SMC: Trusted General Manufacturer of Automatic Control Equipment

Industries Served

SMC's products are vital in factory production line manufacturing and assembly processes, automatic inspection equipment for medical and semiconductor manufacturing, as well as IT, robot, and AI solutions.

Key industries include:

• Machine tool
• Agriculture
• Automotive
• Medical/Nursing care
• Electronics
• Semiconductor
• Food

Market Position

SMC holds a significant market share both domestically and internationally.

• Japan market share: 65%
• Global market share: 38%

Pneumatic control technologies are increasingly used across diverse industrial fields beyond traditional sectors like energy, automotive, electronics, and machinery, supporting high-tech applications, industrial robots, and smart factories.

Complete Lineup of Pneumatic Control Systems

As a general supplier, SMC offers a complete system of products suitable for a variety of applications, with 12,000 basic models and 700,000 variations.

Air Preparation Equipment

Components for generating clean air through dehumidification and filtration.

• Air Preparation Filters
• Air Dryers

Air Line Equipment

Components for removing foreign particles, controlling pressure, and supplying lubrication.

• Air Filters
• Regulators
• Lubricators
• Fittings
• Tubing

Directional Control Valves

Components controlling air cylinders and actuators by switching compressed air flow.

• Solenoid Valves

Actuators

Components using compressed air to create linear, rotary, or gripping force.

• Air Cylinders
• Rotary Actuators
• Air Grippers

SMC Products in Peripheral Markets

SMC continually expands its product lineup to cover peripheral markets, developing products for unique requirements and new market demands.

• Detection Switches: Monitor fluids for pressure and flow control (Pressure Switches, Flow Switches).
• Temperature Control Equipment: Provide precise temperature control (Thermo Controllers, Thermo Chillers).
• Electric Actuators: Offer highly accurate multipoint positioning and shockless transport using controllers and electric motors.
• Vacuum Equipment: Generate vacuum for workpiece adsorption and transfer (Vacuum Ejectors, Vacuum Pads).
• Process Valves: Switch flow of various fluids (2-Port Valves, Chemical Liquid Valves, High Vacuum Valves).
• Static Neutralization Equipment: Prevent product damage from static electricity (Ionizers, Electrostatic Sensors).

Environmental Initiatives and Product Performance

SMC prioritizes sustainability and CO2 reduction, developing compact, lightweight, and energy-efficient products.

Eco-Friendly Product Examples:

• Impact Blow Gun: 87% reduction in air consumption.
• Pulse Blow Valve: 50% reduction in air consumption.
• Vacuum Unit: 93% reduction in air consumption.

SMC also focuses on reducing raw materials and improving manufacturing processes for energy saving and waste reduction.

CO2 Emission Reduction:

The document shows a trend of CO2 emission reduction in manufacturing processes from 2001 to 2019, with emission intensity decreasing significantly compared to a 1998 baseline.

CO2 Emission Reduction Resulting from Design Changes:

Examples like the JCM Series and CD85E25-50-B show reductions in CO2 emissions attributed to material, machining, and surface treatment.

CO2 Emission Reduction for Wireless Systems:

A comparison shows a significant reduction in CO2 emissions for wireless systems compared to wired systems, with material differences like PUR, PP, PE, PVC, and Copper highlighted.

Technical Development and Innovation

Pneumatic control is evolving with integration into IT, life sciences, and environmental responsiveness. SMC invests heavily in R&D to improve performance, quality, and durability, focusing on high-performance, multi-functionality, miniaturization, and new materials.

SMC employs approximately 1,600 specialists across various fields, supported by numerous facilities including:

• Precision Measurement Room
• Design Room
• Temperature Control Testing Room
• Laboratory
• Life Testing Room
• Trial Production Room
• Environmental Test Rooms
• Clean Room

Products are developed considering international standards for worldwide application.

Global Engineering Network

SMC operates a powerful global engineering network with technical centers in the U.S. (UTC), Europe (ETC - UK, GTC - Germany), and China (CTC), with Japan (JTC) as the nucleus.

These centers provide speedy solutions, technical support, product development, and customized solutions, maintaining high service quality and BCP support.

• Japan Technical Center (JTC): 1,200 employees
• U.S. Technical Center (UTC): 130 employees
• European Technical Centre (ETC): 80 employees
• German Technical Centre (GTC): 90 employees
• China Technical Center (CTC): 90 employees

The network facilitates close communication, sophisticated technical services, and stable product supply.

Unique Production System and Global Supply

SMC utilizes an integrated production system encompassing casting, machining, surface treatment, coating, assembly, and inspection, performed in SMC's factories to ensure high-quality, reasonably-priced products with short lead times.

This system includes processes like:

• Dies
• Plastics Molding
• Casting
• Forging
• Machining (NC Machinery Line)
• Electronic Parts (Coil Winding, Electronic Substrate Mounting)
• Assembly (Automatic Assembly)
• Inspection (Automatic Inspection)

SMC operates six domestic production facilities in Japan and overseas facilities in China, Singapore, India, Vietnam, and the Czech Republic. A global distribution network with numerous distribution centers ensures stable and continuous supply worldwide, supported by robust Business Continuity Plans (BCP).

Extensive Sales Network

SMC emphasizes one-to-one communication and customer needs assessment through its sales force of 1,200 in Japan and 7,500 internationally.

The network includes:

• 54 branch offices and 94 distributors with 597 offices in Japan.
• Sales presence in 83 countries and regions worldwide, with 532 locations established.

SMC utilizes showrooms, seminars, exhibitions, and online resources (website, CAD data, model selection software) to promote information exchange and build strong customer relationships.

Partnership Program: SMC offers dedicated services including Corporate Account Management, local factory support, design engineering support, machine safety support, OEM supplier support, critical spare parts management, and various assessment programs (compressed air energy, machine analysis, storeroom) to improve efficiency and reduce costs.

SMC holds a 37% global market share and operates extensive service networks across the Americas, Europe, Africa, Asia, and Oceania.

Corporate History Highlights

Founded in 1959 as Shoketsu Kinzoku Kogyo Co., Ltd., SMC Corporation has grown into a global leader in automatic control equipment.

Key milestones include:

• 1959: Established in Tokyo, Japan.
• 1964: Started manufacture and sales of pneumatic air line equipment.
• 1968: Embarked on overseas operations (Australia).
• 1970: Started manufacture and sales of actuators.
• 1971: Started manufacture and sales of directional control equipment.
• 1986: Company name changed to SMC Corporation; stocks listed on Tokyo Stock Exchange.
• 1987: Moved Head Office to Minato-ku, Tokyo.
• 1998: Acquired ISO 9001 certification.
• 1999: Acquired ISO 14001 certification.
• 2001: Japan Technical Center completed.
• 2014: U.S. Technical Center established.
• 2018: China Technical Center established.

The company name "SMC" was adopted as the unified international brand name.

Quality and Environment Initiatives

SMC is committed to reliable product quality and conservation of the global environment, holding certifications for:

• ISO 9001: Quality Management System
• ISO 14001: Environmental Management System

Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR)

SMC prioritizes CSR, guided by the SMC Group Code of Conduct, to maintain trust with stakeholders.

Energy-Saving Measures: SMC's factory initiatives focus on product assessment, energy/resource conservation, chemical use reduction, and implementing the 5S methodology, dating back to ISO 14001 introduction in 1998.

SMC strongly supports the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), focusing on climate change prevention, safe working environments, human resource development, and social contribution activities.

International Standard Certifications: SMC products comply with various international standards including CE Marking, UKCA Marking, EU F-Gas Regulation, ATEX Directive, RoHS, UL/cUL Standards, CRN, CSA Standards, and CCC (China).

Corporate Summary

Company Name: SMC Corporation

Head Office: Akihabara UDX 15F, 4-14-1 Sotokanda, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo 101-0021, Japan

Phone: +81(0)3-5207-8271

Fax: +81(0)3-5298-5361

Website: https://www.smcworld.com

Established: April 27, 1959

President: Yoshiki Takada

Purpose of Business: Manufacture, processing, and sales of automatic control equipment; manufacture and sales of sintered filters and filtration equipment.

Financials (as of March 2021):

• Outstanding shares: 67,369,359
• Capital stock: 61 billion yen
• Net sales (Consolidated): 552.1 billion yen
• Net income (Consolidated): 121.7 billion yen
• Number of employees (Consolidated): 20,619
• Equity ratio: 89.4%
• Rating: AA [R&I]

The document includes charts illustrating Net Sales, Net Income, and Number of Employees over several fiscal years.