On August 17, Air Water Inc. (chairman: Masahiro Toyoda) obtained the shares (66.7%) of Matsuoka Medic Co., Ltd. from its parent company Kaigen Pharma Co., Ltd. Matsuoka Medic is a dedicated wholesaler of medical equipment and tools engaging mainly in the export of medical needles which was established in 1973 with eight employees, having sold 780 million yen in FY2017 ending March. Its export to the Western and Southeast Asian countries accounted for about 90% of the total sales.

In 2007, Air Water entered into the medical needle business through the acquisition of Saito Medical Industries, Inc. which specializes in polishing of needle. In 2016, an expansion of the needle business has been undertaken with the affiliation of Misawa Medical Industry Co., Ltd. which makes an integrated production from pipe processing to final products (cannula). Both companies used to be the business partners of Matsuoka Medic supplying about 60% of the products handled by Matsuoka Medic. On the other hand, Kaigen Farma of Matsuoka’s parent company was also interested to expand its business with an appropriate system to catch up the booming demand abroad for the Japan-made medical needles, and has come up with the joint investment with Air Water at this time.

Among the medical business items Air Water positions the needle business in the focus area and plans to build up a supply chain from production to sales with the transfer of the shares, so that it can develop business in the overseas market mainly of the Western and Southeast Asian countries.

Along with the needle business Air Water has an idea to expand its overseas medical business taking advantage of Matsuoka Medic’s marketing power also for the dental and hygienic materials handled by the Air Water Group in order to enhance its global scale of medical business.