IHI Machinery and Furnace Co., Ltd.
Corporate brand
UnclaimedIHI Machinery and Furnace Co., Ltd. is a Japanese manufacturer of vacuum heat treatment furnaces and new-material production equipment, operating as a wholly owned subsidiary of IHI Corporation.
Last updated September 26, 2026
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Overview
IHI Machinery and Furnace Co., Ltd. (株式会社IHI機械システム) is a Japanese industrial machinery company specializing in vacuum heat treatment furnaces, new-material production equipment, vacuum carburizing systems, pressure vessels, and heat treatment services. It is a wholly owned subsidiary of IHI Corporation, a major Japanese heavy industry group. The company is headquartered in the Toyosu IHI Building in Koto-ku, Tokyo, and as of April 2026 employs 242 people with capital of 480 million yen. Its roots trace back to 1937 (Showa 12), and its industrial furnace business began in 1964 when IHI imported Japan's first vacuum heat treatment furnace from the United States for aircraft engine component heat treatment. In 1973, IHI established a dedicated industrial furnace factory, Iwakuni Works, which later became the core of today's company. The current entity was formed in 2007 through the merger of Ishikawajima Industrial Machinery Co., Ltd. and Ishikawajima Iwakuni Works. It subsequently merged with Nippon Hayes Co., Ltd. in 2009 and Aimec Co., Ltd. in 2012. The company has delivered over 2,000 vacuum furnaces worldwide and holds the top domestic share in Japan for heat treatment furnaces for manufacturing and heat treatment industries. Its product lineup includes vacuum heat treatment furnaces, vacuum carburizing systems (ACT-VAC, V-MALS, VCCO), vacuum degreasing/washing machines, and remote monitoring systems such as Furnace Eye. The company operates service centers across Japan and opened a European branch in Germany in 2021. It participates in major international trade fairs including THERMOTEC, HK (Germany), and HEAT TREAT (USA).
History
The history of IHI Machinery and Furnace Co., Ltd. is deeply intertwined with the development of vacuum heat treatment technology in Japan. The origin of the business dates to 1964, when IHI imported Japan's first vacuum heat treatment furnace from the United States for the heat treatment of aircraft engine components. Recognizing the growing domestic demand, IHI subsequently entered a technical tie-up with a leading German vacuum furnace manufacturer of the time and began manufacturing and selling vacuum furnaces in Japan. In 1973, IHI established a dedicated industrial furnace factory, Iwakuni Works, as a joint venture with capital of 200 million yen (IHI 70%, Teijin 20%, Kure Kosan 10%). The company was initially named Iwakuni Works Co., Ltd. In 1976, capital was increased to 400 million yen. In 1988, the company began service operations for vacuum and new material furnaces. A new office was constructed in 1991. In 1997, the vacuum and new material furnace business was transferred from IHI, and the company was renamed Ishikawajima Iwakuni Works Co., Ltd. In 1999, IHI's industrial furnace technology division was transferred to the company. ISO 9001 certification was obtained in 2001. In 2002, the company became a wholly owned subsidiary of IHI. In 2005, cumulative orders for vacuum furnaces reached 1,000 units, and in 2006, cumulative production of vacuum and new material furnaces at the Iwakuni plant reached 1,000 units. Meanwhile, Nippon Hayes Co., Ltd. was established in 1974 based on a technical assistance agreement with C.I. Hayes Inc. of the United States. It moved its headquarters to Oguchi-cho, Niwa-gun, Aichi Prefecture in 1977. In 1981, the factory was expanded to develop continuous vacuum heat treatment equipment, and capital was increased to 30 million yen. The JH Heat Treatment Research Institute was opened in 1982. In 1986, the 200th vacuum heat treatment furnace was delivered to Minebea Co., Ltd. Capital was increased to 75 million yen in 1991. In 1993, vacuum washing machines were developed and sold. In 1996, the ACT-VAC vacuum carburizing system was developed. In 2001, the office building and factory were expanded. In 2002, Ishikawajima-Harima Heavy Industries Co., Ltd. (IHI) took an equity stake, making Nippon Hayes an IHI Group company. That same year, the HWB-V vacuum degreasing and washing machine and the V-MALS multi-chamber continuous vacuum carburizing system were developed and sold. ISO 9001:2000 certification was obtained in 2004. In 2006, the VCCO tunnel-type continuous vacuum carburizing system was developed and sold. In 2008, the headquarters and factory were relocated to Kakamigahara Techno Plaza in Gifu Prefecture. In 2007, Ishikawajima Industrial Machinery Co., Ltd. and Ishikawajima Iwakuni Works merged to form IHI Machinery and Furnace Co., Ltd. (株式会社IHI機械システム). In 2009, the company merged with Nippon Hayes Co., Ltd. In 2011, the headquarters was moved from Yokohama, Kanagawa Prefecture, to Minato-ku, Tokyo. In 2012, the company merged with Aimec Co., Ltd. In 2015, the headquarters was relocated from Minato-ku to Koto-ku, Tokyo. In 2016, the industrial machinery business of IHI Machinery and Furnace was integrated into IHI Logistics & Industrial Systems, and a Heat Treatment Technical Center was opened within the Kakamigahara Office. In 2019, a fifth service center was opened in Chita, Aichi Prefecture. In 2021, a European branch was established in Germany. As of April 2026, the company has 242 employees and capital of 480 million yen. It remains a wholly owned subsidiary of IHI Corporation and is a leading supplier of vacuum heat treatment furnaces, with over 2,000 units delivered worldwide and the top domestic share in Japan.
- 2022
Furnace Eye remote monitoring and control system for vacuum heat treatment equipment released.
- 2021
European branch established in Germany.
- 2019
Fifth service center opened in Chita, Aichi Prefecture.
- 2016
Industrial machinery business integrated into IHI Logistics & Industrial Systems; Heat Treatment Technical Center opened within Kakamigahara Office.
- 2015
Headquarters relocated from Minato-ku to Koto-ku, Tokyo.
- 2012
Merger with Aimec Co., Ltd.
- 2011
Headquarters moved from Yokohama, Kanagawa Prefecture, to Minato-ku, Tokyo.
- 2009
Merger with Nippon Hayes Co., Ltd.
- 2007
Ishikawajima Industrial Machinery Co., Ltd. and Ishikawajima Iwakuni Works merge to form IHI Machinery and Furnace Co., Ltd.
- 2006
Cumulative production of vacuum and new material furnaces at Iwakuni plant reaches 1,000 units.
Products and positioning
Leading Japanese manufacturer of vacuum heat treatment furnaces with over 2,000 units delivered worldwide and top domestic market share.
Vacuum heat treatment furnaces
Furnaces for heat treatment of metals and alloys under vacuum conditions, used in aerospace, automotive, and tooling industries.
ACT-VAC vacuum carburizing system
Vacuum carburizing equipment developed in 1996 for surface hardening of steel components.
V-MALS multi-chamber continuous vacuum carburizing system
Multi-chamber continuous vacuum carburizing system developed in 2002 for high-throughput production.
VCCO tunnel-type continuous vacuum carburizing system
Tunnel-type continuous vacuum carburizing system developed in 2006.
Furnace Eye
IoT remote monitoring and control system for vacuum heat treatment equipment, released in 2022, enabling operational status tracking, digitalization of documents, production management, and CO2 emission monitoring.
Pressure vessels
Industrial pressure vessels and other machinery.
Sources5 sources
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