NABCO
NABCO is a Japanese automatic door brand, formerly an independent auto-gate company and now part of Nabtesco Corporation.
Last updated September 29, 2026
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Overview
NABCO is a Japanese brand specialising in automatic doors, door engines, sensors and related entrance systems. Its roots go back to the 1950s, when Japanese industry began developing domestically produced automatic door technology. In 1956 an air-pressure automatic door engine for swing doors was exhibited at the Osaka Trade Fair, and a domestically produced architectural air-pressure automatic door was installed at the west entrance of Nippon Air Brake Co., Ltd. In 1957 Osaka Door Engine Co., Ltd. (now Nabco Door Co., Ltd.) and Tokyo Door Engine Co., Ltd. (now Nabco System Co., Ltd.) were founded, marking the organisational beginning of the NABCO business. Through the 1960s and 1970s NABCO expanded its product range from air-pressure and hydraulic door engines to microprocessor-controlled systems, and supplied automatic doors to major infrastructure projects including the Japan Airlines Boeing 747 hangar, Expo '70 in Osaka, and Narita Airport. In the 1980s the company introduced products such as the Wide Open Door, the Loss Ca Door (an industry-first Good Design award winner), the Mini Fold and the Mini Glide, and launched airtight and sound-insulating doors. The 1990s brought the DS series of direct-current door engines, the one-millionth cumulative automatic door production milestone, the acquisition of the American automatic door maker LANSON Group (now NABCO Entrances, Inc.), and the establishment of a Chinese joint venture, Zhongjian Nabco Automatic Door Co., Ltd. In 2004 Teijin Seiki Co., Ltd. and Nabco Co., Ltd. integrated their management to form Nabtesco Corporation. NABCO thus became a brand within the Nabtesco group rather than an independent company. Under Nabtesco, NABCO has continued to develop automatic door products and services, including the NATRUS standard sliding automatic door, the NATRUS +e W sensor with image-sensor technology, fire doors, signage displays for automatic doors, and IoT-based maintenance services. The brand positions itself around safety, comfort and durability, and promotes compliance with Japanese Industrial Standards JIS A 4722 and JIS A 4723 for automatic door safety and performance. Today NABCO automatic doors are used in hospitals, transport facilities, commercial complexes, office buildings, hotels and factories. The brand also engages in CSR and safety education activities, such as the NABCO Automatic Door Safety Class for children, and supports disaster recovery efforts. Its brand vision is to create the "anyone door" of the future, extending safety, security and comfort to all who pass through and around doors.
History
NABCO's history begins in the 1950s with the development of Japan's first domestically produced automatic door engine. In 1956 an air-pressure automatic door engine for swing doors was exhibited at the Osaka Trade Fair, and a domestically produced architectural air-pressure automatic door was installed at the west entrance of Nippon Air Brake Co., Ltd. In 1957 Osaka Door Engine Co., Ltd. (now Nabco Door Co., Ltd.) and Tokyo Door Engine Co., Ltd. (now Nabco System Co., Ltd.) were founded, and Nishida Sangyo Co., Ltd. (now Orient Co., Ltd.) began handling automatic doors. In 1960 the company launched the DP-40D air-pressure sliding automatic door engine. In 1961 it began exporting automatic door engines overseas for the first time, to Hong Kong. In 1963 the Mini Super small hydraulic automatic door engine was released, and in 1967 exports to Southeast Asia and Australia became active. In 1968 the LS series hydraulic automatic door engine went on sale and automatic door stickers came into use. During the 1970s NABCO supplied automatic doors to major projects: in 1970 it delivered doors for the Japan Airlines Boeing 747 jumbo jet hangar and supplied 88 automatic doors to Expo '70 in Osaka. In 1972 the LS-23 hydraulic automatic door engine was released, and in 1973 319 automatic doors were delivered to Narita Airport. In 1977 the company began a nationwide sales promotion campaign. In the 1980s NABCO continued to innovate. In 1981 it delivered 84 platform doors to the Kobe Port Liner new transit system, described as Japan's first platform doors. In 1982 the DX-25 microcomputer-controlled automatic door engine was released. In 1983 the Wide Open Door was launched. In 1986 the Loss Ca Door was released and became the industry's first product to be selected for the Good Design Award. The ES series of microcomputer-controlled automatic door engines was released in 1986. In 1988 the Mini Fold was launched and received the Good Design Award, followed in 1989 by the Mini Glide, also a Good Design Award winner. Also in 1989, the NAT airtight and sound-insulating door was released, along with the NH-30 Pulsarche microcomputer-controlled reflective sensor. In the 1990s NABCO introduced the DS series of direct-current small automatic door engines in 1990. In 1992 Nippon Air Brake Co., Ltd. changed its name to Nabco Co., Ltd., and 420 automatic doors were delivered to Narita Airport's Terminal 2 building. The company acquired the American automatic door maker LANSON Group (now NABCO Entrances, Inc.). In 1995 a Chinese joint venture, Zhongjian Nabco Automatic Door Co., Ltd., was established. In 1997 the new DS series automatic door engine with a direct-current brushless motor was released, LANSON in the United States changed its name to NABCO Entrances, Inc., and a showroom opened at the Konan factory. In 1999 cumulative automatic door production reached one million units. In the 2000s, Nabco Automatic Door (Beijing) Co., Ltd. was established in 2005. In 2004 Teijin Seiki Co., Ltd. and Nabco Co., Ltd. integrated their management to establish Nabtesco Corporation. In that same year, 13 automatic doors were delivered to the Museum of Modern Art (MoMA) in New York. In 2006 the company continued its activities, including the establishment of Nabco Automatic Door (Beijing) Co., Ltd. in 2005. Under Nabtesco, NABCO has continued to develop new products and services. The NATRUS standard sliding automatic door is promoted as a future-standard automatic door with excellent safety, comfort and durability. The NATRUS +e W sensor uses an image sensor to achieve a detection area approximately four times wider than conventional sensors, reducing unnecessary door openings and providing comfortable passage according to user movement. NABCO also offers fire doors, signage displays for automatic doors, IoT-based maintenance services that visualise operating status, and an automatic door advertising distribution service for universities. The brand actively promotes compliance with Japanese Industrial Standards JIS A 4722 (safety of automatic doors) and JIS A 4723 (performance of driving and detection devices), and notes that in 2022 requirements for barrier-free toilet automatic doors were added to JIS A 4722. NABCO continues CSR activities such as the NABCO Automatic Door Safety Class for children and support for disaster-affected areas.
- 2022
Requirements for barrier-free toilet automatic doors were added to JIS A 4722.
- 2005
Established Nabco Automatic Door (Beijing) Co., Ltd.
- 2004
Teijin Seiki Co., Ltd. and Nabco Co., Ltd. integrated their management to establish Nabtesco Corporation; delivered 13 automatic doors to the Museum of Modern Art (MoMA) in New York.
- 1999
Cumulative automatic door production reached one million units.
- 1997
Released the new DS series automatic door engine with a direct-current brushless motor; LANSON in the United States changed its name to NABCO Entrances, Inc.; opened a showroom at the Konan factory.
- 1995
Established the Chinese joint venture Zhongjian Nabco Automatic Door Co., Ltd.
- 1992
Nippon Air Brake Co., Ltd. changed its name to Nabco Co., Ltd.; delivered 420 automatic doors to Narita Airport Terminal 2; acquired the American automatic door maker LANSON Group (now NABCO Entrances, Inc.).
- 1990
Released the DS series direct-current small automatic door engine.
- 1989
Launched the Mini Glide, which received the Good Design Award; released the NAT airtight and sound-insulating door and the NH-30 Pulsarche microcomputer-controlled reflective sensor.
- 1988
Launched the Mini Fold, which received the Good Design Award.
Products and positioning
Safety, comfort and durability in automatic door systems; compliance with JIS standards; creating the future 'anyone door'.
NATRUS standard sliding automatic door
A future-standard automatic door with excellent safety, comfort and durability.
NATRUS +e W new sensor
Uses an image sensor to achieve a detection area approximately four times wider than conventional sensors, reducing unnecessary door openings and providing comfortable passage according to user movement.
NABCO fire doors
A rich lineup that prioritises safety while pursuing original spatial design.
Automatic door signage display
Turns NABCO automatic doors into new information media for passers-by.
Automatic door maintenance service with IoT
Visualises operating status for greater peace of mind, taking maintenance services a step further with IoT.
Automatic door advertising distribution service for universities
Uses NABCO automatic door digital signage as an advertising medium for university students.
Sources6 sources
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