High-Pressure & SupercriticalMastering extreme pressure and temperature for over 55 years.
AKICO Co., Ltd. is a Japanese manufacturer that designs and builds high-temperature, high-pressure chemical apparatus, pressure vessels, supercritical fluid systems and pilot plants — from basic planning through design, fabrication, inspection and installation. Every unit is engineered in-house in Tokyo to the customer's exact specification. We do not sell standard products.
- 55+years of high-pressure engineering
- 60 MPamaximum design pressure (current order range)
- 500°Cmaximum design temperature
- 84companies, universities & national institutes served
- 100%custom-engineered to your spec
What AKICO builds
AKICO engineers one-off apparatus around your process conditions — fluid, temperature, pressure, volume and material — rather than selling a catalogue machine. Eight areas are handled in-house.
High-temperature, high-pressure reaction systems
Apparatus for reaction, extraction, crystallization, decomposition and physical-property measurement, designed from the experimental objective.
Laboratory chemical apparatus
Lab-scale systems for universities and research institutes, from benchtop units to fully framed skids.
Laboratory autoclaves
From 50 mL upward, with stirring, lifting and quick-opening mechanisms as required.
Production-scale autoclaves
Up to 5,000 L. Delivered examples include 1,500 L polymer production autoclaves and a 200 L coal-slurry refining vessel.
Equipment under Japan's High Pressure Gas Safety Act
Regulatory classification, design, fabrication and inspection handled together.
Class 1 and Class 2 pressure vessels
Simple vessels, small pressure vessels, and Class 1 / Class 2 pressure vessels.
High-pressure valves and fittings
Designed and manufactured in-house for integration into our systems and into existing equipment.
Pressure regulating valves
Back-pressure and pressure control valves matched to the process conditions.
Engineering depth
Advanced material science
SUS316 and Ni-alloy selection for high-temperature, low-pH and corrosive service. Zirconia and advanced ceramic integration for the most demanding conditions.
Thermodynamic simulation
Simulation and testing of complex thermodynamic cycles and fluid dynamics, including supercritical CO2 (scCO2) behavior, to optimize each process before it is built.
Custom execution
From multi-cylinder axial plunger pumps to fully customized high-pressure reactors and pilot plants — no standard templates.
Specifications
AKICO currently accepts orders up to a maximum design pressure of 60 MPa and a maximum design temperature of 500°C. Both continuous-flow and batch operation are supported, across autoclave, column and coil configurations, with water (H2O), carbon dioxide (CO2), dimethyl ether (DME) and other media.
| Category | Design pressure | Design temperature | Volume | Operation |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Autoclaves / pressure vessels | 30 MPa (small) / 10 MPa (medium) / 5 MPa (large) | 200°C soft seal / 350°C metal seal | 50 mL – 5,000 L | Batch |
| Supercritical water systems | 50 MPa | 500°C (metal seal) | 50 mL – 5 L; feed 10–50 mL/min | Batch & continuous |
| Supercritical CO2 systems | 40 MPa | 150°C (soft seal) | 50 mL – 5 L; feed 50–500 mL/min | Batch & continuous |
| Hydrothermal synthesis / decomposition | 10 MPa | 200°C soft seal / 300°C metal seal | 30 mL – 2,500 L | Batch & continuous |
| Tube reactors | 50 MPa | 500°C | 2.5 / 5 / 10 / 20 mL | Batch; heat-up in ~10 min |
| High-pressure VLE apparatus | 50 MPa | 150°C | Custom | Static, circulation or flow type |
| High-pressure view cells | Custom (MAC-75W / 100W: 4.0 MPa) | 150°C or 250°C type (MAC-75W / 100W: 130°C) | 5 mL – 500 mL | Visual / optical observation |
| Media | Water (H2O), carbon dioxide (CO2), dimethyl ether (DME), other fluids |
|---|---|
| Configurations | Autoclave, column and coil types — each available in batch or continuous-flow operation |
| Wetted materials | SUS304 / SUS316, Hastelloy grades, Ni alloys, titanium alloys, zirconia and advanced ceramic integration |
| Heat transfer | Band heaters, electric furnaces, steam jackets, heating coils, fluid heating, air heating, hot water |
| Heat source | Electric, heat medium, steam, hot water |
| Agitation | Belt drive, direct drive, magnetically coupled seal-less stirrers, circulation pumps, shaking |
| Sealing | Soft seal (to ~200°C class) / metal seal (to 350°C and 500°C class) |
| Feed equipment | Multi-cylinder axial plunger pumps and other high-pressure feed systems |
| Applicable regulations | Simple vessels, small pressure vessels, Class 1 and Class 2 pressure vessels, High Pressure Gas Safety Act, boiler regulations (Japan) |
Figures are upper limits per category. They do not imply that maximum temperature, pressure, volume and material can be combined simultaneously. 60 MPa and 500°C are the limits of the range AKICO currently accepts orders within.
Equipment
Detailed specifications and delivered examples are on the Japanese product pages, which include full specification tables.
Autoclaves & pressure vessels
50 mL – 5,000 L · 30 MPa · 350°C
Batch reaction, sterilization and resin forming vessels, from 100 mL research units to 1,500 L production autoclaves.
Specifications (JA)
Supercritical water / CO2 systems
Water 50 MPa · 500°C / CO2 40 MPa · 150°C
Extraction, drying, cleaning, pyrolysis and synthesis. Includes benchtop continuous-flow supercritical water systems.
Specifications (JA)
Hydrothermal synthesis / decomposition
30 mL – 2,500 L · 10 MPa · 300°C
Subcritical water region. Delivered zeolite production and waste-plastic decomposition plants.
Specifications (JA)
Tube reactors
2.5–20 mL · 50 MPa · 500°C
Lab-scale sub- and supercritical water reactions. Gasket-free construction; SUS316, Hastelloy or titanium alloy.
Specifications (JA)
High-pressure view cells
5–500 mL · 150°C / 250°C types
Visual and optical observation of phase and dispersion behavior under pressure.
Specifications (JA)
High-pressure VLE apparatus
50 MPa · 150°C · static / circulation / flow
Measures equilibrium temperature, pressure and vapor- and liquid-phase composition. Used in petroleum refining, flavors, pharmaceuticals and CO2 absorbent research.
Specifications (JA)
Supercritical crystallization & solubility
Crystallization (micronization) test systems and supercritical-fluid solubility measurement apparatus.
Crystallization (JA)
Gas hydrate formation systems
Low-temperature, high-pressure gas hydrate formation and observation.
Specifications (JA)
Components
High-pressure valves, fittings, pressure regulating valves, magnetically coupled seal-less stirrers, slurry feed systems (500°C · 50 MPa) and portable gas boosters.
Components (JA)Industries served
Petrochemicals & energy
Heavy-duty pilot plants for catalyst evaluation, polymer synthesis and harsh chemical reactions — including a continuous-flow supercritical pyrolysis system (500°C · 35 MPa) for heavy-oil upgrading.
Semiconductors & electronics
High-purity, high-pressure systems for next-generation wafer processing and cleaning, including supercritical CO2 cleaning and drying.
Pharmaceuticals, food & cosmetics
Tightly controlled batch and continuous reactors meeting stringent quality and safety standards. AKICO's supercritical CO2 extraction work dates to coffee-bean decaffeination development in the 1970s.
Green chemistry
Supercritical CO2 and alternative-solvent processes for sustainable manufacturing, including waste-plastic decomposition and CO2-to-plastics production.
Featured project — turning CO2 into plastics (delivered 2023)
In 2023, AKICO engineered and built a high-pressure pilot plant that uses carbon dioxide (CO2) as a feedstock to produce plastic materials — a working, pilot-scale demonstration of our supercritical and high-pressure engineering applied to green chemistry.
Engineering & quality assurance
Our design philosophy relies on rigorous simulation, structural-integrity calculations and exhaustive pressure-vessel safety testing. Every unit is engineered and assembled in-house at our Tokyo facility.
Safety calculations on every unit
Structural-integrity and pressure-vessel safety calculations are performed for every system we build.
Certification-ready manufacturing
Manufacturing organized around Japan's High Pressure Gas Safety Act and certification requirements.
Verified under real service conditions
Performance verified under cyclic loading, high temperature and corrosive operation.
In-house from design to commissioning
Design, fabrication, assembly and trial operation are completed at our own Tokyo facility, which keeps specification changes on a short cycle.
Proof-of-concept & contract testing
Before committing to a build, you can rent AKICO's own equipment at our factory for demonstration or contract testing. Test conditions are agreed individually.
| Equipment | Model | Volume | Max pressure | Max temperature |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Supercritical CO2 test system | V-05 | 500 mL | 40 MPa | 150°C |
| Supercritical CO2 test system | S-05 | 500 mL | 40 MPa | 100°C |
| Pressure vessel / autoclave | AC-300A | 300 mL | 40 MPa | 400°C |
| Supercritical emulsification system | SFW-E40S | 1–3 L/h | 40 MPa | 450°C |
Selected clients
AKICO equipment is in service at 54 companies, 24 universities and 6 national and public research institutes in Japan. A selection follows.
Companies
- Asahi Kasei
- Ajinomoto
- Albion
- Imabari Shipbuilding
- Ukima Gosei
- AGC
- NGK
- Cark
- Kao
- Cataler
- Canon
- Kyocera
- Kuraray
- Kureha
- San-Ei Gen F.F.I.
- Suntory Beverage & Food
- JSP
- JFE Plant Engineering
- JT Engineering
- Shiseido
- Dainichiseika Color & Chemicals
- Shachihata
- Sumitomo Chemical
- Sumitomo Seika Chemicals
- Sumitomo Electric Industries
- Sekisui Chemical
- Soto
- Takachiho Seiki
- Supercritical Technology Center
- Tsukishima JFE Aqua Solution
- Tsukishima Foods Industry
- Tokyo Ohka Kogyo
- Taiyo Nippon Sanso
- Tokyo Gas
- Toshiba Nanoanalysis
- Toray
- TOPPAN Holdings
- NOF Corporation
- Nichiyu Giken Kogyo
- JGC
- Nitto Denko
- Nippon Shokubai
- Nippon Denkei
- Nippon Menard Cosmetic
- Explosion Research Institute
- Panasonic
- Ferrotec
- Mitsubishi Gas Chemical
- Fuji Chemical Industries
- Fujifilm
- Bridgestone
- Pola Chemical Industries
- Mitsui Chemicals
- Mitsuba Seisakusho
Universities
- Osaka University
- Kanagawa Institute of Technology
- Kanazawa University
- Kumamoto University
- Shizuoka University
- Shinshu University
- Chiba Institute of Technology
- Chiba University
- University of Tsukuba
- Institute of Science Tokyo
- The University of Tokyo
- Tokyo Metropolitan University
- Tokyo University of Agriculture and Technology
- Tokyo University of Science
- Tohoku University
- Toyama Prefectural University
- Nagaoka University of Technology
- Nagoya University
- Hokkaido University
- Nihon University
- Fukuoka University
- Hosei University
- Meijo University
- Yokohama National University
National & public research institutes
- JAMSTEC (Japan Agency for Marine-Earth Science and Technology)
- Kanagawa Institute of Industrial Science and Technology
- AIST (National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology)
- The Salt Industry Center of Japan
- JAEA (Japan Atomic Energy Agency)
- Japan Ship Technology Research Association
Listed with the permission of the organizations concerned. Order follows the Japanese listing.
Frequently asked questions
What are the maximum temperature and pressure you can handle?
AKICO currently accepts orders up to a maximum design pressure of 60 MPa and a maximum design temperature of 500°C. Per category: supercritical water systems and tube reactors reach 50 MPa and 500°C; supercritical CO2 systems 40 MPa and 150°C; autoclaves and pressure vessels 30 MPa and 350°C with a metal seal. The achievable envelope depends on the combination of temperature, pressure, volume and material — send us your conditions and we will confirm feasibility.
Can you quote if our fluid, temperature, pressure and volume are not yet fixed?
Yes. Because every unit is custom-engineered rather than selected from a catalogue, we routinely start from "here is the experiment we want to run". Regulatory classification is also determined during those early discussions, before the specification is frozen.
Which fluids can you work with?
Water (H2O), carbon dioxide (CO2), dimethyl ether (DME) and other media. Autoclave, column and coil configurations are available, each in batch or continuous-flow operation.
Do you supply outside Japan?
Please contact us at info@akico.com with your process conditions. Equipment is designed and built to Japanese pressure-vessel regulation; requirements for other jurisdictions are discussed case by case.
Can you build production-scale equipment, not only laboratory apparatus?
Yes. Autoclaves and pressure vessels range from 50 mL to 5,000 L. Delivered examples include 1,500 L polymer production autoclaves and a 2,500 L waste-plastic decomposition plant.
Bring us your toughest engineering challenges
You do not need a finished specification to start a conversation. A description of the process you want to run is enough.
- Phone
- +81-3-3735-8888
- Fax
- +81-3-3735-6630
- info@akico.com
- Address
- 3-22-25 Minami-Rokugo, Ota-ku, Tokyo 144-0045, Japan
Helpful to include: ① fluid (water / CO2 / other) ② temperature ③ pressure ④ volume ⑤ batch or continuous ⑥ preferred wetted material ⑦ installation site.