CSR TOP
CSR Integrated Report (HTML)
Editorial Policy
Message from the President
Feature Article
Third Stakeholder Dialogue
Organizational Governance
Fair Operating Practices
The Environment
Consumer Issues
Human Rights and Labour Practices
Community Involvement and Development
Third-Party Opinion/Response to the Third-Party Opinion
Data Collection

CSR

CSR Integrated Report

Fujikura Group CSR Integrated Report 2015
Feature Article

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.

The factory was located in Awaji-cho, Kanda (see arrow)

The factory was located
in Awaji-cho, Kanda (see arrow)

Zenpachi Fujikura

Zenpachi Fujikura

Global Fujikura at present

Profile of Fujikura group

(as of the end of March 2015)

Global Fujikura Group

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.

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.

Imported five leading-edge braid machines

Imported
five leading-edge braid machines (1887)

Relocated the Sendagaya Plant

Relocated the Sendagaya Plant
(1896)

Sendagaya Plant totally destroyed by a tornado

Sendagaya Plant
totally destroyed by a tornado (1903)

Fukagawa Plant burned down due to the Great Kanto Earthquake

Fukagawa Plant burned down due
to the Great Kanto Earthquake (1923)

■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.

Became champion for two consecutive years in the National Inter-City Baseball Tournament

Became champion for two consecutive years
in the National Inter-City Baseball Tournament (1938 and 1939)

Entire Fukagawa district burned down from the Tokyo Air Raid and Fukagawa Plant totally destroyed

Entire Fukagawa district burned down from the Tokyo Air Raid
and Fukagawa Plant totally destroyed (1945)

■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.

Redevelopment of former site of the Fukagawa Plant

Redevelopment of former site of the Fukagawa Plant

■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.

In March 2011, a mega-quake with the magnitude of 9.0 hit the Tohoku region and surrounding areas

In March 2011,
a mega-quake with the magnitude of 9.0 hit
the Tohoku region and surrounding areas

In October 2011, nine out of 11 Group bases in Thailand had flooded

In October 2011,
nine out of 11 Group bases
in Thailand had flooded

◆130th anniversary of the foundation

Head Office

Head Office