Tsubaki’s Corporate Philosophy
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.
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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.
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.
automobile plants
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.
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.
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.
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.
Supporting “Motion” in a New Era
Tsubakimoto Chain accelerated its efforts to take on the challenges of “Motion” in new areas, including agribusiness, power systems, IoT-enabled products, and products for the electrification of automobiles.
100th Anniversary
The Tsubaki Group established its new corporate philosophy, TSUBAKI SPIRIT, renewing its commitment as a manufacturing company and strengthening group capabilities for the next 100 years.
Accelerating New Business Development
The Tsubaki Group formulated its Long-Term Vision 2030, accelerating the development of new products and businesses to help address social issues.
Fukui-Mihama Plant, with a maximum production capacity of 2.2 tons per day
Expansion to a Six-Plant Production System
Tsubakimoto Chain completed the Fukui Mihama Plant in Mihama, Fukui Prefecture, launching production of safe and reliable factory-grown vegetables (commercial-use lettuce) at a next-generation artificial-light plant factory.
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Challenge New Fields under
Tsubaki’s Three Main Businesses
From components to systems, Tsubaki provides a wide range of products that contribute to solving social issues in the field of “Motion.”
timing chain 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 (Sustainable 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 111 companies in 28 countries and regions
* As of March 31, 2026
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 (Sustainable 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 111 companies in 28 countries * As of March 31, 2026
Tsubaki by the Numbers
* Data taken from FY 2024 results.
Sales by Business Segment
No. of Overseas Bases
111 companies in
28 countries and regions
* As of March 31, 2026
Total No. of Employees
11,000
* As of March 31, 2026
Overseas Sales Ratio
65%
Overseas Employee Ratio
51%
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 as a Global Leader
* Data based on in-house research
Top global market share
Tsubaki claims the world’s largest share of industrial steel chains and automobile timing chains.
Tsubaki also boasts one of the highest global shares in original equipment chains for motorcycles.
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
World’s smallest chain
World’s largest chain
Tsubaki’s smallest chain has a pitch of just 1.905mm—the smallest in the world at about the size of an ant.
These chains are often used for end effectors and medical equipments.
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
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
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
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
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.
