Regarding the Expansion of Production Facilities for Steering Microcatheters
Sumitomo Bakelite will expand production facilities for steering microcatheters at Akita Sumitomo Bakelite, aiming to begin operations in February 2027 to meet growing demand.
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- 📰 Published: April 24, 2026 at 19:22
- 🔍 Collected: April 24, 2026 at 11:01
- 🤖 AI Analyzed: April 24, 2026 at 11:09 (7 min after Collected)
Sumitomo Bakelite Co., Ltd. (Headquarters: Shinagawa-ku, Tokyo, President: Shinichi Kajiya) announces the decision to expand production facilities at Akita Sumitomo Bakelite Co., Ltd., in response to the growing demand for steering microcatheters in endovascular treatments in recent years.
This product is a new type of microcatheter that allows the operator to control the direction of the tip arbitrarily via hand manipulation, contributing to shorter procedure times. Since its launch in 2016, it has accumulated a track record of clinical use in medical settings both domestically and internationally, alongside the advancement and increasing minimally invasive nature of endovascular treatments.
Changes in the Environment Surrounding Endovascular Treatment and the Role of Microcatheters
With an aging population, the risk of vascular diseases such as arteriosclerosis and vascular stenosis, as well as diseases caused by lifestyle-related conditions, is increasing year by year. Furthermore, the demand for minimally invasive treatments, including endovascular treatments, is increasing as a viable treatment option for the elderly and patients with comorbidities.
Minimally invasive treatment is spreading because it is a therapeutic method that imposes less physical burden than surgical operations and is expected to shorten hospital stays and improve the quality of life.
One of the essential devices for such treatments is the microcatheter, which is used in a wide range of areas including cerebrovascular, abdominal, and peripheral blood vessels. Coupled with the evolution of peripheral devices, there is a growing need to handle more complex and advanced cases, leading to higher performance requirements for microcatheters.
Features and Clinical Value of Steering Microcatheters
The steering microcatheter features a structure that allows the arbitrary control of the tip's direction through hand manipulation. This movable tip mechanism enables selective and stable insertion even into highly tortuous vessels and complex vascular bifurcations that are difficult to approach with conventional microcatheters.
Our steering microcatheters are chosen for various diseases, such as embolization for tumors like hepatocellular carcinoma in the abdominal region, coil embolization for cerebral aneurysms in the cerebrovascular region, and treatment for ischemic diseases in the peripheral vascular region.
The movable tip function of this product enhances the ability to reach the target blood vessel, facilitating vessel selection, reducing the operational burden on the physician, and contributing to shortened procedure times. Consequently, this is expected to reduce fluoroscopy time and the number of contrast injections, which leads to a reduction in radiation exposure not only for patients but also for medical professionals.
Steering Microcatheter (Approval Number: 22600BZX00482000) LEONIS MOVA®
Since its launch, the areas of application have expanded in response to the advancement of medical technology and changing clinical needs. Our company has been expanding size variations and making continuous improvements domestically and internationally. In Japan, we obtained regulatory approval in 2022 for the purpose of indication in intracranial endovascular treatment, achieving an expansion of insurance coverage, and are rolling out products that meet the needs of clinical settings.
Thanks to these features, the steering microcatheter has become established in the medical field as a medical tool that supports safer and more reliable endovascular treatments, and demand continues to grow today, approximately 10 years after its launch.
Overview of Production Facility Expansion
The purpose of this production facility expansion is to meet the steadily growing demand domestically and internationally and to continue the stable supply to medical settings. Preparation for equipment installation will begin in April 2026, with operations starting in February 2027.
Our steering microcatheters are sold domestically by our group company, SB Kawasumi Laboratories, Inc. Internationally, they are sold in approximately 40 countries through partner companies, with demand expanding primarily in the United States and China. With this strengthening of the production system, production capacity is expected to reach 200% in FY2027 compared to FY2025, and we will proceed with building a supply system with an eye on expanding into new markets.
▮ Akita Sumitomo Bakelite Co., Ltd.
President: Goichiro Kuwaki
Postal Code 011-8510
27-4 Nakajimashita, Aizome-cho, Tsuchizakiminato, Akita City, Akita Prefecture
Year operations commenced: 1970
Number of employees: 179
Site area: 255,568 square meters
Main manufactured products: Medical devices, bio-related products, phenolic resins, etc.
▮ SB Kawasumi Laboratories, Inc.
President: Akiko Okubo
Postal Code 210-8602
3-25-4 Tonomachi, Kawasaki-ku, Kawasaki City, Kanagawa Prefecture
Year operations commenced: 2021
Number of employees: 1,811
Business description: Development, manufacturing, and sales of medical devices and pharmaceuticals
Looking Ahead
Our group has been engaged in developing and supplying products that respond to changing medical needs in minimally invasive treatments and contribute to solving the challenges faced by patients and medical professionals. This expansion of production facilities is an initiative to fulfill our responsibility as a provider of medical devices used in minimally invasive treatments. We will continue to contribute to the sustainable development of medicine through stable supply and quality improvement.
This product is a new type of microcatheter that allows the operator to control the direction of the tip arbitrarily via hand manipulation, contributing to shorter procedure times. Since its launch in 2016, it has accumulated a track record of clinical use in medical settings both domestically and internationally, alongside the advancement and increasing minimally invasive nature of endovascular treatments.
Changes in the Environment Surrounding Endovascular Treatment and the Role of Microcatheters
With an aging population, the risk of vascular diseases such as arteriosclerosis and vascular stenosis, as well as diseases caused by lifestyle-related conditions, is increasing year by year. Furthermore, the demand for minimally invasive treatments, including endovascular treatments, is increasing as a viable treatment option for the elderly and patients with comorbidities.
Minimally invasive treatment is spreading because it is a therapeutic method that imposes less physical burden than surgical operations and is expected to shorten hospital stays and improve the quality of life.
One of the essential devices for such treatments is the microcatheter, which is used in a wide range of areas including cerebrovascular, abdominal, and peripheral blood vessels. Coupled with the evolution of peripheral devices, there is a growing need to handle more complex and advanced cases, leading to higher performance requirements for microcatheters.
Features and Clinical Value of Steering Microcatheters
The steering microcatheter features a structure that allows the arbitrary control of the tip's direction through hand manipulation. This movable tip mechanism enables selective and stable insertion even into highly tortuous vessels and complex vascular bifurcations that are difficult to approach with conventional microcatheters.
Our steering microcatheters are chosen for various diseases, such as embolization for tumors like hepatocellular carcinoma in the abdominal region, coil embolization for cerebral aneurysms in the cerebrovascular region, and treatment for ischemic diseases in the peripheral vascular region.
The movable tip function of this product enhances the ability to reach the target blood vessel, facilitating vessel selection, reducing the operational burden on the physician, and contributing to shortened procedure times. Consequently, this is expected to reduce fluoroscopy time and the number of contrast injections, which leads to a reduction in radiation exposure not only for patients but also for medical professionals.
Steering Microcatheter (Approval Number: 22600BZX00482000) LEONIS MOVA®
Since its launch, the areas of application have expanded in response to the advancement of medical technology and changing clinical needs. Our company has been expanding size variations and making continuous improvements domestically and internationally. In Japan, we obtained regulatory approval in 2022 for the purpose of indication in intracranial endovascular treatment, achieving an expansion of insurance coverage, and are rolling out products that meet the needs of clinical settings.
Thanks to these features, the steering microcatheter has become established in the medical field as a medical tool that supports safer and more reliable endovascular treatments, and demand continues to grow today, approximately 10 years after its launch.
Overview of Production Facility Expansion
The purpose of this production facility expansion is to meet the steadily growing demand domestically and internationally and to continue the stable supply to medical settings. Preparation for equipment installation will begin in April 2026, with operations starting in February 2027.
Our steering microcatheters are sold domestically by our group company, SB Kawasumi Laboratories, Inc. Internationally, they are sold in approximately 40 countries through partner companies, with demand expanding primarily in the United States and China. With this strengthening of the production system, production capacity is expected to reach 200% in FY2027 compared to FY2025, and we will proceed with building a supply system with an eye on expanding into new markets.
▮ Akita Sumitomo Bakelite Co., Ltd.
President: Goichiro Kuwaki
Postal Code 011-8510
27-4 Nakajimashita, Aizome-cho, Tsuchizakiminato, Akita City, Akita Prefecture
Year operations commenced: 1970
Number of employees: 179
Site area: 255,568 square meters
Main manufactured products: Medical devices, bio-related products, phenolic resins, etc.
▮ SB Kawasumi Laboratories, Inc.
President: Akiko Okubo
Postal Code 210-8602
3-25-4 Tonomachi, Kawasaki-ku, Kawasaki City, Kanagawa Prefecture
Year operations commenced: 2021
Number of employees: 1,811
Business description: Development, manufacturing, and sales of medical devices and pharmaceuticals
Looking Ahead
Our group has been engaged in developing and supplying products that respond to changing medical needs in minimally invasive treatments and contribute to solving the challenges faced by patients and medical professionals. This expansion of production facilities is an initiative to fulfill our responsibility as a provider of medical devices used in minimally invasive treatments. We will continue to contribute to the sustainable development of medicine through stable supply and quality improvement.