Corporate History

Comfortable life with Sanden’s history!

Sanden has created ages in people’s life.

1940s1950s1960s1970s1980s1990s2000s

	Sanden’s founder, Kaihei Ushikubo, who had been running a textile mill, started manufacturing components of communication devices and mica-condensers in July 1943, when Japan was fighting in World War II and the private sector manufacturing plants were enforced either to shift themselves to ammunition producing plants or close their business. This is how the predecessor company of Sanden, called Sankyo Electric Company, was created with a capital of ¥198,000. After the war, having taken cues from employees who had been riding bicycles to work, the company changed its business to develop dynamo lighting sets for bicycles. It had run a sales campaign for dynamo bicycle lamps with a trademark “Owl” shining in the darkness, and with the slogans “Second sight in the night” and “A thousand times brighter than a full moon ”. It marked a monthly production of 30 thousand units in 1953, thereby establishing itself as a permanent fixture in the dynamo bicycle lamp business sector.
July 1943	Established Sankyo Electric Company in a lot where the present head office of Sanden is located. Started producing parts for wireless communication devices, mica-condensers, and paper-condensers by synthetic resin molding.
March 1948	Started manufacturing the dynamo bicycle lamp.
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	JIS was established for the dynamo lamp in April 1952 with the development of the economy as well as the industry. The low-voltage method that prolonged the lamp’s life introduced by Sankyo Electric was adopted as JIS standard. The company started exporting the dynamo bicycle lamp in 1953. Thereafter, it entered the electric home appliance business, aiming to grow from a back-street factory into a modernized company. It further entered the market for refrigerating machines for business use. Engineering staff of the company who sensitively perceived customers’ needs succeeded in developing an open-type showcase for the first time in the industry, which became a hot-selling product.
April 1952	Became a designated plant for manufacturing the dynamo bicycle lamp in line with the establishment of the JIS system.
April 1956	Started producing mini-motors, electric washers, and other home electric appliances.
June 1956	Moved main business office to Tokyo.
June 1958	Started producing ice-cream refrigerating stockers and refrigerated showcases.
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	With robust sales of freezers and refrigerated showcases, the company developed an original bubbler juice vending machine in October 1961. The company, which had cemented its position through its freezing technology, listed its stocks on the second section of Tokyo Stock Exchange in August 1962. It further developed oil heaters in July 1963. Thereafter, it succeeded in developing a clean forced ventilation type heater that did not pollute the air in the room for the first time in the world. It consistently accumulated technologies both in cooling and heating areas of business.
October 1961	Started producing juice vending machines.
August 1962	Listed on the second section of Tokyo Stock Exchange.
July 1963	Started producing a Pot-type oil heater.
December 1964	Sankyo Sales Company was established, spinning off the sales division from Sankyo Electric Company with capital of ¥25 million.
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	While the company continued development of new products based on its refrigerating and ventilation technologies, it received an offer for technical collaboration for small-scale compressors from Mitchell Corporation in 1969. Taking this opportunity, it started to produce car compressors in 1970 and entered the Automotive air-conditioner market. It listed its stocks on the first section of Tokyo Stock Exchange, after much anticipation, in 1973. And it changed its trade name to “Sanden”. Thereafter, it established overseas bases one after the other in the U.S., Singapore, and in European countries. Sanden consistently expanded its production and sales of compressors all over the world.
June 1970	Entered a technical collaboration agreement with Mitchell Corporation in the U.S. The company was commended for the contribution to exports by the Minister of Industry and Trade.
March 1971	Started producing Automotive air-conditioners and SD compressors for Automotive air-conditioners.
August 1971	Entered a technical collaboration agreement with the Kaiser USA.
March 1973	Increased capital by public offering.
August 1973	Established a new trade name “Sanden” and listed Sankyo Electric Company’s stocks on the 1st section of Tokyo Stock Exhange.
October 1973	Changed the name of Sankyo Sales Co., Ltd. to Sanden Sales Co., Ltd.
November 1974	Established Sankyo International Co., Ltd. with a capital of ¥10 million. Established Singapore Office of Sankyo International Co., Ltd. Established Sankyo International (USA) Inc with a capital of US$30,000.
April 1976	Increased capital by public offering.
April 1977	Increased capital by public offering.
December 1977	Established Sankyo International (S) PTE. Ltd. in Singapore with a capital of S$50,000.
February 1978	Started producing refrigerating devices for freezer cars.
April 1978	Issued German mark-denominated convertible bonds (DM40 million).
August 1978	Established Sankyo International (Australia) PTY. Ltd. with a capital of A$50,000.
December 1978	Established a British branch of Sankyo International Co., Ltd.
March 1979	Issued the first Swiss franc-denominated convertible bonds (CHF 40 million).
October 1979	Established Sankyo Denki Denso Co., Ltd. that was to engage in the production of dynamo bicycle lamps with a capital of ¥50 million.
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	It developed a scroll-type compressor for the first time in the world in 1981 and also changed its company name to Sanden Corporation (the same as its brand name) from Sankyo Electric co., Ltd. in 1982. Its head office introduced its “CI” with the completion of the new company building. The company blossomed as an enterprise committed to global competition both in reality and in name. It acquired Vendo Company, the second largest vending machine maker in the United States, in 1988, thereby becoming a global enterprise holding production and sales bases all over the world.
January 1980	Established Taiwan Office of Sankyo International Co., Ltd.
February 1980	Issued US dollar-denominated convertible bonds (US$25 million).
April 1980	Reorganized a British branch of Sankyo International Co., Ltd. to an overseas subsidiary corporation by the name of Sankyo International (UK) Ltd.
October 1980	Established a car-compressor manufacturing plant in Sankyo International (USA).
March 1981	Started producing scroll-type compressors for automotive air-conditioners.
September 1981	Established Sanden Auto Airconditioning Co., Ltd. in Taiwan with a capital of T$6 million.
December 1981	Issued bonds with warrant (total amount of issue for ¥5 billion).
October 1982	Established a plant to manufacture compressors for Automotive air-conditioners in Sankyo International (Singapore).
October 1982	Changed the name of Sankyo Electric Co., Ltd. and Sankyo International Co., Ltd. to Sanden Corporation and Sanden International Co., Ltd. respectively.
November 1982	Newly established a plant for manufacturing food-related machines within a headquarters plant (now the Kotobuki Plant).
June 1983	Issued the second Swiss franc-denominated convertible bonds (CHF 50 million).
November 1983	Changed the name of Sanden Auto Airconditioning Co., Ltd. to Taiwan-Sanden Co., Ltd.
February 1984	Increased capital by public offering.
April 1984	Released a new logo mark with the introduction of CI.
April 1984	Established joint venture companies in India, Malaysia, and Mexico.
April 1985	Started sales of residential central heating and ventilation systems.
May 1987	Developed a variable-capacity scroll compressor.
July 1987	Established Sanden Logistics Co., Ltd.
August 1987	Established Sanden System Engineering Co., Ltd.
February 1988	Established P.T. Sanden, Jaya Indonesia.
May 1988	Acquired Vendo Company., a US vending machine maker.
June 1988	Developed “Deo-fit”, deodorant.
November 1988	Awarded a good design prize for a refrigerating showcase and the dynamo bicycle lamp.
August 1989	The US Wylie Plant started its operations.
December 1989	Established Sanden Refrigeration Thailand as the first overseas showcase producing firm.
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	Environmental issues became an important theme to tackle for Sanden in the approach to the 21st century. The company had been working on the development of a compressor for Automotive air-conditioners that responded to ozone layer destruction problems, and energy-saving type vending machines for which it was awarded a prize by the Director-General of the Agency for Natural Resources and Energy. Sanden had also addressed environmental issues closer to people on an individual level by developing an automated hand sterilizer and deodorant apparatus. Sanden has been continuously developing products which would make the lives of future generations worldwide more comfortable by retaining the “indomitable spirit” it has created through its ongoing efforts and endeavors.
July 1990	Completed Sanden Communication Plaza.
August 1990	Entered a Technical Assistance Agreement with General Motors Corporation for open-scroll type compressors for Automotive air-conditioners.
August 1992	Established Sanden Teco (Thailand).
February 1993	Awarded a prize for a beverage vending machine regenerative type energy-saving system by the Director-General of the Agency for Natural Resources and Energy.
June 1993	Established Sanden International China (Hong Kong).
July 1993	Entered a Technical Assistance Agreement with Hadsys Corporation for open-scroll type compressors for car air-conditioners.
July 1994	Entered a Technical Assistance Agreement with Ford Motors Corporation for open-scroll type compressors for Automotive air-conditioners.
April 1995	Established Sanden Manufacturing Europe in France.
August 1995	Established Sanden International Philippines.
October 1996	The plant in France started its operations.
October 1996	Was awarded EPA prize (contribution to ozone layer preservation) by the US Environment Protection Agency.
April 1997	Merged with Sanden Sales Co., Ltd., and Sanden International Co., Ltd.
January 1998	Acquired ISO14001 certification at head office and Kotobuki Plant.
October 1998	Awarded Deming prize (implementation prize).
July 1999	Acquired ISO14001 certification at every business base.
November 1999	Founder Kaihei Ushikubo, a supreme adviser, passed away.
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May 2000	Received orders for one million units of new-type compressors from General Motors.
June 2000	Established a joint venture company with Shanghai EK CHOR General Machinery Co., Ltd.
August 2000	Zero-emission was achieved at three domestic plants (Kotobuki, Yattajima, and Sakai Plants).
September 2000	Acquired approval for Automotive air-conditioner engineers from Tianjin Automotive Industrial (Group) Co., Ltd. in China.
October 2000	Sanden Logistics Co., Ltd., and Sanwatech Co., Ltd. received Deming Prizes.
October 2000	Established a Technical Center in Germany.
October 2000	Established a charter for safety and health.
November 2000	Kaihei Ushikubo won a Gunma Resident’s Honor Award.
May 2001	Achieved the production of the accumulated number of 100 million compressor units.
September 2001	Sanden International Singapore won a SQC prize (Singapore Quality Class Prize).
October 2001	Sanden System Engineering Co., Ltd. won a Deming Prize and a Mitsukuratechs TQM Encouragement Prize.
October 2001	The Sakai Plant won the President Award by Japan Greenery Research and Development Center.
April 2002	Completed Sanden Forest at Akagi Plant.
June 2002	Received an order for 10 million units of compressors from Peugeo/Citroen.
October 2002	Won a Japan Quality Control Medel.
November 2002	Akagi Plant won a “Superior Trendsetting Factories and Offices Award”.
February 2003	Prepared an “Environment Learning Program” aiming toward co-existing with nature, capitalizing on Sanden Forest and provided it to elementary schools in the region.
April 2003	Started full-fledged expansion of electronic money system business using Edy.
April 2003	Washinosuke Amada, a founder and an advisor, passed away.
May 2003	Transferred to a new organization. Implemented reinforcement of business management system and enhancement of corporate governance by overhauling management meeting.
May 2003	Biomass study session was held at Akagi Plant in a bid to promote biomass utilization in Gunma Prefecture.
May 2003	Won a “Japan Industrial Film and Video Contest Encouragement Prize” for a film introducing Sanden Forest.
August 2003	Commemorated the 60th year anniversary of the foundation of the company.
September 2003	Started supplying compressors for Automotive air-conditioners to Europe Ford (320 thousand units a year).
October 2003	The Akagi Plant won the President Award by Japan Greenery Research and Development Center.
November 2003	Won a “TPM World Class Prize”.
November 2003	Held a worldwide STQM (Sanden Total Quality Management) meeting for the first time where the entire company’s quality control activities were presented.
November 2003	Held a “Clean and Green Ecology Meeting” at Akagi Plant with a theme of appreciation for Mount Akagi.
January 2004	Established a plant for producing compressors for Automotive air-conditioners in Poland.
February 2004	Established Shanghai Sanden Behr and accelerated Automotive air-conditioner businesses in China.
February 2004	Won an “Energy Conservation Center Chairman’s Prize” for Cup-method vending machine JBC-2.
April 2004	Expanded electronic money business. Introduced Edy system to Saitama Public Pool.
April 2004	Akagi Plant won the Greenery Day Minister of the Environment's Prize for Meritorious Service Related to the Natural Environment.
May 2004	Established “Shenyang Sanden”, the 4th production plant in China, which supplies Automotive air-conditioners to Chinese automobile makers.
July 2004	Started development of multipurpose wireless modems that accept multiple communication methods.
August 2004	Developed a Freon-free beverage vending machine using a CO2 refrigerant.
September 2004	Launched sales of SANAJET, an odor-elimination device which mists a photo-catalytic titanium dioxide aqueous solution.
January 2005	Store Master (a control system that automatically optimizes indoor temperatures and humidity changes for showcases) earned the Award Honoring Excellent Energy-Saving Device.
January 2005	Launched sales of Rekuru, a dryer-type garbage disposing device.
March 2005	Established SandenVendo America, Inc., a new base for distribution-system business in the US.
June 2005	Signed a comprehensive agreement with Waseda University’s Environmental Research Institute, to promote environmental technology development in business-academia collaboration.
July 2005	Announced a seismic isolator for indoor vending machines.
September 2005	Established a new plant to produce Automotive air-conditioners in Tianjin, China (will start operations in August 2006)
September 2005	Akagi Plant won the Kanto Bureau of Economy, Trade and Industry Director-General Prize, honoring high-quality plantation in a factory.