Fujikura’s 130-Year History from Foundation to Growth into a Global Company
The Fujikura Group, which was founded in 1885, marked its 130th anniversary in February 2015. We would like to express our heartfelt gratitude to a range of our stakeholders, including customers, for offering their kind advice and support to the Group.
When Fujikura was initially launched as a small town factory in Awaji-cho, Kanda, Tokyo, it had only 10 members. The members worked hard in a wood-floored room that was only about 16.5 m2, operating braid machines all through the day and night to finish delivering the ordered products to customers. The company thus started its history with few members, and this year, we were able to celebrate the commemorative 130th anniversary thanks to the strenuous efforts made by our predecessors amidst the changes in the times. Now the Group has more than 50,000 employees across 24 countries and regions, who deliver a range of products that are appreciated by customers and highly evaluated by society on a global scale. In this feature article, we will introduce the history of the company, which dates back 130 years ago, and the present status of the automotive products business and the electronics business, which we are conducting globally.
Foundation
Zenpachi Fujikura launched the manufacturing business in 1-chome, Awaji-cho, Kanda, Tokyo in February 1885.
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Global Fujikura at present
Profile of Fujikura group
(as of the end of March 2015)
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Present Status of the Globally Conducted Automotive Products Business and Electronics Business
◆Global business expansion of the automotive products business
Net sales: 143.5 billion yen (fiscal 2014)
Affiliated companies: 32 plants in 18 countries
Employees: Around 30,000 (as of the end of March 2015)
Fujikura began manufacturing wire harnesses on a small scale at its Numazu Plant around 1955 in response to the rise of Japan’s automobile industry. In 1957, the company began manufacturing wire harnesses for Fuji Heavy Industries. Now, 58 years later, we ourselves have become involved in the automotive products business by dividing the world into three regions (EU, Asia and the Americas), and operating 32 manufacturing plants in 18 countries. Around 30,000 employees are engaged in the business.
◆Global business expansion of the electronics business
Net sales: 136.1 billion yen (fiscal 2014)
Affiliated companies: 25 plants in 4 countries
Employees: About 23,000 (as of the end of March 2015)
Fujikura began manufacturing printed circuit boards using the die stamp method in 1965, ribbon wires, flat wires, and FPCs in 1979, and membrane switches in 1982. The company then established Fujikura (Thailand) Ltd. in 1984 as a main base to begin expanding the electronics business quickly around the globe. Although a great flood hit Thailand in 2011 and caused damage to our local facilities, we have already achieved recovery and are now delivering products manufactured mainly in Thailand, China and Vietnam to customers around the world.
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Major Milestones in the Fujikura Group's 130-Year History
■Beginning
1885 | Zenpachi Fujikura commenced the manufacturing business in Awaji-cho, Kanda, Tokyo. |
1901 | Personal company was changed to an unlimited partnership company named "Fujikura Electric & Wire Rubber Co., Ltd." |
1903 | Appointed to be Japan's first rubber-insulation plant by Japan's former Ministry of Communications and Transportation; however, the plant was totally destroyed by a tornado. |
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■Establishment
1910 | Company name changed to Fujikura Electric Wire Corporation. |
1919 | Established Fujikura Gakuen. |
1923 | Moved head office plant to Fukagawa, which burned due to the Great Kanto Earthquake. |
1931 | Took top spot in the market with “Toukousen” electric wire for aircraft. |
■Restoration after the Earthquake and Fujikura of Technology
1938-39 | Company's baseball club became champion two years in a row in the National Inter-City Baseball Tournament. |
1941 | Outbreak of the Pacific War |
1944 | Began operating the Fuji Plant. |
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■Postwar and High Economic Growth Period
1945 | Fukagawa Plant totally destroyed in the Tokyo Air Raid, and the war finally ended. (Second foundation of the company) |
1949 | Delivered Japan's first 24-core TV camera cables to NHK (Japan Broadcasting Corporation). |
1954 | Opened Numazu Plant. |
1957 | Began manufacturing wire harnesses. |
1965 | Opened Sakura Plant. |
1970 | Opened Suzuka Plant. |
1973 | First oil crisis |
1979 | Set world record by achieving very low transmission losses of 0.27 dB/km for its single-mode optical fiber. Began manufacturing FPCs for use in electronic devices. |
■Period of Great Changes and Hardship
1980 | Developed single-mode optical fusion splicers. |
1981 | Developed Japan's first optical fiber composite overhead ground wire (OPGW). |
1982 | Began manufacturing membrane switches. |
1984 | Established Fujikura (Thailand) Ltd. to begin operations in the country. |
1985 | Marked centennial of the foundation. Developed world's first core alignment fusion splicer. |
1987 | Succeeded in the fabrication of oxide superconducting wires. |
1992 | Changed company name to Fujikura Ltd. |
1998 | Delivered worlds’ largest 500kV DC OF submarine cables. |
■Internationalization
2000 | Commenced former Fukagawa Plant site redevelopment project. |
2004 | Achieved a world record for yttrium-based superconducting wires. |
2005 | Celebrated 120th anniversary of foundation, declared the "third foundation" and formulated Corporate Philosophy MVCV. |
2009 | Began conducting CSR activities and manufacture of fiber lasers. |
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■Globalization
2010 | Established biotope named "Fujikura-Kiba Millennium Woods". |
2011 | Suffered damage due to the Great East Japan Earthquake and the catastrophic flood in Thailand. |
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◆130th anniversary of the foundation
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