The History of Furukawa Co., Ltd.

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Let us introduce the history of Furukawa Co., Ltd. which has been developed along with the history of Japan.

The History of Furukawa Co.,Ltd

Meiji
Taisho
Showa
Heisei

The history of Furukawa Co., Ltd. dates back to 1875 when the founder, Ichibei Furukawa began the copper mine operation, and since then, we have advanced with the modernization of Japan. From around 1900, our business began centering on the copper mine operation. We worked to innovate technologies with mining machines, such as imported rock drills, and owing to these technologies, the Ashio Copper Mine leaped ahead by producing the largest amount of copper in Japan. In the course of its development, a number of Furukawa Group companies were born.
During the Meiji Era, copper mine development became governmentally regulated and since the famous Ashio copper mine’s pollution was rising in the area along the Watarase River in 1891, the copper mine operation faced a possible shutdown. We, however, applied the latest technologies available at that time and made every effort to preserve the best possible environment in order to solve the problem. In a manner of speaking, Ashio became the starting point for environmental measures implemented in Japan, and pollution prevention and by-product collection technologies developed in the process of solving the problem are invaluable assets that have been passed down to today.


1868		・The Meiji Restoration
1871		・Clans were abolished and Prefectures were established
1872		・Railway opened between Shimbashi and Yokohama
1875	・Began the operation of the Kusakura Copper Mine in Niigata (Company foundation)
1877	・Began the operation of the Ashio Copper Mine in Tochigi The Ashio Copper Mine is where the Furukawa Company Group began. At that time in Japan, industries had not yet fully developed so operation of copper mines was essential.
1878		・The Tokyo Stock Exchange opened
1882		・The Bank of Japan was founded
1884	・The Ashio Copper Mine produced the largest amount of copper in Japan Comparison of amount of copper produced in copper mines around 1884
1885	・Began using rock drills to excavate mine cavity For the operation of copper mines, the latest technologies were imported from Europe and the U.S.A.. The rock drill was one of such technologies and the Ashio Copper Mine was one of the first places to start using them in Japan.
1886		・The use of electric lighting began for the public
1887	・Set up the Manufacturing Section at the Ashio Copper Mine and began machinery repair and manufacturing
1889		・The Constitution of the Empire of Japan was promulgated
1891		・Ashio copper mine pollution case
1894	・Began the operation of the Shimo-Yamada Coal Mine in Fukuoka and entered into the coal business
1899		・Long distance telephone service began between Tokyo and Osaka
1900	・Set up a machinery works at the Ashio Copper Mine and entered into the machinery business
1905	・Furukawa & Co. was founded. Shifted from private management to a corporate structure
1906	・Completed Hosoo Electric Power Generating Station in Nikko in Tochigi
1907		・The first Japanese gasoline-driven car was developed
1911	・Changed the organization to Furukawa General Partnership

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The Taisho Era saw significant improvements in labor conditions of workers after the labor disputes that took place at the end of the Meiji Era.
At Furukawa Co., Ltd., applying the technologies cultivated through the maintenance of imported rock drills, we developed the first domestic hand-held rock drill (Ashio-type, No.3 rock drill). This was the start of our rock drill business. During the same period, we began developing pumps for slurry transportation at copper mines and coal pits.
Around this time, owing to the heavy industry expanded due to the First World War, a number of companies were established in Japan. In 1918, the predecessor of the current Furukawa Company Group, Furukawa Mining Co., Ltd. was established and the technologies and products developed at the Ashio Copper Mine were applied in a wide range of fields by Furukawa Mining Co., Ltd.
However, in 1920 - immediately after Furukawa became a company limited by shares, the depression attacked the Japanese economy. Our company, like all others during this period suffered and we were forced to close unprofitable mines, but we utilized what we had through the rationalization of management.


1914	・Manufactured the first rock drill in Japan The first domestic rock drill was developed at Ashio. Because imported rock drills were too large and difficult to handle, development of a small rock drill that could accommodate the physique of Japanese operators had been expected.	・Railway opened between Tokyo and Yokohama ・World War I (- 1918)
1918	・Spun off the mining business from Furukawa General Partnership and established Furukawa Mining Co., Ltd.
1920	・Established The Furukawa Electric Co., Ltd. through investment in kind to Nikko Electric Copper Refinery	・Postwar backlash depression
1923		・The Great Kanto Earthquake
1925		・Radio broadcasting began

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In the midst of a tough economic situation including the Great Depression, Japan advanced towards the war between other countries. During the war, everyone in Japan had to cooperate in the war effort. In the government-controlled economy, the government controlled copper production and coal industries for the production of war supplies, and decided to increase production. To meet this demand, we reorganized the businesses and invested further into equipment and facilities by increasing capital.After the war, we developed further as the Japanese economy recovered. In the late 1950s, the demand for coal drastically dropped due to the energy revolution and the main energy source started shifting from coal to oil. Consequently we withdrew from the coal business in 1970, and as import liberalization began, the volume of imported ores was increasing and copper veins were depleting leading us to close the Ashio Copper Mine in 1973. These events made us shift the focus of our Metals Segment from mining to smelting, as it now had to compete with overseas manufacturers.
At the same time, we began focusing on the growing fields of machinery and electronic materials. Possessing products such as rock drills and pumps developed by utilizing mining technologies accumulated over the years was a great advantage to us.
In 1987, the UNIC Corporation, a manufacturer of truck-mounted cranes, became a member of our group through M&A. Despite Japan’s economic growth, infrastructure development was lagging so our products were appreciated and used in many infrastructure construction sites.
As well, our Research and Development Division was continuously researching effective uses of by-products generated during copper smelting process. High-purity metallic arsenic developed in 1962 is a material indispensable in the production of semiconductors and has grown to be the anchor product of the Electronic Materials Segment.

1929

・The Great Depression

1941

・Furukawa General Partnership was merged with Furukawa MiningCo., Ltd. to form the basis of the current management

・The Pacific War (-1945)

1942

・Went semi-public
・Spun off the machinery business from Ashio Mining to establish Ashio Manufacturing

1944

・Bought Osaka Smelter of Toa Chemical Smelting Co., Ltd. and established it as Osaka Cementation and Refining. Entered into the chemical business
・Built the Oyama Works of the Machinery Division of the Ashio Copper Mine in Tochigi

At the Oyama Works, pumps and mining machinery for copper mines were manufactured, not only for internal use but also to sell externally.

1946

・The Constitution of Japan was promulgated

1950

・Built the Takasaki Works of the Rock Drill Division in Gunma

At the Takasaki Works, rock drills were massproduced and we established the position of a leading rock drill manufacturer.

1951

・Began manufacturing of Titanium Dioxide and cuprous oxide at the Osaka Cementation and Refining

1953

・Television broadcasting began

1954

・Imported flash smelting technology from Outokumpu in Finland

1956

・Completed flash smelting plant at Ashio Smelting and Refining

1958

・Iwato economic growth (- 1961)

1960

・Began sales of petroleum

1961

・Began manufacturing of concentrated sulfuric acid at Osaka Cementation and Refining

1962

・Completed the Furukawa/Outokumpu flash smelting plant at Ashio Smelting and Refining
・Completed development and began sales of bowling facilities

A huge bowling boom took place in Japan at that time. We manufactured bowling facilities and provided healthy entertainment.

・Began manufacturing of crawler shovels at the Oyama Works

・Completed research and development of high-purity (99.999%) metallic arsenic and commenced with the sale of it

Arsenic is one of the by-products generated during the smelting stage of copper concentrates. It started getting attention as a semiconductor material around this time.

・The first Metropolitan Expressway opened

1963

・The Kurobe dam completed

1964

・The Tokaido Shinkansen railway opened
・The Tokyo Olympics were held

1965

・Izanagi economic growth (- 1970)

1969

・The Tomei Expressway opened
・Apollo 11 landed on the moon

1970

・Withdrew from the coal business

・The Osaka Expo was held

1971

・Built the Yoshii Works of the Bowling Division in Gunma
・Began manufacturing of wheel loaders at the Oyama Works

A large volume of our wheel loaders were exported as well and helped spread our name around the world.

1972

・Built the Iwaki Works of the Electronic Materials Division in Fukushima and Hino Research Laboratory in Hino City in Tokyo
・Changed the English company name to Furukawa Co., Ltd.

1973

・Discontinued the Mining Division of the Ashio Plant (closed the Ashio Copper Mine)
・Built the Mibu Works of the Construction Machinery Division in Tochigi

・The yen was allowed to float
・Oil crisis

1979

・Nippon Telegraph and Telephone Public Corporation began automobile telephone service

1980

・The sewage system coverage rate exceeded 30%

1982

・The Chuo Expressway opened

1985

・The Kan-etsu Expressway opened

1986

・Began development and manufacturing of multistory parking systems
・Expanded the high-purity metallic arsenic manufacturing facility at the Iwaki Works

・The bubble economy (- 1991)

1987

・Entered into the business of aluminum foil chemicals for electrolytic capacitors
・Bought UNIC Corporation (manufacturer for truck-mounted cranes)

“UNIC” has become a synonym for truck-mounted cranes in Japan. UNIC Corporation (then Kyoei Kaihatsu Co., Ltd.) entered the Group and the name was changed to Furukawa UNIC Corporation two years later.

・Took over the Manufacturing Division of UNIC Corporation and established it as the Sakura Works

・The Tohoku Expressway opened

1988

・The Seikan Tunnel opened and the Seto Ohashi Bridge opened

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In 1989, we changed the company name from Furukawa Mining Co., Ltd. to Furukawa Co., Ltd. and made a fresh start. In 1990 when the burst of the bubble devastated the Japanese economy, economic circumstances surrounding companies dramatically changed. Under this severe condition, companies further improved technological capabilities and promoted global business development in order to survive. We restructured the organization through the selection and concentration of the businesses and accelerated global expansion of the Machinery Segment. We launched rock drill sales companies and UNIC machinery manufacturers overseas one after another. In regards to materials, we enhanced and improved facilities for high-purity metallic arsenic. We also enhanced our research system, for example, by integrating the development divisions of metals, electronics and chemicals, and newly establishing the Materials Research Laboratory in order to develop new materials through the unification of technologies.
In 2005, we spun off businesses and adopted a Group management system, and began as the Furukawa Company Group. This made it possible for us to make decisions more quickly and based on the characteristics of each business, to conduct agile management. Through this endeavor, we are making efforts to maximize the corporate value of the whole Group.


1989	・The Japanese name changed from Furukawa Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha to Furukawa Kikai Kinzoku Kabushiki Kaisha	・Consumption tax was introduced
1990	・Bought an American breaker manufacturer
1991		・The economy bubble burst
1992		・The five-day-week system at school began
1995		・The Great Hanshin-Awaji Earthquake
1997	・Established a copper smelting company, Port Kembla Copper Pty. Ltd. in Australia ・Established a manufacturer of UNIC products/components, Furukawa UNIC (Thailand) Co., Ltd. in Thailand This is an affiliate company for the UNIC business established in Rayong, Thailand, which manufactures truck-mounted cranes and other products.	・The world’s first mass-produced hybrid cars were released
1998	・Established a sales company of rock drill products, Furukawa Rock Drill Europe B.V. in Holland This is an affiliate company for the construction and mining machinery business established in Utrect, Holland, which distributes rock drills and other products. ・Newly established the Materials Research Laboratory for Metals and Electronic Chemicals-related researches
1999	・Moved the Materials Research Laboratory to Tsukuba City in Ibaraki This laboratory conducts research and development related to electronic materials and chemical technologies, and semiconductor substrate processing technologies.
2000	・Newly established the Product Research Laboratory as an organization for new product development and the Techno-Research Laboratory for Machinery-related researches	・IT bubble burst
2001		・9.11 attack ・The sewage system coverage rate exceeded 60%
2002	・Integrated the Research & Planning Laboratory and the Product Research Laboratory to re-organize it as the R&D Planning Department ・Newly established the Semiconductor Growth System Department as a research organization for Compound Semiconductors	・The FIFA World Cup Korea/Japan was held
2003	・Established a sales company of rock drill products, Furukawa Rock Drill Korea Co., Ltd. in Korea ・Merged Furukawa Real Estate Co., Ltd. and established the Real Estate Division ・Established Taian Furukawa Machinery Co., Ltd. - a joint company for the manufacturing and distribution of UNIC cranes in China This is an affiliate company for the UNIC business established in Taian, Shandong, China, which manufactures and distributes truckmounted cranes and other products. ・Spun off and assigned the casting business to Furukawa Castec Co., Ltd.
2005	・Spun off the Machinery business, Metals business and Electronic Materials and Chemicals business and shifted to a group management structure as the Furukawa Company Group to enhance the management	・The Kyoto Protocol came into effect
2006	・Established a rock drills sales company, Furukawa Rock Drill (Shanghai) Co., Ltd. in China This is an affiliate company which deals with the construction and mining machinery business established in Shanghai, China and distributes rock drills and other products. ・Assigned the general machinery business to Otsuka Iron Works, Ltd. from Furukawa Industrial Machinery Systems Co., Ltd. and changed the company name to Furukawa Otsuka Co., Ltd.
2007	・Furukawa Rock Drill Co., Ltd. formed a business alliance with Mitsubishi Materials Corporation for the construction machinery and tool business for mining and civil engineering ・Formed a capital and business alliance for the GaN semiconductor epi wafer business with POWDEC K.K.	・Mobile phone/PHS subscriptions exceeded 100 million
2008	・Furukawa Industrial Machinery Systems Co., Ltd. merged with Furukawa Otsuka Co., Ltd. ・Newly setup the Nitride Semiconductors Department as a gallium nitride and related nitride semiconductor-related research organization ・Spun off the Fuels business and assigned it to Furukawa Commerce Co., Ltd.	・Global recession due to the financial crisis
2009	・Made TOHPE Corporation is the consolidated subsidiary for manufacturing and distributing paints and chemicals