About NGK

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.

    1,000kV-class high-voltage insulator test facility
    NG Spark Plugs
  • 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.
    Acid proof pump
    Ceramic diffusers
  • 1941-1950

    1943
    Production of short-wave insulators begins.
    Short-wave insulators
  • 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.
    Solid-core station post insulators
    Beryllium-copper master alloy
  • 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.
    Porous blocks
    Insulator Washing Equipment
    Oxygen analyzer
    Translucent alumina ceramics HICERAM
  • 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.
    Fluidized bed sewage sludge incineration system
    Mold for tires
    Ceramic substrates for automotive catalytic converters HONEYCERAM
    Low-level radioactive waste treatment equipment
    NGK Wall, an enamel wall panel
  • 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.
    Ferrite products for magnetic heads
    O2 sensors
    Ceramic turbocharger rotors
    Bioreactor
    Diesel particulate filters (DPFs)
  • 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.
    Prototype NAS battery
    Gas bushings for ultrahigh voltage transformers
    Piezoelectric Micro-actuator for Inkjet Printers
    Ceramics for semiconductor manufacturing equipment
    Glass ceramic substrates for hard disks
  • 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.
    Piezoelectric ceramic display
    Home-use water purifier
    MFI zeolite gas separation membrane
    NAS batteries
    DNA microarray for prognostic diagnosis of pediatric cancer
    Subnano ceramic membrane
    In-vehicle high-precision NOx sensor
  • 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.
    Bonded wafers for surface acoustic wave (SAW) filters
    Gallium nitride (GaN) wafers
    Ultra-compact piezoelectric micro-actuator for HDD heads
    Micro-lenses for ultraviolet LEDs
    Chip-type ceramic secondary battery EnerCera series
  • 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).
    Directors at the time of the company’s founding (middle: president Okura)
    Main plant at the time of the company’s founding
  • 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)
    Chita Plant
  • 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.
    The 1st issue of Mizuho, the company’s internal newsletter
    Insulator plant in Mysore, India
    Atsuta Plant
  • 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.
    Komaki Plant
    High Voltage Laboratory
  • 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.
    The Insulator Museum
    NGK-BAUDOUR S.A.
    The UHV Contamination Test Hall
  • 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.
    NGK CERAMICS EUROPE S.A.
    NGK METALS CORPORATION
  • 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.
    NGK STANGER PTY. LTD.
    NGK-LOCKE POLYMER INSULATORS, INC.
    SIAM NGK TECHNOCERA CO., LTD.
    NGK CERAMICS SOUTH AFRICA (PTY) LTD.
  • 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).
    NGK CERAMICS SUZHOU CO., LTD.
    NGK TECHNOCERA SUZHOU CO., LTD.
    FM INDUSTRIES, INC.
    NGK CERAMICS POLSKA SP. Z O.O.
    Nagoya Civic General Gymnasium after obtaining naming rights
    NGK CERAMICS MEXICO, S. DE R. L. DE C. V.
    Ishikawa Plant
  • 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.
    Antitrust Laws Compliance Handbook
    NGK CERAMICS (THAILAND) CO., LTD.
    NGK CERAMICS DEVICE Tajimi Plant
    ACC second plant
    Sensory Hazard Prediction Training Center
  • 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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