon Tokki is consequently documented here as an active Canon subsidiary and specialized OLED-production-equipment manufacturer, rather than as a consumer electronics brand.
- 2018
Equipment-market demand weakens
[1]Demand declined as the recovery of the display-equipment market lagged behind the recovery of the display market.
- 2016
Production capacity expansion
[1]The company doubled production capacity in response to increased orders.
- 2012
Renamed Canon Tokki
[1]The company changed its name to Canon Tokki after becoming part of Canon.
- 2010
Acquisition by Canon
[1]Canon Inc. acquired Tokki, while Tokki Industries was sold to Marubeni Corporation.
- 2009
Headquarters moved to Niigata
[1]The headquarters moved from Tokyo to the company’s Niigata factory.
- 2004
Factory-automation division spun off
[1]Tokki separated its Factory Automation division into Tokki Industries Co., Ltd.
- 2001
Niigata factory acquired
[1]Tokki purchased the Niigata Factory from Niigata Keiso Co., Ltd.; the site became its main production base.
- 1999
Integrated OLED mass-production system
[1]Tokki developed a system combining OLED-material deposition, electrode-material deposition, and encapsulation.
- 1996
Commercial OLED equipment sales begin
[1]Tokki began selling OLED material-deposition equipment.
- 1993
OLED deposition research begins
[1]Tokki began researching equipment for OLED material deposition.
Products and positioning
A specialized business-to-business equipment supplier focused on high-precision vacuum deposition and related systems for OLED display production. Its positioning is based on process integration, large-generation manufacturing capability, and expertise in equipment used at demanding stages of display fabrication.
OLED manufacturing equipment · 1996
OLED material-deposition equipment
These systems deposit OLED organic materials as thin films during display fabrication. Canon Tokki began researching this equipment in 1993 and selling it commercially in 1996. The equipment is designed for industrial production environments where controlled vacuum processing and precise layer formation are required.
OLED manufacturing equipment · 1999
OLED electrode-deposition equipment
Electrode-deposition capability forms part of the equipment used to build OLED display structures. In 1999, Tokki developed an integrated mass-production system that combined electrode-material deposition with OLED-material deposition and encapsulation, reducing the need to treat these stages as entirely separate equipment functions.
Display encapsulation equipment · 1999
OLED encapsulation equipment
Canon Tokki produces encapsulation tools for laboratory and mass-manufacturing applications. Encapsulation is used to protect OLED materials from environmental exposure after the functional layers have been formed. The company’s encapsulation capability has also been incorporated into integrated OLED production systems.
OLED production systems · 1999
Integrated OLED mass-production systems
Tokki’s integrated system introduced in 1999 combined OLED-material deposition, electrode-material deposition, and encapsulation in one production system. Such integration is intended for manufacturing lines rather than consumer use and reflects the company’s focus on large-scale, process-specific display-production equipment.
Industrial automation equipment
Factory-automation and production equipment
The company’s earlier industrial activities included factory-automation systems, machine tools, and production tools. Its Factory Automation division was separated into Tokki Industries Co., Ltd. in 2004 and was later sold to Marubeni Corporation in 2010, so these activities are not equivalent to Canon Tokki’s principal current OLED-equipment identity.
Brand decisions
2016
Capacity expansionStrategyBackground
The company experienced an increase in orders for its specialized OLED manufacturing equipment.
Action taken
Canon Tokki doubled its production capacity.
Aftermath
Demand weakened by 2018 as the equipment-market recovery lagged behind the display-market recovery.
2010
Canon acquires TokkiM&ABackground
Tokki was an established specialist in OLED production equipment and vacuum thin-film deposition.
Action taken
Canon Inc. acquired Tokki. In the same year, Tokki Industries was sold to Marubeni Corporation.
Aftermath
Tokki became part of the Canon Group and was renamed Canon Tokki in 2012.
2004
Spin-off of the Factory Automation divisionStrategyBackground
Tokki operated across several industrial-equipment fields, including factory automation, while its OLED and vacuum-deposition activities were becoming increasingly important.
Action taken
The Factory Automation division was separated into Tokki Industries Co., Ltd.
Aftermath
The separation created a distinct subsidiary for the factory-automation business; Tokki later sold that subsidiary to Marubeni Corporation in 2010.
Recent events
- 2018
OLED equipment demand declines[1]
Other
Demand for Canon Tokki’s equipment declined as the recovery of the display-equipment market lagged behind the recovery of the display market.
- 2016
Canon Tokki doubles production capacity[1]
Other
An increase in orders led the company to double its production capacity.
- 2012
Tokki adopts the Canon Tokki name[1]
Other
Following Canon’s acquisition, the company changed its name to Canon Tokki.
- 2010
Canon acquires Tokki[1]
M&A
Canon Inc. acquired Tokki, bringing the specialized display-equipment manufacturer into the Canon Group.
- 1999
Tokki develops an integrated OLED mass-production system[1]
Product launch · Product generation
Tokki developed a mass-production system combining OLED-material deposition, electrode-material deposition, and encapsulation within one system.
- 1996
Tokki starts selling OLED material-deposition equipment[1]
Product launch
The company began commercial sales of equipment for OLED material deposition.
- 1993
Tokki begins OLED material-deposition research[1]
Other
Tokki began researching equipment for depositing OLED materials, starting the development path that later became its core business.
Sources1 sources
Cite this profile: Cite the canonical profile. /brand-wiki/canon-tokki · Editorial policy · How profiles are compiled