History

PRODUCTS HISTORY

• 1919-1930

  1919

  NGK INSULATORS, LTD. is established.

  1923

  Production of bushings begins.

  1929

  Construction of a 1,000 kV-class high-voltage insulator test facility is completed.

  1930

  Manufacturing and sales of the “NG Spark Plug” begin.

  Renamed the “NGK Spark Plug” in 1934.

  Production transferred in accordance with the establishment of NGK Spark Plug Co., Ltd. in 1936.

  Research on permeable substrates begins.

  

  

• 1931-1940

  1931

  First deliveries of acid proof pumps are made.
  Production of acid-proof mortar begins.

  1932

  Sale of laboratory porcelain ware begins.

  1934

  First deliveries of ceramic diffusers are made.

  1938

  Titanium porcelain is developed.

  

  

• 1941-1950

  1943

  Production of short-wave insulators begins.

  

• 1951-1960

  1953

  Production of solid-core station post insulators begins.

  1954

  Silicon carbide firing kiln shelves and supports are developed.

  1955

  Research on Beryllium begins.

  1958

  Manufacturing and sales of beryllium-copper master alloy begin.

  

  

• 1961-1970

  1961

  Long rod insulator is developed.
  Dry-type capacitor bushing is developed.

  1962

  Large hollow insulator (extrusion manufacturing) is developed.
  High-speed filtration tank underdrain (porous blocks) technology from Leopold (USA) is introduced.

  1963

  First deliveries of Insulator Washing Equipment are made.

  1967

  First deliveries of water sludge dewatering systems are made.
  First deliveries of sewage sludge dewatering systems are made.
  First deliveries of oxygen analyzers are made.

  1968

  Transparent alumina ceramics HICERAM is developed.

  1970

  First deliveries of industrial waste incinerators are made.

  

  

  

  

• 1971-1980

  1972

  Oil‐impregnated paper bushing for 1,000 kV-class test transformer is developed.
  Glass lining manufacturing technology from De Dietrich (France) is introduced.

  1973

  Ceramic road noise control equipment is delivered for the Meishin Expressway.

  1974

  First deliveries of fluidized bed sewage sludge incineration systems are made.
  First deliveries of roller hearth kilns are made.
  Sales of molds for tires begins.

  1976

  Production of ceramic substrates for automotive catalytic converters begins.

  1977

  HONEYCERAM becomes a registered trademark.

  1978

  First deliveries of low-level radioactive waste treatment equipment is made.
  Sales of NGK Wall, an enamel wall panel, begin.
  1,000 kV-class (ultra-high voltage) 70-and 84-ton suspension insulators are developed.

  

  

  

  

  

• 1981-1990

  1981

  New production method for ferrite products for magnetic heads is developed.

  1982

  Production of O₂ sensors begins.
  First deliveries of total area aeration systems are made in Okayama.

  1983

  Ceramic filter for beer filtration is developed.

  1984

  Research on beta alumina for sodium-sulfur batteries begins.

  1986

  First deliveries of ceramic turbocharger rotors are made.
  Line arrester for power transmission lines is developed.

  1987

  First deliveries of bioreactors are made.
  Sound-absorbing material made from aluminum fibers is developed.
  Research on sodium-sulfur batteries begins.

  1989

  Production of diesel particulate filters (DPFs) begins.

  1990

  First deliveries of the High-Pressure Compaction System for the treatment of non-combustible solid waste are made.

  

  

  

  

  

• 1991-2000

  1991

  First deliveries of cyclone-type sewage sludge melting systems are made.

  1992

  Operation using a prototype NAS battery connected to the power grid begins.

  1995

  Gas bushings for UHV transmission are productized.
  Piezoelectric micro-actuator for inkjet printers is developed.

  1996

  Mass production of ceramics for semiconductor manufacturing equipment begins.
  NOx sensor for automotive exhaust is developed.
  Induction-heat melting/solidification system is developed.

  1997

  Mass production of optical waveguide devices for fiber optic gyroscopes begins.
  Japan’s first ceramic membrane drinking water treatment system is developed.

  1998

  Production of the Piezoelectric Micro-actuator for Inkjet Printers begins.
  Mass production of glass ceramic substrates for hard disks begin.

  1999

  Drying kilns and furnaces for manufacturing plasma display panels (PDPs) are developed.

  

  

  

  

  

• 2001-2010

  2001

  SHG elements for high-power, high-performance blue lasers are developed.
  Piezoelectric ceramic display is developed.

  2002

  Home-use water purifier is launched.
  MFI zeolite gas separation membrane is developed.

  2003

  Mass production of NAS batteries begins.

  2004

  DNA microarray for prognostic diagnosis of pediatric cancer is developed.

  2005

  Piezoelectric micro-actuator for HDD heads is developed.

  2006

  First overseas commercial operation of NAS battery begins at AEP (USA).

  2007

  Subnano ceramic membrane is developed.

  2008

  In-vehicle high-precision NOx sensor is developed.

  2009

  Solid oxide fuel cell (SOFC) that uses a flat cylindrical cell (with built-in channels) is developed.
  Atmospheric roller hearth kiln is developed.

  

  

  

  

  

  

  

• 2011-2020

  2011

  Home-use water purifier (slim type) is launched.
  Bonded wafers for surface acoustic wave (SAW) filters are developed.

  2012

  Gallium nitride (GaN) wafers for ultra-high brightness LEDs (light-emitting diodes) are developed.
  Wavelength Control Drying System is developed.
  Gasoline particulate filters (GPFs) are put to practical use.

  2013

  Zirconium-copper wire is developed.

  2015

  Containerized NAS battery is developed.
  Ultra-compact piezoelectric micro-actuator for HDD heads is commercialized.

  2018

  Micro-lenses for ultraviolet LEDs are commercialized.
  Gallium nitride (GaN) wafers for laser light sources are commercialized.

  2019

  Chip-type ceramic secondary battery EnerCera series is commercialized.

  

  

  

  

  

• 2021-

  2021

  Cumulative production of HONEYCERAM reached 1.8 billion units.

COMPANY HISTORY

• 1919-1930

  1919

  NGK INSULATORS, LTD. is established as a spin-off from Nippon Toki’s Insulator Division.
  Kazuchika Okura is appointed as president (the company’s first).

  

  

• 1931-1940

  1936

  NGK Spark Plug Co., Ltd. is established as a spin-off from NGK’s Spark Plug Division.

  1939

  Magoemon Ezoe is appointed as president (the company’s second).

• 1941-1950

  1942

  Construction of Chita Plant, located in Handa, Aichi, is completed.

  1944

  Yoshiyuki Morimura is appointed as president (the company’s third).

  1946

  The NGK Workers’ Union is started.

  1948

  Kumao Yoshimoto is appointed as president (the company’s fourth).

  1950

  Capital participation in Asahi Malleable Iron Co., Ltd. (present-day ASAHI TEC CORPORATION)

  

• 1951-1960

  1951

  The 1st issue of Mizuho, the company newsletter, is published.

  1956

  Capital participation in Fuji Yogyo (present-day NGK ADREC CO., LTD.).
  The Indian liaison office is established (in Mumbai).

  1957

  Atsuta Plant is completed.
  An insulator plant in Mysore, India is completed with technical cooperation from NGK.

  1959

  Sanji Nobuchi is appointed as president (the company’s fifth).
  A divisional system is established, and the Chemical Engineering Machinery Department and New Product Division are established.

  

  

  

• 1961-1970

  1961

  Capital participation in AKECHI INSULATORS CO., LTD. (present-day AKECHI INSULATORS, LTD.)

  1962

  Construction of Komaki Plant, located in Komaki, Aichi, is completed.
  The European liaison office is established (in Hamburg, West Germany).
  The American liaison office is established (in New York).

  1965

  NGK INSULATORS OF AMERICA, LTD. (present-day NGK-LOCKE, INC.) is established.
  Capital participation in TAKAMATSU ELECTRIC WORKS, LTD (present-day ENERGY SUPPORT CORPORATION)

  1968

  Construction of the High Voltage Laboratory is completed.
  Bushing plant at Chita Plant is completed.
  Capital participation in IKEBUKURO HORO KOGYO CO., LTD.
  NGK INSULATORS OF CANADA, LTD. is established.

  1969

  Katsumi Fukuta is appointed as president (the company’s sixth).

  1970

  NGK exhibits its “Wind Mobile” jointly with Nippon Toki at Osaka Expo ’70.

  

  

• 1971-1980

  1973

  LOCKE INSULATORS, INC. (USA) is established.

  1974

  The Insulator Museum at the High Voltage Laboratory is completed.

  1975

  Capital participation in Tochuberi Alloy Kogyo (present-day NGK METEX CORPORATION)

  1976

  The brand logo is standardized to say “NGK,” and the corporate color is chosen.
  The Tajimi Country Club opens.
  The business group system is adopted. (Three business groups are established: Power, Machinery, and Special Products.)

  1977

  Junichi Takemi is appointed as president (the company’s seventh).
  NGK-BAUDOUR S.A. (Belgium) is established.
  NGK EUROPE S.A. (N-E, Belgium) is established.

  1979

  The UHV Contamination Test Hall at the High Voltage Laboratory is completed.

  

  

  

• 1981-1990

  1984

  NGK Electronics is established.

  1985

  NGK CERAMICS EUROPE S.A. (Belgium) is established.
  NGK EUROPE GMBH (Germany) is established.

  1986

  Toshihito Kohara is appointed as president (the company’s eighth).
  The Japanese spelling of NGK INSULATORS LTD. is changed.
  The corporate philosophy and a new corporate logo are established.
  NGK METALS CORPORATION (USA) is established.
  NGK NORTH AMERICA, INC. is established.

  1987

  P.T. WIKA-NGK Insulators (Indonesia) is established.

  1988

  NGK CERAMICS USA, INC. is established.

  1989

  “K Plan 21,” NGK’s long-term management plan, is established.
  NGK KILNTECH CORPORATION is established.
  NGK CHEM-TECH, LTD. is established.

  1990

  NGK OKHOTSK, LTD. is established.

  

  

• 1991-2000

  1991

  Capital participation in SOSHIN ELECTRIC CO., LTD.
  NGK FILTECH, LTD. is established.

  1993

  NGK STANGER PTY. LTD. (Australia) is established.

  1994

  Masaharu Shibata is appointed as president (the company’s ninth).
  NGK Printer Ceramics Co., Ltd. is established.
  NGK-LOCKE POLYMER INSULATORS, INC. (USA) is established.

  1996

  NGK FINE MOLDS, LTD. is established through a merger of NGK Molds and NGK Bealon, Ltd.
  P.T. NGK CERAMICS INDONESIA is established.
  NGK INSULATORS TANGSHAN CO., LTD. (China) is established.

  1997

  “EXCEL‒01,” NGK’s medium-term management plan, is established.
  SIAM NGK TECHNOCERA CO., LTD. (Thailand) is established.

  1998

  Construction of NGK Printer Ceramics Yamanashi Plant (present-day NGK CERAMIC DEVICE Yamanashi Plant) is completed.

  2000

  NGK CERAMICS SOUTH AFRICA (PTY) LTD. is established.

  

  

  

  

• 2001-2010

  2001

  NGK CERAMICS SUZHOU CO., LTD. (ACC, China) is established.
  NGK TECHNOCERA SUZHOU CO., LTD. (China) is established.

  2002

  Shun Matsushita is appointed as president (the company’s tenth).
  Management rights to FM INDUSTRIES, INC. (FMI, USA) are acquired.
  NGK AUTOMOTIVE CERAMICS USA is established.

  2003

  Shares of ASAHI TEC CORPORATION are transferred to a US investment fund.
  NGK CERAMICS POLSKA SP. Z O.O. (ACP) is established.
  Birla NGK Insulators Private Limited is established.

  2005

  The board of directors is reformed, and a corporate officer system is introduced.

  2006

  NGK INSULATORS SUZHOU CO., LTD. (NGK SUZHOU, China) is established.

  2007

  NGK obtains the naming rights to Nagoya Civic General Gymnasium.
  The Toba General Training Center is completed.
  NGK Water Environment Systems, Ltd. is established.
  NGK AUTOMOTIVE CERAMICS KOREA CO., LTD. is established.
  A system of outside directors is introduced.
  NGK INSULATORS UK, LTD. is established.

  2008

  NGK CERAMICS MEXICO, S. DE R. L. DE C. V. is established.
  The water environmental business is made into a subsidiary company with the establishment of METAWATER Co., Ltd.
  NGK decides to construct a new facility for HONEYCERAM production in Nomi, Ishikawa.

  2009

  Structural reform in manufacturing begins.

  2010

  A representative office opens in New Delhi (India).

  

  

  

  

  

  

  

• 2011-2020

  2011

  Taro Kato is appointed as president (the company’s eleventh).
  NAS battery fire incident occurs.
  NGK Group Guidelines for Corporate Behavior is revised.

  2012

  NGK is recognized as a company that supports parenting by the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare.
  FMI purchases a business involved in semiconductor manufacturing equipment from a US manufacturer.
  NGK decides to build a new large-size HONEYCERAM plant at ACP.

  2013

  The Competition Law Handbook is published.

  2014

  Taku Oshima is appointed as president (the company’s twelfth).
  NGK decides to dissolve NGK SUZHOU.
  NGK decides to carry out mass production of gasoline particulate filters (GPFs) at ACP.

  2015

  NGK ELECTRONICS DEVICES, INC. becomes a group company.
  NGK decides to build a new facility, the second ACP plant.
  NGK decides to build a new NOx sensor element plant in Ishikawa.
  NGK TECHNOLOGIES INDIA PVT. LTD. is established.
  NGK CERAMICS (THAILAND) CO., LTD. is established.
  NGK enters into a plea agreement with the US Department of Justice (DOJ) regarding an antitrust law violation in connection with some of its transactions involving ceramic substrates for automotive catalytic converters.

  2016

  Gasoline particulate filters (GPFs) production at ACC is announced.

  2017

  FM INDUSTRIES, INC. establishes a new plant.
  The human resource system for general office workers is revised for the first time in 25 years.
  A retirement age of 65 is adopted.
  NGK decides to build a new plant facility for ceramic products for semiconductor manufacturing equipment in Tajimi, Gifu.
  NGK decides to dissolve LOCKE INSULATORS (USA).
  NGK decides to build the second ACC plant.

  2018

  The Process Technology Business Group is established, as the company changes to a four-business-group system.
  NGK holds a press conference regarding the Non-Conformity in Testing Procedure.
  Sensory training begins at the Sensory Hazard Prediction Training Center.

  2019

  The NGK Group Code of Conduct is revised.
  The NGK Group Philosophy is announced.
  The decision is made to dissolve NGK TANGSHAN.

  

  

  

  

  

• 2021-

  2021

  Shigeru Kobayashi is appointed as president (the company’s thirteenth).
  Formulated NGK Group Vision: Road to 2050 as a mid-to long-term vision.

  2023

  Revised the NGK Group Corporate Business Principles and established the NGK Group Code of Conduct.

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