Suzuki Invests in LINKWIZ for Robotic Weld Inspection
Posted: 2026-2-21
Suzuki Motor Corporation ("Suzuki") today announced an investment in LINKWIZ Incorporated ("LINKWIZ"), a startup headquartered in Hamamatsu City, Shizuoka Prefecture, with Go Fukino as its Representative Director. The investment was made through Suzuki’s corporate venture capital fund, "Suzuki Global Ventures" ("SGV").
LINKWIZ is a Hamamatsu-based startup specializing in the development and provision of control software solutions for industrial robots. By leveraging 3D scanning and robot control technology, LINKWIZ is driving digital transformation (DX) at production sites. Their solutions enable automation of processing steps that account for appearance inspection and variations, and enhance quality traceability through the recording of processing and inspection results.
Suzuki has already implemented LINKWIZ solutions at its Hamamatsu and Kosai Plants, transitioning some welding inspection processes to robotic inspection.
Furthermore, Suzuki has signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) for joint business development to expand the adoption of these solutions to production sites beyond welding inspection. This initiative aims to maintain production in Japan amidst a declining population and improve overall quality stability.
Suzuki established SGV in 2022 with the objective of providing value that meets customer needs. Through this investment, Suzuki aims to foster collaboration with startups in its hometown of Hamamatsu, striving to create new technologies and innovative DX models for production sites originating from Hamamatsu.
Comment from Go Fukino, Representative Director, LINKWIZ Incorporated
"Driven by our mission to ‘revolutionize work through robotics that inherit human skills,’ we are committed to driving field innovation with industrial robots. We aim to contribute to improvements in processes that are highly labor-dependent in automobile manufacturing and to achieve uniform quality globally with our solutions. Our joint development with Suzuki Motor Corporation will also focus on enhancing the quality of production sites and supply chains."
Comment from Kazuo Ichino, Senior Managing Officer, Suzuki Motor Corporation
"By leveraging LINKWIZ Incorporated’s point cloud data processing and robot control technologies, we anticipate significant improvements in productivity and enhanced quality stability for welded parts. Moreover, these technologies will enable automation for workpieces with uncertain positions and shapes, which has been a challenge for conventional production lines. We believe this will serve as a key tool in realizing the smart factory that Suzuki envisions, where humans and robots collaborate and connect, each contributing their strengths within a simple framework."
LINKWIZ is a Hamamatsu-based startup specializing in the development and provision of control software solutions for industrial robots. By leveraging 3D scanning and robot control technology, LINKWIZ is driving digital transformation (DX) at production sites. Their solutions enable automation of processing steps that account for appearance inspection and variations, and enhance quality traceability through the recording of processing and inspection results.
Suzuki has already implemented LINKWIZ solutions at its Hamamatsu and Kosai Plants, transitioning some welding inspection processes to robotic inspection.
Furthermore, Suzuki has signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) for joint business development to expand the adoption of these solutions to production sites beyond welding inspection. This initiative aims to maintain production in Japan amidst a declining population and improve overall quality stability.
Suzuki established SGV in 2022 with the objective of providing value that meets customer needs. Through this investment, Suzuki aims to foster collaboration with startups in its hometown of Hamamatsu, striving to create new technologies and innovative DX models for production sites originating from Hamamatsu.
Comment from Go Fukino, Representative Director, LINKWIZ Incorporated
"Driven by our mission to ‘revolutionize work through robotics that inherit human skills,’ we are committed to driving field innovation with industrial robots. We aim to contribute to improvements in processes that are highly labor-dependent in automobile manufacturing and to achieve uniform quality globally with our solutions. Our joint development with Suzuki Motor Corporation will also focus on enhancing the quality of production sites and supply chains."
Comment from Kazuo Ichino, Senior Managing Officer, Suzuki Motor Corporation
"By leveraging LINKWIZ Incorporated’s point cloud data processing and robot control technologies, we anticipate significant improvements in productivity and enhanced quality stability for welded parts. Moreover, these technologies will enable automation for workpieces with uncertain positions and shapes, which has been a challenge for conventional production lines. We believe this will serve as a key tool in realizing the smart factory that Suzuki envisions, where humans and robots collaborate and connect, each contributing their strengths within a simple framework."
