the agi group

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The world's scientific glassblower

Corporate

About the AGI Group

Founded in 1950 in Omuta, Japan by Mr. Yutaka Ikeda, as a glassware manufacturer, the AGI Group is a leading solutions provider for diverse chemical processing applications.

Over the years, we have expanded from Japan, acquiring companies that share in our values and mission to provide exceptional products and services to our customers. Premium glassware and chemistry solutions are available worldwide through many AGI Group trusted brands.

A global offering

We are the leader in the Japanese market for precision glassware and system solutions. We have taken our industry expertise and have become a global group that is proud to be the world’s largest employer of scientific glassblowers. Our experience and capabilities mean we can tackle any job and provide complete solutions ranging from lab-scale to industrial-scale equipment as well as complex custom projects.

AGI Group brands

The AGI Group is unified by values of innovation, sincerity and progress, and we are proud to be the world’s largest supplier of engineered glass systems. We are driven to design and manufacture exceptional products to the highest possible standards and provide our customers with unrivaled care.

The world's glassblowers

Glass is at the heart of all we do. We are proud to be the biggest employer of scientific glassblowers in the world. Our mission to provide exceptional products means that we understand and value the incredible skills and abilities of our glassblowers and their mastery of the discipline. Glassblowing is an ancient skill that the AGI Group want to encourage as a career path that makes a vital contribution to scientific discovery.

The AGI Group history

Over the course of seven decades, AGI has transformed itself into a world class manufacturer of premium scientific glassware and chemical processing equipment.

1950s

It all begins way back in 1950 when Mr. Yutaka Ikeda established the glassblowing company, Asahi Seisakusho Inc. in Omuta City, Japan.

We remain a family business. Today, the CEO of the AGI Group is Yasu Ikeda, grandson of our founder.

1960s

Glassware production begins with great success in the Japanese market; production expands to a new factory in Otake City in 1968.

1970s

The 70s is filled with expansion in capabilities, with an AGI engineer travelling to Europe to acquire new glass technology in 1973, a new headquarters being completed in Arao City in 1973, and Quartz production technology starting in 1974. Asahi Seisakushoo Co., Ltd and Asahi Seisakusho Inc. were established toward the end of the decade to define separate domestic sales and marketing departments.

1980s

Progress doesn’t stop and the 1980s see Asahi Semicon Inc. established as a quartz production company for the Semiconductor industry in 1980. The first Industrial Scale Rotary Evaporator is unveiled in 1983 and in 1987 a new factory for glass plant production is completed. Technosearch Co., Ltd, founded for environmental analysis services, is formed in 1989.

1990s

1990 heralds the introduction of a key AGI technology; the first Triple Wall Vessels are produced and bring huge advantages to customers looking for the best engineered systems.

2000s

AGI begins to look beyond Japan and in 2004 the Overseas Sales Department is formed. 2005 sees further global achievement with ISO quality environmental certifications 9001 and 14001 being attained. A new large-scale factory is constructed in Japan in 2006 and in 2008 our first joint venture in India, ATR Asahi Glass Process System PVT Ltd. is established. 

2010s

In 2012, Asahi Glassplant Inc (AGI) was established through the merger of Asahi Seisakusho Co., Ltd. and Asahi Seisakusho Inc. In 2014, AGI expanded internationally forming AGI USA Inc., acquiring GlasKeller in Basel, Switzerland, and opening the all-in-one factory and office facility as AGI Head Office in Arao city. Growth continued in 2016 with the acquisition of Asahi Techniglass Co., Ltd. and founding of AGI Labtex Co., Ltd. in Saitema Japan.

In 2019, AGI strengthened its presence in North America by acquiring H.S. Martin Inc. in Vineland, New Jersey. That same year marked a big expansion into the UK, with Asahi Glassplant UK Ltd. (AGI UK) being established in Cambridge, followed by the acquisition of Cambridge Glassblowing Ltd. as a UK base for dedicated glass production.

2020s

In the 2020s, the AGI Group continues to grow, becoming the biggest employer of scientific glassblowers in the world.

In 2020 AGI UK acquires Glass Solutions as a local scientific glass manufacturer in the UK, and Syrris, an internationally renowned automated batch and flow systems manufacturer. Italian glass manufacturer Soffieria Sestese joins the group in 2021. The internationally renowned Swiss high pressure reactor brand, Premex is added in 2022 and 2023, sees the acquisition of Dutch flow chemistry specialist, Chemtrix.

Our Customers

We serve a diverse range of customers worldwide including pharmaceutical, chemical, automotive, semiconductor, and academic industries, as well as many other sectors where high-quality engineered glass and precision chemical processing systems are required.

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Work for us

The AGI Group is the biggest employer of scientific glassblowers in the world. Alongside these highly skilled craftspeople, we employ a diverse range of talented individuals from engineers to scientists who all share in our mission.

Discover an exceptional career
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