Sojitz Corporation (“Sojitz”) announced it has invested in XTIA Ltd.(Former Name: Optical Comb Inc.; “XTIA”), the only tech development venture in the world to successfully harness the Nobel Prize-winning physics technology of optical combs for business application. Acquiring stake in the company through XTIA’s allocation of subscription rights, Sojitz aims to form a partnership with the company to promote new optic comb technology-based services and businesses both in Japan and overseas.

XTIA’s optical comb technology is likely to become the “most precise tool of measurement in the world.” Since sales of non-contact 3D profilometers using optic comb technology began in 2016, nearly all domestic Japanese auto manufacturers have started implementing it into their mass production lines. (According to Fuji Keizai Group, XTIA’s products boast the top market share in the inline auto parts inspection market for the past three consecutive years from 2017 to 2019.)

Sojitz has placed its focus on the quality inspection business, partnering with Japan’s largest auto parts quality assurance company Green Tec Corporation to acquire Stratosphere Quality LLC（*）. A major quality assurance provider in the U.S., Stratosphere Quality primarily provides quality control of parts for clients that include automotive and auto parts manufacturers. With its investment in XTIA, Sojitz will now begin an inspection outsourcing business that provides inspections using non-contact 3D profilometer sensors with optic comb technology. Although it was previously considered too difficult to realize automated inspection, this service will now enable end users to access it without initial investment.

（*）“Sojitz and Green Tec Acquire Stratosphere Quality to Enter North America’s Quality Assurance Business.” Sojitz Corp. Press Release, 6 Jul. 2017.

Sojitz will develop this new inspection outsourcing business utilizing superior optic comb technology, as well as other services employing this technology both in Japan and overseas, in order to contribute to the proliferation of automated inspections and to further expand the company’s quality assurance business.

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Company Overview – XTIA

Established	April 2002
Location	3-6-12 Kandamisaki-cho, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo Kandamisaki Building 3F
Representative Director	Takao Yagi, President & CEO
Main Business	Application of optic comb generators; development and sale of related devices