Kawaguchi Metal Industries Co., Ltd.
Japanese specialist foundry making custom cast steel and cast iron components from 300 kg to 5 tonnes for civil engineering, construction, industrial machinery and marine applications.
Last updated September 26, 2026
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Overview
Kawaguchi Metal Industries Co., Ltd. (株式会社川口金属工業) is a Japanese foundry and metalworking company headquartered in Miyamachi, Kawaguchi, Saitama Prefecture. Founded on 29 October 1948 in Kawaguchi — a city long known as a centre of Japan's casting industry — the company has spent more than seven decades as a high-grade shape-material (素形材) manufacturer specialising in cast steel and cast iron. It is the founding origin of the Kawakin Holdings Group and today operates as a group company under Kawakin Holdings Co., Ltd. The company's core business is the manufacture and sale of custom-made cast components, together with metalworking. It handles large castings weighing from roughly 300 kg up to 5 tonnes, and is able to form complex geometries in a single integrated casting. Its product range spans ductile and flake graphite cast irons, Ni-resist austenitic cast iron, high-silicon cast iron, CV (compact vermicular) graphite cast iron, and a family of cast steels including weldable structural cast steel, low-alloy cast steel, and high-temperature/high-pressure and low-temperature/high-pressure cast steels. These materials are supplied into four main fields: civil engineering (notably bridge bearings, seismic isolation and damping devices, expansion joints and valves), architecture (building hardware and decorative structural elements), industrial machinery (core precision components), and marine applications. Quality and certification are central to the brand's positioning. Kawaguchi Metal Industries holds ISO 9001:2015 certification and has obtained approvals from a broad set of classification societies, including NK (ClassNK, Japan), LR (Lloyd's Register), BV (Bureau Veritas), ABS (American Bureau of Shipping), DNV GL, CCS (China Classification Society), CR (China Corporation Register of Shipping, Taiwan) and KR (Korean Register of Shipping). This certification base supports its supply of safety-critical components for ships and related equipment. The company's history includes several technical firsts and transitions: it licensed Meehanite metal production from the U.S. Meehanite Metal Corporation in 1954, began designing and manufacturing bridge bearings in 1958, listed on the Second Section of the Tokyo Stock Exchange in 1961, started producing ductile cast iron for hydraulic equipment in 1971, and began exporting special cast steel products to the United States in 1975. In 1990 it fully switched to the alkaline phenol process, and in 1993 it integrated its cast steel and cast iron plants onto a single line. In 2008 the group holding company Kawakin Holdings was established, and in 2009 Kawaguchi Metal Industries was re-established as the successor company for the casting business. More recently it began manufacturing marine chain (2017) and Ni-resist (2018), and started operation of a new Koriyama plant in 2022. As of June 2025 the company reported 89 employees and capital of 10 million yen, with production and sales sites in Kawaguchi and Koriyama. Its representative director and president is Shinkichi Suzuki. The company positions itself as an engineering-solution group that combines advanced materials with shape-material manufacturing and processing technology, contributing to safe, high-quality manufacturing industries and to a secure and comfortable society.
History
Kawaguchi Metal Industries was established on 29 October 1948 in Kawaguchi, Saitama Prefecture — a city known as a centre of Japan's casting industry — and began manufacturing cast products. The company describes itself as having been born in the 'town of castings' and as having supported Japan's post-war industrial base as a high-grade shape-material manufacturer of cast steel and cast iron for more than 70 years. In 1954 the company obtained a manufacturing licence for Meehanite metal from the U.S. Meehanite Metal Corporation, a significant technical milestone. In 1958 it began designing and manufacturing bridge bearings, entering the civil engineering field that remains one of its core markets. In 1961 it listed on the Second Section of the Tokyo Stock Exchange and established a new steelmaking plant. In 1971 it began manufacturing ductile cast iron for hydraulic equipment. In 1975 it started exporting special cast steel products to the United States, marking its entry into international markets. By 1980 it had reached monthly production of 1,000 tonnes of cast steel and 600 tonnes of cast iron, for a total of 1,600 tonnes per month. In 1988 the company began trials of the alkaline phenol process, and in 1990 it abolished green sand and CO2 moulding and switched entirely to the alkaline phenol process. In 1993 it integrated its cast steel plant into its cast iron plant, enabling cast steel and cast iron production on the same line. In 2007 it consolidated the head office finishing plant into the former cast steel plant and moved the machining plant to the former bearing assembly plant. A major structural change came in 2008 with the establishment of the group holding company Kawakin Holdings Co., Ltd. In 2009 Kawaguchi Metal Industries was re-established as the successor company for the casting business. In 2017 the company began manufacturing marine chain, and in 2018 it began manufacturing Ni-resist. In 2021 Kawakin Holdings carried out a management buyout (MBO) and became privately held. In 2022 a new plant at the Koriyama works began operation. As of June 2025 the company reported 89 employees and capital of 10 million yen, with its head office in Miyamachi, Kawaguchi, and production and sales sites in Kawaguchi and Koriyama. Its representative director and president is Shinkichi Suzuki. The company holds ISO 9001:2015 certification and approvals from numerous classification societies, and continues to position itself as an engineering-solution group serving industries in Japan and worldwide.
- 2022
New plant at Koriyama works begins operation.
- 2021
Kawakin Holdings carries out MBO and becomes privately held.
- 2018
Begins manufacturing Ni-resist.
- 2017
Begins manufacturing marine chain.
- 2009
Kawaguchi Metal Industries re-established as successor company for the casting business.
- 2008
Group holding company Kawakin Holdings Co., Ltd. established.
- 2007
Consolidates head office finishing plant into former cast steel plant; moves machining plant to former bearing assembly plant.
- 1993
Integrates cast steel plant into cast iron plant; begins cast steel and cast iron production on the same line.
- 1990
Abolishes green sand and CO2 moulding; switches entirely to the alkaline phenol process.
- 1988
Begins trial introduction of the alkaline phenol process.
Products and positioning
High-grade shape-material manufacturer and engineering-solution group supplying world-class quality custom castings and safety-critical components, backed by ISO 9001 and multiple classification-society approvals.
Flake graphite cast iron (FC200–FC350)
Excellent machinability and fluidity, suitable for complex shapes; used for machine tool beds and columns due to damping capacity.
Ductile cast iron (FCD400–700)
Spheroidal graphite provides ductility and strength comparable to steel; used in construction machinery, injection moulding machines, compressors and more.
Ni-resist (austenitic) cast iron (D-2, D-3, D-5 etc.)
Nickel-rich cast iron retaining machinability and damping while adding heat, corrosion and low-expansion resistance; used in pumps and high-precision parts.
High-silicon cast iron
Alloy with silicon and molybdenum for improved heat resistance; good for high-temperature exhaust environments such as turbochargers.
CV (compact vermicular) graphite cast iron
Combines high castability and strength; thermal conductivity and damping close to flake graphite iron, strength close to ductile iron; used in engine parts.
Weldable structural cast steel (SCW410–620)
Optimal weldability for welded structures; used in general industrial machinery, marine and building structural parts.
Low-alloy cast steel (SCMn*)
Alloy-added cast steel for high-strength, wear-resistant machinery parts requiring toughness.
High-temperature, high-pressure cast steel (SCPH*)
Used for valves requiring pressure resistance at high temperatures; strict impurity limits; company produces carbon steel SCPH1 and SCPH2.
Low-temperature, high-pressure cast steel (SCPL1)
For pressure-resistant applications below 0°C; impact tested at -45°C and -60°C; strict impurity limits.
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