Develops and manufactures semiconductor, electrochemical, catalytic and MEMS gas sensors as well as breath alcohol testers
Figaro Engineering Inc.
Minoh (Osaka) · Suita (Osaka) · Toyonaka (Osaka) · Illinois, USA · Tianjin, China · Shanghai, China · GermanyNew on Amplifa
About Figaro Engineering
Figaro Engineering Inc. is a Japanese gas sensor manufacturer founded in 1969 and headquartered in Minoh, Osaka. The company produced the world's first semiconductor gas sensor (TGS109) in series in 1968 and today offers semiconductor gas sensors, electrochemical CO sensors, catalytic combustion sensors, MEMS gas sensors and NDIR CO2 sensors. Sensor manufacturing is based on thick-film printing technology using tin dioxide (SnO2) and takes place at the headquarters in Minoh as well as at the Esaka plant in Suita and the Toyonaka site. In addition, sensor evaluation modules, alarm modules and its own breath alcohol testers (FALC/Hugo series) are developed and manufactured. Customers include industries such as gas and alarm technology, indoor air monitoring, refrigeration and air conditioning, automotive, transport, early fire detection and health. Through production and sales companies in China, a US branch in Illinois and a Europe office in Germany established in 2023, the company supplies customers worldwide, including First Alert (Supplier of the Year 2014).
- Site
- Minoh
- Processes
- 半導体式ガスセンサの開発・製造 (Semiconductor gas sensor manufacturing), 厚膜印刷技術によるセンサ素子の生産 (Thick-film printing of sensor elements), 電気化学式ガスセンサの開発・製造 (Electrochemical gas sensor manufacturing), 接触燃焼式ガスセンサの開発・製造 (Catalytic combustion sensor manufacturing), MEMSセンサの開発・製造 (MEMS sensor manufacturing), ガスセンサ応用製品（モジュール・アルコールチェッカー・ガスクロマトグラフ等）の開発製造, 全数検査・品質検査 (100% inspection of all manufactured products), Evaluation modules and communication boards for sensor evaluation
- Materials
- 酸化スズ (SnO2), 銅 (配線パターン銅厚35 μm), Tin dioxide (SnO2), MEMS technology, Electrochemical cells, Infrared measurement technology (NDIR)
- Certificates
- ISO 9001, ISO 14001
- Founded
- 1969
- Industries
- Gas metering and alarm technology / gas safety, Air quality / indoor air, Refrigeration and air conditioning (refrigerant detection), Automotive (cabin air, fire protection), Transport industry (alcohol checkers), Early fire detection / electronics
- 01
Research and development of sensor principles
- 02
Manufacture of sensor elements by thick-film printing (SnO2 sintered
- 03
MEMS manufacturing for the TGS80 series
- 04
Assembly of sensors and modules
- 05
100% inspection of all manufactured products
- 06
Sales via branches, joint ventures and agent network
Sensor principles and manufacturing processes
Tin dioxide (SnO2)
Functional semiconductor material for gas detection in the semiconductor-based sensors of the TGS series.
MEMS technology
Enables miniaturized, power-saving gas sensors of the TGS80 series since 2014.
Electrochemical cells
Battery-powered, high-precision CO sensors of the TGS50 series.
Infrared measurement technology (NDIR)
Measurement principle of the CO2 sensors of the CDM series.
Sites
Minoh
JPHeadquarters and plant (since 1981, east building extension 2019)
- Lot size
- Large series
- Materials
- SnO2 semiconductor, MEMS
Suita (Esaka)
JPTechnical Manufacturing Institute / Esaka plant (since 1975)
- Lot size
- Large series
Toyonaka
JPResearch institute and plant (1970)
Illinois (FIGARO USA, Inc.)
USNorth America branch (1983)
Tianjin
CNJoint venture production/sales (1990)
Shanghai (Songjiang)
CNJoint venture production/sales (2004)
Shanghai
CNSales company Figaro Sensor Technology (2014)
Germany
DEEurope office (since 2023)
Industries
Processes & technical limits
| Processes | Tolerance | Max. part | Weight | Lot size | Materials |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 半導体式ガスセンサの開発・製造 (Semiconductor gas sensor manufacturing)Assembly | – | – | – | – | SnO2 (tin oxide) |
| 厚膜印刷技術によるセンサ素子の生産 (Thick-film printing of sensor elements)Assembly | – | – | – | – | – |
| 電気化学式ガスセンサの開発・製造 (Electrochemical gas sensor manufacturing)Assembly | – | – | – | – | – |
| 接触燃焼式ガスセンサの開発・製造 (Catalytic combustion sensor manufacturing)Assembly | – | – | – | – | – |
| MEMSセンサの開発・製造 (MEMS sensor manufacturing)Assembly | – | – | – | – | – |
| ガスセンサ応用製品（モジュール・アルコールチェッカー・ガスクロマトグラフ等）の開発製造Assembly | – | – | – | – | – |
| 全数検査・品質検査 (100% inspection of all manufactured products)Inspection | – | – | – | – | – |
Additional services
Reference customers
Quality and certification
All manufactured products undergo 100% inspection; particularly critical products are subject to stricter inspection criteria. Manufacturing is based on an ISO 9001 quality management system, supplemented by daily deviation reports from production.
| Evidence | Minoh |
|---|---|
| ISO 9001 | |
| ISO 14001 |