No Leaks, No Limits: How Sanwa Hydrotech Powers the Net-Zero Future

Newsweek

09-05-2025

A Newsweek Web Interview with Kiyotaka Horiuchi, president and CEO of Sanwa Hydrotech Corporation, Japan. Sanwa Pump leak-free pumps special introduction. Credit: Courtesy of Sanwa Hydrotech. Nine Decades of Expertise: The Culmination of Engineering Excellence in Stainless Steel Magnetic Drive Pump Technology
Q: Your company was founded in 1934 and now specializes in the manufacturing, sales and distribution of stainless steel magnetic drive pumps. Your products are designed for industries requiring leak-free, safe environments and are trusted across various sectors, including electronics, semiconductors, pharmaceuticals, and food processing. In the current global manufacturing landscape, while companies face supply chain bottlenecks and rising raw material costs, Japanese firms with unique strengths are attracting worldwide attention as cost-effective options, partly due to the weakening yen. As a recognized industry leader with numerous strengths, what business strategies are you pursuing amid these global transformations?
Horiuchi: Last year, we were fortunate to celebrate our 90th anniversary. Regarding our business strategy, I'd like to explain it systematically to your readers. First, why are our products superior? Though I may sound biased, our products have exceptionally high potential value. Our seal-less pumps operate on the fundamental premise that they "absolutely must not leak"—this is a given. However, what's truly significant, though often less visible, is the remarkable excellence of Sanwa products in terms of design, materials and functionality. We've received abundant feedback from various industries noting: "Our productivity unexpectedly improved." This is where our 90 years of know-how and dedication shine through. Given our limited time, I'll focus specifically on how we've become an indispensable partner across the chemical, foods, automotive, equipment manufacturing and semiconductor industries.
From a strategic perspective, as these product capabilities have steadily permeated the market and customers have recognized Sanwa's quality, our business has grown substantially. As you mentioned, the fortunate trend of a weakening yen has created favorable conditions for international trade. This represents a significant opportunity for our company. Safety and Simplicity: Chemical Industry Praises Risk Prevention and Maintenance Ease
Indeed. While it's difficult to succinctly express your unique strengths, explaining them clearly as you suggest will make it easier for readers to understand. So, in the chemical industry, one of the key sectors you serve, what specific evaluations have you received regarding overcoming field challenges?
In the chemical industry, compared to other sectors, there are overwhelmingly more instances of handling hazardous liquids, and fluid leakage from pumps is absolutely to be avoided. When leakage occurs, field workers can suffer chemical burns, and such accidents have been reported. With substances like nitric acid, leaks have even caused explosions.
Furthermore, while labor shortages have become serious across all industries recently, the chemical industry particularly faces declining numbers of skilled workers. Therefore, ensuring equipment requires minimal maintenance and can be easily maintained by in-house staff has become extremely important.
Our magnetic pumps genuinely address these field concerns with a structure that minimizes leakage risk and simplifies maintenance. The ability to handle maintenance in-house provides tremendous peace of mind for customers. And there's more—our pumps aren't just distinguished by their leak-proof design. In fact, our company's proprietary development enables them to deliver extraordinary performance. Through detailed component design, material selection and assembly precision, we're proud to offer products with unparalleled durability, reliability and operability—strengths that have emerged from decades of accumulated expertise. Safeguarding Food Quality: Industry Praise for Hygiene and Efficiency
So, in the food industry, which is essential to our daily lives and continually innovating to meet diverse needs, what specific evaluations have your products and services received before and after implementation?
Our pumps have received exceptionally high evaluations from customers in the food industry as well. The most significant factor is hygiene. With conventional pumps, any potential leakage can create puddles that become breeding grounds for bacteria. Our pumps' leak-proof design prevents such risks at their source. Additionally, their completely sealed structure blocks bacterial entry from external sources. This makes them extremely hygienic and reassuring, according to customer feedback.
Furthermore, traditional shaft-sealed pumps require water injection at the seal during sterilization processes, necessitating additional equipment and management. With our magnetic pumps, such water injection systems become unnecessary, resulting in reduced equipment costs and simplified management procedures. Meeting these detailed needs effectively is why our pumps are the preferred choice. Kiyotaka Horiuchi, President and CEO, Sanwa Hydrotech Corporation, Japan. Credit: Courtesy of Sanwa Hydrotech. Kiyotaka Horiuchi, President and CEO, Sanwa Hydrotech Corporation, Japan. Credit: Courtesy of Sanwa Hydrotech. As we approach our centennial, we remain committed to this legacy of innovation—continually evolving our technology to meet tomorrow's challenges while maintaining the uncompromising quality and reliability that have defined Sanwa Hydrotech for nearly a century. Kiyotaka Horiuchi, president and CEO, Sanwa Hydrotech Corporation, Japan. From Parts Manufacturing to Hydrogen Fuel: Automotive Sector Success Stories
In the automotive industry, a core industrial sector in Japan, your products are also highly regarded. What kind of evaluations have they received?
Our pumps serve in extremely sensitive environments with demanding conditions, such as painting processes and automotive parts manufacturing facilities.
For instance, quenching oil used in automotive parts heat treatment is a high-temperature, flammable liquid that poses fire hazards if leakage occurs. There have been actual cases of fires caused by leaks from conventional pumps. By switching to our leak-proof magnetic structure pumps, safety has significantly improved, and accident risks have been proactively mitigated.
Our technology also plays a vital role in hydrogen stations. The pre-cooling chiller in dispensers needs to circulate and transfer extremely cold brine liquid at minus 40 degrees Celsius. Very few pumps can reliably handle such ultra-low temperature fluids, making our magnetic pumps a rare capability in the market. Additionally, their low heat input characteristic provides major benefits in circulation lines, earning exceptional trust from field operators. "Tremendous Peace of Mind": Equipment Manufacturers' Testimonials
We understand your products are also highly valued in the equipment manufacturing industry, which has seen remarkable innovation and growth in recent years. What kind of evaluations have they received?
We've received exceptionally high evaluations for our magnetic pumps from equipment manufacturers as well.
First, since equipment must fit systems into limited spaces, minimizing footprint becomes a crucial factor. Our pumps feature a compact design that addresses these needs, making them a differentiating element for manufacturers aiming to miniaturize their equipment.
Additionally, when problems such as fluid leakage occur within equipment, manufacturers must dispatch technicians to the site, incurring various costs including labor, travel expenses and time. Our magnetic pumps' completely leak-proof structure significantly reduces such risks, and we frequently hear that they provide tremendous peace of mind."
Furthermore, the elimination of shaft alignment work represents another major benefit for equipment manufacturers. Our magnetic pumps connect motors and pumps with a flange connection, unlike conventional volute pumps with coupling connections that require axis alignment. This user-friendly design significantly reduces the field workload for equipment designers and manufacturers. "Zero Malfunctions": How Semiconductor Producers Rely on Sanwa's Technology
In the semiconductor industry, which is undergoing various transformations and evolutions in the global market, including supply chain developments, your unique products are also making significant contributions. What evaluations have they received?
While the semiconductor industry has an extremely broad scope, our magnetic pumps are adopted particularly in chemical production facilities. Since many chemicals are highly corrosive, applications demand selective use of resin and metal materials, depending on requirements. Our stainless steel pumps excel in corrosion resistance and have earned high trust over many years.
Additionally, semiconductor manufacturing equipment requires compact design to fit within limited spaces due to their highly condensed structures. The ability to operate with complete leak prevention and without water injection is also highly valued by equipment manufacturers.
Once adopted, our pumps establish a stable operational track record of absolutely no malfunctions. Cross-Industry Excellence
It's very clear how your products are solving challenges across different industries. I understand there are many more fields where your products excel, but among the industries you've mentioned, what's the common secret behind the high overall evaluations your products receive? How can the same products effectively support different industries?
I'll explain the technical details later, but a key factor is our extensive experience in the petrochemical industry, which we've been involved with since our company's founding. The expertise we've gained meeting the stringent requirements of the petrochemical industry is reflected in every single pump design. This is why our pumps can excel across such diverse industries. Technical Superiority
Your company possesses a history, know-how and track record that competitors find difficult to replicate. Could you explain the technical content that underlies these numerous positive evaluations? Your stainless steel magnetic drive pumps are considered ideal for high-purity, cutting-edge applications requiring safety and reliability. Could you elaborate on the technical advantages of your products?
I'll focus particularly on explaining the safety and reliability of our products.
First, the aspect customers value most: no liquid leakage. This is largely attributable to the magnetic coupling drive system employed in our MP series. Unlike conventional pumps using mechanical seals, our design structurally eliminates the risk of fluid leakage to the exterior, enabling safe handling of everything from organic solvents to dangerous fluids like sulfuric acid and caustic soda, and even ultra-pure water, where high purity is essential. This represents a significant advantage in today's environmentally conscious world.
Additionally, customers highly appreciate that maintenance is straightforward. We maintain a simple structure with minimal parts. This allows for disassembly, cleaning and reassembly in a short time without specialized knowledge or special tools. We've received specific feedback from customers saying they can clean it daily, indicating that we're contributing to reducing the burden of daily operations.
Next, the aspects of trouble-free operation and stable performance. We've standardized bearings in our MP series. These SiC-D bearings significantly reduce friction resistance compared to conventional bearings through special coating, achieving high lubricity, stable rotation and low wear levels, greatly contributing to the pumps' longevity.
Finally, to ensure customers can use our products with peace of mind, we conduct performance tests using actual liquids on each unit before shipment, followed by thorough cleaning and leak testing. We believe this rigorous quality control system also contributes to the trust our customers place in us. Sanwa Pump team with an EU distributor at Achema 2024. Credit: Courtesy of Sanwa Hydrotech. Global Partnerships
Partnerships are a critical element in many companies' growth strategies. Your company has established alliances with various firms in Europe and the Americas. Are you considering new partnerships overseas in areas such as product development, production and sales?
Beyond Europe and the Americas, we're currently establishing new partners in Thailand, Singapore, Malaysia, Vietnam and Indonesia. We believe these regions still have significant growth potential. Asian Market Strategy
What strategy are you employing to expand your customer base in Asia?
Currently, we're looking for distributors who can not only sell our products but also provide maintenance services. Maintenance is an extremely important element to us. We're seeking partners with facilities capable of not only selling but also collecting, servicing and even modifying pumps when necessary.
Therefore, we're approaching potential partners one by one to confirm partnership possibilities. In Asia, we're placing particular emphasis on Thailand. Many of our Japanese customers are establishing factories there, and we're increasingly selling to these customers. Currently, customers often handle maintenance and parts procurement themselves, but going forward, we aim to create a system that can provide them smoother local support. Carbon Neutrality Initiatives
Carbon neutrality is a major business area for your company and forms the core of your initiatives. Could you explain in detail why this field is an important business target for Sanwa Pump?
This is a growth sector for the future, and we need to accelerate applications in this field to achieve carbon neutrality targets for 2030 and 2050. Of course, this is an entirely new undertaking for both us and our customers, requiring trial and error. Nevertheless, we believe Sanwa Pump can become a leading company in this field. Our decades of experience with high-performance, leak-free fluid handling positions us perfectly to pioneer this attractive new market that will certainly expand dramatically in the coming years.
What strategies do you plan to adopt to succeed in the carbon neutrality field?
Our approach is to first conduct surveys and research, then approach companies where our products could potentially be utilized. Subsequently, we receive and will continue to receive consultations from some companies. Water Electrolysis Applications
As we understand it, water electrolysis is one of the key technologies in carbon neutrality efforts. It enables the production of green hydrogen by decomposing water into hydrogen and oxygen, using renewable energy. Could you tell us more about Sanwa Pump's initiatives regarding water electrolysis?
In Japan, the technology of generating hydrogen through water electrolysis has been employed for some time. Our company has been providing products for such hydrogen generation equipment for the past 20 years. However, the pursuit of carbon neutrality has accelerated these efforts. We hold a considerably high market share in the water electrolysis market, with our pumps being used for water supply and circulation purposes. We expect this share to continue expanding.
Currently, evaluations are progressing in numerous test facilities. For example, in Yamanashi prefecture, our pumps are used in a hydrogen generator that uses surplus electricity from solar power generation. Adjacent to this device is a methane synthesizing device, and the hydrogen generated is used to generate synthetic methane. Using synthetic methane enables carbon neutrality.
Our pumps are also used in the methane generators. These pumps must withstand temperatures as high as 230 degrees Celsius, and there are only a few manufacturers that can meet this specification, and we are one of the few companies among them. Expo 2025 Osaka-Kansai
We understand that Sanwa Pump will provide important equipment for the Expo 2025 Osaka-Kansai. We also hear that several key products will be exhibited. What specific technologies will you be showcasing at the Osaka Expo? How do these technologies connect to carbon neutrality goals?
A: Our pumps have been adopted for use in the methanation pilot plant managed by Osaka Gas Co., Ltd. at the Osaka-Kansai Expo. They're being used as water electrolysis equipment for the methanation pilot plant and also as high-temperature liquid circulation pumps in the equipment performing the methanation reaction. The methane gas synthesized here will be supplied to the Guest House kitchen and used as a heating source for cooking meals served to VIPs from various countries.
Note: The Guest House is a project commissioned by the Ministry of the Environment: Project to Construct and Demonstrate a Model for Reducing the Cost of Hydrogen Supply by Utilizing the Existing Infrastructure. Aspirations Toward Our Centennial: Building the Next Century of Innovation
In 10 years, your company will reach the significant milestone of its 100th anniversary. Do you have any goals or aspirations for this important occasion?
Of course carbon neutrality is one of our major goals. Another guiding principle for our company comes from our founder's words. Inscribed on a monument in our current office are the words: "New Technology, New Materials, New Products."
Our company started as a casting company but ceased casting operations in 2003. We preserved the founder's words in a monument during the final casting. These words embody the philosophy that even as the world changes, we must respond to the needs of the times. As we approach our centennial, we remain committed to this legacy of innovation—continually evolving our technology to meet tomorrow's challenges while maintaining the uncompromising quality and reliability that have defined Sanwa Hydrotech for nearly a century.
For more details, explore the company's website at: www.sanwapump.com/?qr=NWmay2025
All interviews were conducted by The Worldfolio and can be found at www.theworldfolio.com.
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