Daifuku achieved the world's highest revenue in the material-handling sector. Its operations range from Toyota Motor's plants to airport baggage handling, and it improved its operating margin to 15% in fiscal 2025.
Daifuku has maintained its position as the world's largest material-handling company for many years, with full-year revenue for the year ended December 2025 reaching a record ¥660.7 billion. It currently operates around 4 core businesses: intralogistics, cleanrooms, automotive and airport systems.
The company was founded in 1937, and began full-scale development of automation technology after delivering body-handling conveyors to Toyota Motor's Motomachi Plant. It subsequently expanded its solutions into a wide range of fields, including the development of Japan's first automated guided vehicle and automated warehouse.
By applying its technologies horizontally to semiconductor manufacturing and airport-related fields, the company has created synergies and developed technologies including overhead transport systems and contactless power-supply monorail transport. As a result, the semiconductor cleanroom market has grown to account for more than 30% of revenue.
The airport business was launched following an M&A transaction in 2007. By combining new automated baggage drop machines, real-time baggage location tracking and automated warehouses, the company is helping airports reduce labor requirements and lost baggage. It plans to apply its automation technologies to the agricultural and environmental fields in the future.
In January this year, the company renewed its management structure, and Terai Tomoaki (寺井 友章) became president. It has set a target of ¥1 trillion in consolidated revenue by 2030 and a policy of maintaining a 15% operating margin.