Corporate
Profile

[Company strength]
As an agricultural machine manufacturer founded in 1945, we have made various machines especially for farmers in the Tokachi Region in Hokkaido. Our main product is the world’s first fully automatic potato-cutting planter. Even though our sales have not grown significantly, our stable sales is evidence of the deep trust of our customers and constant orders from them. With Nichinoki Seiko Co., Ltd. as our sole sales agent, we can concentrate on manufacturing and technological innovation, which are our strength.

[Business description]
Our main product is the world’s first automatic potato-cutting planter, a fully automatic machine which cuts a seed potato into two, plants it in the field and covers it with soil. We supply the product not only to potato farmers in the Tokachi region, a major potato growing area, but also throughout Hokkaido. There were similar machines without a cutting function, so farmers had to cut the seed potatoes by themselves. Our innovative machine saves this tedious work. We also sell “Beat Tapper.” The market shares of the automatic potato-cutting planter and Beat Tapper are over 85% and 70%, respectively.

[Industry]
Agricultural machine manufacturing

[Strength of products/technologies]
Typical automatic potato-planting machines marketed worldwide plant a whole seed potato. Our fully automatic potato-cutting planter is the first of its type that can cut a seed potato into half and plant them, halving the number of potatoes required and manual work for farmers. Simplifying the complex planting process and saving time are advantages of our planter. This unique product is the result of our rapid R&D efforts that competitors cannot do by looking at our machine.



[Representative's message]
Based on our local-oriented business strategy of satisfying farmers’ demands in the region and our corporate philosophy of establishing win-win relationships with local farmers and agriculture itself, we named our company “Tokachi” with the slogan of “Working for precious people and the agricultural environment,” for the prosperity of the Tokachi region. We also hope to contribute to the region’s growth by assisting local farmers. While maintaining this local-oriented strategy, we hope to expand our business to meet needs throughout Japan and overseas in the future.



[Company structure for market development/overseas expansion]
Although we have not been actively developing new markets, it is likely that farmers outside of Hokkaido will have to increase their business scale and machines if the TPP (Trans-Pacific Strategic Economic Partnership Agreement) comes into force. Our current manufacturing status does not allow us to meet a sudden increase in demand, but we would like to do so when we are ready.

[Market share/Ranking]
Our fully automatic potato-cutting planter has an 85% share in Hokkaido. We also supply a simpler planter with more than a 50% share in the area. Our “Beat Tapper” has a share of over 70%.



[Awards and media coverage]
[Award]
Beat Tapper won the “Invention Encouragement Award” of the Hokkaido Branch of Japan Institute of Invention and Innovation.

[Media]
Hokkaido Shimbun newspaper



[Joint research and development]
We have been involved in a joint development project for products and farm produce with Hokkaido Agricultural Experiment Station and Hokkaido Agricultural Research Center.

[Main Clients / Business History (domestic)]
Our products provided in Hokkaido Prefecture are supplied by Nichinoki Seiko Co., Ltd., a group corporation under the Nichino Group, fully owned by Air Water Inc. As a supplier for farmers, we have never supplied products to a major corporation.

[Main Clients / Business History (overseas)]
Overseas, we have supplied 20 machines to China through a Chinese trading company.