Fastener manufacturer trusted overseas for its high quality and responsiveness
Updated: March 13, 2026
2025
SKO manufactures and sells slide fasteners and sewing accessories. Its products are used in a wide range of applications including bags, clothing, medical beds, and vehicle seats. In addition to sizes and colours conforming to various standards, the company also accommodates customer specifications.
Operating from an ISO 9001-certified factory, the company maintains an integrated production and inspection system. It is renowned for high-quality manufacturing through rigorous adherence to its own inspection standards, which exceed industry norms. SKO provides meticulous support from planning through to sample creation, while partnerships across Asia ensure stable material procurement.
SKO's strength lies in its ability to handle everything in-house, from planning and production to delivery. For over 50 years since its founding, the company has built a proven track record by meeting diverse industry needs through its integrated in-house production system. Combining high-precision machining technology with the flexible use of both line production and cell production depending on order requirements, it accommodates everything from high-mix to low-volume production. Furthermore, unlike mass-production manufacturers, it actively engages in consultations for prototype development and product improvements. We also fulfil specialised customer specifications such as waterproofing, flame retardancy, transparency, and reverse opening. Leveraging this technical expertise, we are exploring applications in diverse sectors including outdoor equipment, medical devices, and care products.
Quality management systems have been strengthened, with two camera inspection machines introduced in 2017. Consistent quality has earned high praise from numerous customers. Equipment investment also addresses future labour shortages, utilising subsidies to pursue automation and labour-saving measures across manufacturing processes.
SKO has established a stable production system by maintaining and refining 102 production facilities in-house. Inspection systems have also been strengthened; for instance, strength tests are conducted to pass criteria exceeding JIS standards. This high quality has led to SKO products being adopted across diverse industries, including automotive and furniture manufacturers.
Furthermore, the company accommodates custom orders and small-lot production, enabling proposal-based manufacturing tailored to customer challenges. This combination of ‘Japanese quality’ and ‘flexible responsiveness’ has gained global recognition, leading to overseas business opportunities.
In recent years, nursing care beds, for which demand has been expanding, have adopted open fasteners that are easy to attach and detach from a hygiene perspective. Consequently, SKO implemented automated production across each process in 2021 by utilising the Manufacturing Subsidy. This led to a significant reduction in working time at each stage, achieving a productivity increase of approximately tenfold. Since then, the company has steadily advanced measures to address future labour shortages, including the introduction of fastener processing machinery.