Nippon Thompson Co., LTD, parent company of IKO International, announces it has opened two new R&D centers. The new facilities, located in Santa Fe Springs, California and Düsseldorf, Germany, began operation on July 1, 2026 and follow last year’s opening of a new R&D center in China.
Engineers at IKO’s R&D Center America and R&D Center Europe will capture local trends in the U.S. and European markets and work to develop market-competitive linear, rotary and mechatronic motion products and technologies tailored to the respective demands.
“Our new R&D centers will play an important role in meeting and exceeding customer expectations in the U.S. and Europe,” said Ken Takamiya at IKO. “As customer requirements quickly evolve with respect to technology, efficiency and throughput, we’re establishing an ideal environment to provide customers with best-fit solutions and deliver locally rooted manufacturing on a global scale.”
Initiatives for the R&D centers include:
- Provide enhanced technical support.
- Support early-stage concepts for development and improvements.
- Accelerate market research and development planning while emphasizing IKO’s core strengths.
- Strengthen IKO’s global operating structure.
- Collaborate with IKO’s main Product Development Center in Japan.
These new R&D centers will ensure IKO upholds its position at the forefront of motion technology and continues its long legacy of Innovation, Know-how and Originality.
For more information, please visit www.ikont.com.