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SK Fine

HardwareKusatsu, JapanFounded 2018· One of 1708 Hardware companies tracked by AMPulse

High-precision ceramic stereolithography 3D printer manufacturer enabling complex ceramic structures impossible with conventional manufacturing methods.

CEO / Founder
Tadakatsu Asano
Team Size
11-50
Stage
Active
Total Funding
$433K
Latest Round
Seed
Key Investors
SHASHIN KAGAKU Co., Ltd. (Parent company - 100% ownership), Osaka University Venture Capital Co., Ltd. (Early-stage funding partner)

Technology & Products

Key Products

["SZ-1100: High-definition laser-type for R&D (15μm laser spot, 100×100×50mm build volume)","SZ-2500: Medium-size productivity model (50-300μm variable laser spot, 250×250×250mm build volume)","SZ-800: Standard DLP model for R&D (365nm/405nm wavelength, 80×55×50mm build volume)","SZ-6000: Mass-production DLP multiscan system (21.6μm resolution, 660×600×300mm build volume, 10x faster exposure)","3D Printed Ceramic Parts Manufacturing Service","R&D Support and Joint Development Programs","Kakuhunter Planetary Centrifugal Mixer for slurry preparation"]

Technological Advantage

Leverages 90+ years of parent company SHASHIN KAGAKU's materials formulation expertise (classification, agitation, and molding since 1934). Offers both laser and DLP technologies with largest ceramic build volume in the market (660×600×300mm for SZ-6000). DLP multiscan method achieves 10x faster exposure than conventional models while maintaining precision. Integrated workflow from slurry preparation (Kakuhunter mixer) to sintering.

Differentiation

Value Proposition

Enables production of complex ceramic geometries with superior surface finish and dimensional accuracy using proprietary stereolithography technology combined with 90+ years of materials formulation expertise from parent company.

How They Differentiate

Leverages 90+ years of parent company SHASHIN KAGAKU's materials formulation expertise (classification, agitation, and molding since 1934) combined with proprietary ultra-high-precision stereolithography technology. Offers largest ceramic build volume in market (660×600×300mm for SZ-6000) and DLP multiscan method achieving 10x faster exposure than conventional models while maintaining 21.6μm drawing spot size and 0.9μm control pitch precision.

Market & Competition

Target Customers

Industrial manufacturers, R&D laboratories, aerospace companies, medical device manufacturers, and electronics companies requiring high-precision ceramic components

Industry Verticals

["Electronics (ceramic capacitors, LTCC, optical communication parts)","Medical Equipment and Devices","Aerospace and Defense","Thermal Management and Heat Dissipation Systems","Environmental Systems","Automotive Components","Industrial Manufacturing"]

Competitors

Lithoz GmbH (Austria); 3DCeram Sinto (France); Admatec BV (Netherlands - Nano Dimension)

Growth & Milestones

Growth Metrics

Commercial production stage with international market expansion; transferred overseas business operations to parent company for enhanced global reach; participated in major international exhibitions (Formnext SOUTH CHINA 2024, RAPID+TCT USA 2024, Ceramitec 2024); established distribution partnerships in North America

Major Milestones

["Established as wholly-owned subsidiary of SHASHIN KAGAKU on October 17, 2018","Launched SZ series ceramic stereolithography 3D printers with multiple models","Developed SZ-6000 with largest ceramic build volume in market (660×600×300mm)","Achieved 10x faster exposure time through proprietary DLP multiscan method","International exhibition expansion: Formnext SOUTH CHINA 2024, RAPID+TCT USA 2024, Ceramitec 2024","Established North American distribution partnership with Denkei Corporation Americas","Transferred overseas business operations to parent company SHASHIN KAGAKU effective January 1, 2025"]

Notable Customers

Industrial manufacturers (electronics, aerospace, medical device sectors); R&D laboratories requiring high-precision ceramic components; Electronics companies (ceramic capacitors, LTCC, optical communication parts)

https://www.sk-fine.co.jp/en/

Why this company matters

SK Fine produces high-precision ceramic stereolithography 3D printers for industrial applications, combining proprietary VPP technology with materials expertise from its parent company, SHASHIN KAGAKU, which has formulated ceramics since 1934. The company positions itself between established global leaders like Lithoz and regional specialists, offering an integrated workflow from slurry preparation to sintering.

The product line includes both laser and DLP systems. The SZ-6000, a DLP multiscan model, achieves a 21.6 μm drawing spot size and a 660×600×300 mm build volume — the largest in the ceramic AM market — while delivering 10x faster exposure than conventional DLP printers. Smaller models such as the SZ-1100 (15 μm laser spot) and SZ-800 (365/405 nm DLP) serve R&D and prototyping roles. SK Fine also sells the Kakuhunter planetary centrifugal mixer for slurry preparation and offers a ceramic parts manufacturing service.

Target customers include electronics manufacturers producing ceramic capacitors, LTCC substrates, and optical communication parts, as well as medical device, aerospace, and automotive firms needing complex ceramic geometries unachievable via injection molding or extrusion. The company has established a North American distribution partnership with Denkei Corporation Americas and exhibited at Formnext South China, RAPID+TCT, and Ceramitec. As of January 2025, overseas business operations were transferred to parent company SHASHIN KAGAKU to support global reach.

SK Fine's competitive moat rests on its parent's 90+ years of materials science and its proprietary DLP multiscan method, which balances speed and precision at scale. A key open question is whether the company can gain traction against Lithoz's established brand and Nano Dimension's Admatec subsidiary, particularly outside Japan, given its small team and limited disclosed funding of ¥65 million.