About NGK
History
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Until 1969 Since Establishment
- 1919
- NGK INSULATORS LTD. was established as a spin-off of Noritake's Insulator Division.
- 1923
- Bushing production operations begin.
- 1929
- 1,000 kV-class high voltage insulator testing facilities were completed.
- 1931
- Started manufacturing and marketing of sulfuric acid corrosion-resistant apparatus for the chemical industry.
- 1934
- Distributed ceramic diffusers, used for aeration systems at sewage treatment plants, to the city of Nagoya.
- 1935
- NGK's first exports: Suspension insulators exported to India.
- 1936
- NGK Spark Plug Co., Ltd. was established as a spin-off of NGK's Spark Plug Division.
- 1942
- Construction of Chita Plant, located in Handa, Aichi Prefecture, was completed.
- 1958
- Began manufacturing and marketing of beryllium-copper products.
- 1962
- Construction of Komaki Plant, located in Komaki, Aichi Prefecture, was completed.
- 1963
- Construction of High Voltage Laboratory was completed.
- 1965
- NGK-LOCKE, INC. (the former NGK INSULATORS OF AMERICA, LTD.) was established in the U.S.A.
- 1967
- Distributed a water sludge dewatering system to the city of Amagasaki in Hyogo Prefecture, and a sewage sludge dewatering system to the city of Sakai in Osaka Prefecture.
- 1968
- NGK INSULATORS OF CANADA, LTD. was established.
New Atsuta Plant Chita Plant under Construction Komaki Plant -
- 1971
- Nichigai Ceramics Ltd. was established to produce ceramic components for the electronic industry.
Manufacturing and marketing of translucent alumina ceramics HICERAM begins.
- 1972
- Developed bushings for 1,000 kV-class test transformers
- 1973
- LOCKE INSULATORS, INC. was established jointly with the U.S.-based General Electric Company.
- 1974
- Distributed a fluidized bed sewage sludge incineration system to the Minami-tama Treatment Plant in Tokyo.
- 1976
- Began manufacturing and marketing of HONEYCERAM, honeycomb catalyst substrates for controlling automobile emissions.
- 1977
- NGK-BAUDOUR S.A. was established in Belgium.
NGK EUROPE S.A. was established in Belgium.
- 1978
- Distributed a low-level radioactive waste incineration system to Tsuruga Power Station of the Japan Atomic Power Company.
- 1979
- Construction of ultrahigh voltage contamination test facilities for insulators and bushing shells were completed in the High Voltage Laboratory.
HONEYCERAM UHV Contamination Test Facilities -
- 1981
- Developed a new manufacturing technology for ferrite used in magnetic heads.
- 1985
- NGK CERAMICS EUROPE S.A. was established, starting production of HONEYCERAM in Belgium.
NGK EUROPE GmbH was established in Germany.
- 1986
- A written style of Japanese trade name was changed. (Katakana is now used for the part, "Gaishi (i.e. Insulator)," where Chinese characters were formerly used.).
NGK METALS CORPORATION was established by acquiring the U.S.-based Cabot Corp.'s beryllium-copper business.
Distributed ceramic turbocharger rotors to Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.
- 1987
- Began the sale of bioreactors.
Nastech Corp. was established in Japan jointly with ABB (ASEA Brown Boveri AG) Germany, initiating research for NAS batteries.
P.T. WIKA-NGK INSULATORS, a joint venture company, was established in Indonesia, beginning assembly production of distribution insulators.
- 1988
- Accumulated production of suspension insulators reached 150 million units.
NGK CERAMICS USA, INC. was established, beginning production of HONEYCERAM in the U.S.A.
- 1989
- Production of diesel particulate filters begins.
Ferrite for magnetic heads Ceramic turbocharger rotors -
- 1990
- Distributed a high-pressure compaction system for treatment of non-combustible solid waste to Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Station of the Tokyo Electric Power Company.
NGK Okhotsk, Ltd. was established, beginning production of ferrite products for magnetic heads.
- 1991
- Distributed a cyclone-type sewage sludge melting system to the Nanbu Sludge Plant of the Tokyo Metropolitan Government.
NGK Filtech, Ltd. was established for design and production of comprehensive filtering membrane equipment and systems.
- 1992
- Began testing of a prototype of NAS battery for commercial use in an actual transmission system at Kawasaki Substation of the Tokyo Electric Power Company.
- 1993
- A joint venture company NGK STANGER PTY. LTD. was established, starting production of power distribution automation equipment in Australia.
Divisions in charge of insulators for transmission lines and substations acquired ISO 9001 certification.
Divisions in charge of beryllium-copper strip products acquired ISO 9002 certification.
Construction of a plant for large-scale catalyst carriers was completed.
- 1994
- An environmental inspection system was introduced.
NGK-LOCKE POLYMER INSULATORS, INC. was established in the U.S.A.
- 1995
- Delivered the world's largest gas bushings for the UHV transmission (11.5 m in overall length) to the Tokyo Electric Power Company's Shinharuna Substation.
Production of piezoelectric microactuators for inkjet printers begins.
- 1996
- The automotive ceramics division acquired ISO 9001 certification.
P.T. NGK CERAMICS INDONESIA was established as a production base of HONEYCERAM in Indonesia.
NGK INSULATORS TANGSHAN CO., LTD. was established as a production base of insulators in China.
Mass production of ceramics for semiconductor production devices begins.
Production of vehicle exhaust gas NOx sensors begins.
- 1997
- A medium-term management plan "EXCEL-01" was formed.
SIAM NGK TECHNOCERA CO., LTD. was established as a production base of kiln furniture in Thailand.
- 1998
- NGK Foundation for International Students was established.
Three production bases (Nagoya, Chita and Komaki) acquired ISO 14001 certifications at the same time.
- 1999
- Celebrated the 80th anniversary of NGK's foundation.
Accumulated production of HONEYCERAM reached 400 million units.
Engineering Business Group acquired ISO 14001 certification.
NGK International House (a residence for international students) was completed.
Prototype NAS Battery for Commercial Use NGK International House -
- 2000
- NGK CERAMICS SOUTH AFRICA (PTY) LTD. was established as a production base for HONEYCERAM in South Africa.
- 2001
- Tied up with De Dietrich of France in the glass-lined apparatus business.
Developed the world's first piezoelectric ceramic displays.
NGK Ceramics Suzhou Co., Ltd. and NGK Technocera Suzhou Co., Ltd. were established in China to produce HONEYCERAM and kiln furniture respectively.
Accumulated production of HONEYCERAM reached 500 million units
- 2002
- Electronics Business Group and three affiliated companies jointly acquired ISO 14001 certification.
Achieved the management rights to FMI, a US based manufacturer of modules for semiconductor manufacturing equipment.
The 2002 medium-term management plan was formed.
Launched home-use water purifiers "C1."
- 2003
- Transferred all shares in Asahi Tec Corporation.
BIRLA NGK INSULATORS PVT. LTD. was established as a production base of insulators in India.
NGK CERAMICS POLSKA SP. Z O.O. was established as a production base of diesel particulate filters in Poland.
Mass production of NAS battery system begins.
- 2004
- Received the 50th Okochi Memorial Grand Production Prize for the development and practical application of NAS batteries.
Supplied ceramic membrane municipal drinking water treatment systems on an OEM basis.
Received an order for the Japan's largest ceramic membrane municipal drinking water treatment system from Fukui Prefecture.
- 2005
- Participated in the 2005 World Exposition, Aichi, Japan with the NGK Water Lab exhibit.
Reduced the number of directors and introduced a corporate officer system.
Developed ceramic microactuators for hard disk drives (HDDs).
- 2006
- NGK EDUCATION SERVICES, LTD. was established to promote education and training.
NGK INSULATORS SUZHOU CO., LTD. was established as a production base of insulators in China.
NAS Battery was installed and began commercial operation in the USA for the first time in foreign countries.
Established the system to increase production of SiC diesel particulate filters in Komaki Site.
- 2007
- Opened the Toba General Training Center.
NGK Water Environment Systems, Ltd. was established as a spin-off of NGK's Engineering Business Group.
Acquired naming rights of Nagoya Civic General Gymnasium.
Developed the world's largest nano-ceramic membrane element.
- 2008
- NGK CERAMICS MEXICO, S. DE R. L. DE C. V. was established as a production base of diesel particulate filters and HONEYCERAM in Mexico.
NGK Water Environment Systems, Ltd. and Fuji Electric Water Environmental Systems Co., Ltd., merged into METAWATER Co., Ltd..
Commercialized the world's first NOx sensor that detects the concentration of nitrogen oxides (NOx) in vehicle exhaust in real time with high precision.
- 2009
- Accepted orders for NAS Batteries from Abu Dhabi Water and Electricity Authority (ADWEA) in UAE, and from MTA New York City Transit for bus depot.
The first mass-produced version of HONEYCERAM was registered with the National Museum of Nature and Science as an Essential Historical Material for Science and Technology.
NAS battery business received the Environmental Business Award at the eco japan cup 2009 event.
World's First Piezoelectric Ceramic Display Home-Use Water Purifier "C1" Ceramic Microactuators for Magnetic Heads of Hard Disk Drives NOx Sensor -
- 2010
- Agreed to develop large scale NAS battery assets to provide ancillary services in the UK.
FM Industries, subsidiary of NGK, acquired a critical supplier to the Semiconductor Equipment.
Received a PACE Award for the development of high-precision automotive NOx sensors.
Launched commercial-quality water purifiers "C1 MASTER.
- 2011
- Launched "NGK Innovation Laboratory" in Nagoya Institute of Technology for strategic task force R&D joint project.
Began operation at Ishikawa Plant and NGK CERAMICS MEXICO, S. DE R. L. DE C. V.. Accumulated production of HONEYCERAM reached 1 billion units.
- 2012
- Acquired semiconductor manufacturing equipment-related business from U.S. manufacturer.
Developed GaN Wafer for ultra high brightness LEDs.
Developed drying equipment system applying variable wavelength technology.
Production of gasoline particulate filters begins.
- 2013
- NGK ITALY S.r.l. was established to support project of NAS battery system installation.
Developed ultra high strength and highly conductive Copper-Zirconium Alloy Wire.
- 2014
- Started production of cordierite large-size HONEYCERAM in Poland.
Increased NOx sensor production capacity to 1.5-fold.
Production of bounded wafers begins.
- 2015
- NGK Electronics Devices, Inc. that manufactures and sells ceramics for industrial electronics converted to a consolidated subsidiary.
NGK TECHNOLOGIES INDIA PRIVATE LIMITED was established as a local subsidiary in India.
NGK CERAMICS (THAILAND) CO., LTD was established as a production base for HONEYCERAM and DPF in Thailand.
- 2016
- Started production of gasoline particulate filters (GPF) in Poland.
Decided to manufacture GPF in China. (Planned in 2018)
Began manufacturing of Copper-Nickel-Tin Alloy Strip.
- 2018
- Commercialization of gallium nitride (GaN) wafers and micro-lenses for ultraviolet LEDs begins.
Total HONEYCERAM production reaches 1.5 billion.
- 2019
- Revised the NGK Group Philosophy.
Commercialized chip-type ceramic rechargeable battery "EnerCera" series.
GaN Wafer for Ultra High Brightness LEDs Drying equipment system applying variable wavelength technology -
- 2021
- Formulated mid- to long-term vision, NGK Group Vision: Road to 2050.
Formulated NGK Group Environmental Vision.