Rigaku Significantly Expands Production Capacity to Meet Growing Demand in the Semiconductor Market
Rigaku Corporation, a globally recognized leader in X-ray analytical technologies and a core Group company of Rigaku Holdings Corporation (headquartered in Akishima, Tokyo, under the leadership of CEO Jun Kawakami), has announced a substantial expansion of its production capabilities for semiconductor process control instruments. This strategic growth is taking place at both Rigaku’s in-house manufacturing site in Takatsuki, Osaka Prefecture, and at a partner production facility located in Nirasaki, Yamanashi Prefecture. The partner site is identified as the sixth factory of Nippo Precision Co., Ltd.
The expansion comes at a critical time for the semiconductor industry, which is undergoing a rapid transformation driven by surging demand for high-performance chips used in artificial intelligence (AI), high-performance computing (HPC), and advanced mobile applications. As the adoption of AI and related technologies accelerates, the semiconductor manufacturing and inspection equipment sector is also experiencing substantial growth. This includes an increasing demand for precise process control tools capable of inspecting and measuring nanoscale structures with extreme accuracy.
Responding to Technological Complexity with Enhanced Capabilities
In today’s semiconductor landscape, the development of complex chip architectures—such as ultra-thin, multi-layer designs, 3D NAND memory, and 3D transistors like gate-all-around (GAA) structures—demands ever-higher levels of precision and control. Accurate measurement and evaluation of nanoscale physical and chemical features have become indispensable to ensure quality, yield, and performance.
Rigaku has responded decisively to this shift. By doubling the floor space dedicated to assembly and inspection processes across its facilities, the company has set the stage for significant production gains. In particular, the newly completed production facility in Yamanashi Prefecture is poised to increase the output of critical semiconductor equipment components, including proprietary X-ray generators and detectors. These components form the backbone of Rigaku’s advanced metrology systems, which are used for in-line process control and defect detection in leading-edge semiconductor fabs.
The increased capacity is not only a response to immediate market demands but part of a broader vision. Rigaku anticipates that this expansion will lead to a 50% increase in the number of semiconductor process control units produced in the fourth quarter of fiscal year 2025, compared to the same period in FY2024. Furthermore, the company has outlined a roadmap to further enhance capacity by another 50% by the year 2027, underscoring its commitment to supporting the industry’s long-term growth trajectory.
Sales Growth Aligned with Strategic Production Scaling
This production expansion aligns closely with Rigaku’s financial and operational goals. By dramatically enhancing its manufacturing throughput, the company is positioning itself to achieve a significant rise in sales. Specifically, Rigaku projects a 20% year-over-year increase in sales of semiconductor process control equipment for the full fiscal year ending March 2026. The fourth quarter is expected to play a pivotal role in meeting this target, as the bulk of new capacity comes online and begins contributing to revenue generation.
The company’s approach is not merely about volume. With an emphasis on quality, repeatability, and reliability, Rigaku’s tools are known for their precision in evaluating the shape, thickness, and composition of advanced semiconductor structures. These attributes are critical to the success of next-generation chips that require extremely tight process tolerances.
Strategic Remarks from Leadership
Markus Kuhn, General Manager of Rigaku’s Semiconductor Metrology Division, commented on the importance of this expansion in the context of the company’s global business strategy:
“This reinforcement of our production framework marks an important milestone for Rigaku’s global strategy. Our technology is responding to industry needs for high-precision, nanoscale shape, thickness, and composition evaluation, required for next-generation devices such as 3D-NAND and GAA transistors. The reliability and reproducibility of our platforms earn high respect internationally. By expanding our production capacity, we can dramatically improve our on-time delivery capability, strengthening our seamless support systems from development to production. Rigaku will continue to support customers’ leading-edge process development in terms of both technical innovation and supply infrastructure, further buttressing our competitive edge in the global market.”
Kuhn’s remarks underscore Rigaku’s dual focus on innovation and customer satisfaction. The ability to deliver tools on time while maintaining performance excellence is becoming increasingly critical in a supply-constrained global environment. With the semiconductor sector continuing to face challenges related to logistics, labor shortages, and geopolitical shifts, Rigaku’s investment in domestic production capacity stands out as both strategic and timely.
Strategic Significance of the Yamanashi Plant Expansion
The production ramp-up at Nippo Precision’s sixth plant in Yamanashi Prefecture is especially noteworthy. As highlighted in a previous press release published on May 28, 2025, Rigaku completed a new building at the Yamanashi site, which resulted in a dramatic 2.7-fold increase in floor space. This facility plays a central role in fulfilling international demand for critical components and instruments.
By concentrating production of core systems—such as X-ray generators and detectors—in one highly optimized facility, Rigaku can streamline its supply chain, reduce lead times, and improve the consistency of its manufacturing processes. Additionally, this centralized capability enhances flexibility, enabling Rigaku to respond more dynamically to customer requirements and shifts in industry demand.
Driving Forward with a Long-Term Vision
Rigaku’s expanded production infrastructure is a tangible representation of the company’s long-term vision. With over seven decades of experience in materials analysis and scientific instrumentation, the company has steadily evolved to become a trusted technology partner in semiconductor manufacturing. The latest developments reaffirm Rigaku’s dedication to supporting innovation across the semiconductor value chain, from R&D labs to high-volume production lines.
As semiconductor devices become more complex and the margin for error continues to shrink, Rigaku’s measurement and metrology tools are expected to play an increasingly vital role. From ensuring layer thickness accuracy in EUV lithography processes to analyzing strain and defects in 3D structures, Rigaku’s solutions are already embedded in many of the world’s most advanced fabs.
Rigaku’s expansion in Osaka and Yamanashi is more than just a production boost—it is a strategic commitment to global leadership in semiconductor process control. By scaling up to meet the needs of chipmakers tackling the next generation of computing, memory, and communication technologies, Rigaku reinforces its value proposition as a trusted partner for precision, performance, and progress.
As demand for semiconductors continues to grow in tandem with advancements in AI, automotive technology, cloud computing, and the Internet of Things (IoT), companies across the supply chain must adapt. Rigaku’s investment in domestic manufacturing capacity ensures it will remain at the forefront of this transformation, ready to meet both today’s challenges and tomorrow’s opportunities.
About the Rigaku Group
Since its establishment in 1951, the engineering professionals of the Rigaku group have been dedicated to benefiting society with leading-edge technologies, notably including its core fields of X-ray and thermal analysis. With a market presence in over 90 countries and some 2,000 employees from 9 global operations, Rigaku is a solution partner in industry and research analysis institutes. Our overseas sales ratio has reached approximately 70% while sustaining an exceptionally high market share in Japan. Together with our customers, we continue to develop and grow. As applications expand from semiconductors, electronic materials, batteries, environment, resources, energy, life science to other high-tech fields, Rigaku realizes innovations “To Improve Our World by Powering New Perspectives.”
