Tdk history

Ferrite was invented in 1933 by two Japanese scientists, Doctor Yogoro Kato and Doctor Takeshi Takei, at the Tokyo Institute of Technology.

The company was founded on December 7, 1935 and is headquartered in Tokyo, Japan.”

In 1937, Tokyo established the Kamata Plant as with the demand for colored movies, the demand for ferrite ores increased.

1939 Japanese Naval Institute of Technology formally adopted ferrite cores for use with marine radio.

1940 Ferrite cores produced in large numbers, for use in mu-tuning units of radios.

In April 1945, the production came to a halt due to an accident in the Kamata plant.

Saito left TDK in 1946 and later became a member of the Diet.

1947 Rapid rise in demand for IF transformer cores for use in superheterodyne type radio receivers.

Audio tape and video tape adopted by broadcasting stations In 1950, the year the first tape recorder made in Japan was introduced, TDK embarked on a research and development project for magnetic tape as a new business, harnessing the company's strength in magnetic materials technology.

In 1951, the company also started the production of ceramic capacitors.

In 1952 TDK introduced its first magnetic recording tape.

Three years later, in 1953, a magnetic tape product called "Synchrotape " for open reel tape recorders was launched.

1954 World's first transistor radios introduced.

In 1955, Japan's first transistor radio hit the market.

Contributing to TDK's image and brand recognition The first video tape recorder (VTR) was introduced in the United States in 1956, but the extremely high sales price limited its appeal mainly to TV stations and similar.

In recognition of its broadcast level performance, Synchrotape was adopted by broadcasting stations in 1957.

1958 "Paramistor PM-4" (parametron arithmetic element) won the Grand Prix at the Brussels World Exposition.

1959: Overseas expansion begins with the opening of an office in New York City.

Some seven years later, color TV broadcasting was launched in 1960.

In 1961, the company was listed on the Tokyo Stock Exchange for the first time.

1962 Ferrite heads for magnetic drums introduced.

In 1963, the "Synchro Video Tape" developed by TDK was selected for use in broadcasting.

1965: TDK Electronics Corporation, the first overseas subsidiary, is established in New York.

In Japan TDK led the development of recording tape, becoming the first domestic manufacturer of audiocassettes in 1966.

In 1968, TDK set up a subsidiary in Taiwan to manufacture ferrite cores, ceramic capacitors, and coil components.

1969 Internet R&D began.

1970 Glass-bonding heads for magnetic discs introduced.

1971 Multilayer ceramic chip capacitors introduced.

1972 Winchester heads developed.

Avilyn videotapes hit the market in 1973.

1974 Switching power supplies introduced.

1975: TDK launches Super Avilyn audiotapes, the first nonchrome high-bias tape.

1976 "AVISERT" automatic inserters for printed circuit boards with vertical lead components introduced.

1977 Multilayer ceramic chip capacitors used in low-profile portable radios.

Video tape using Avilyn magnetic material (1978)

1979 Portable cassette tape players with headphones introduced.

But a breakthrough technology introduced by TDK in 1980 made it possible for the first time to form a coil by a layering process without winding, resulting in the world's first multilayer chip inductor reaching the market.

TDK's floppy disks, first produced in 1982, garnered a respectable market share partly based on the company's excellent reputation in audio and video recording media.

1983: Company's name is changed to TDK Corporation.

In 1984 TDK launched its Components Engineering Laboratory (CEL) in Los Angeles.

In 1985 the Japanese Council of Industrial Patents named Avilyn as one of the country's top 53 inventions of the century.

1986 Acquisition of magnetic recording head manufacturing company SAE Magnetics (H.K.) Ltd. based in Hong Kong.

In 1987 the company embarked on a joint venture with the Allen-Bradley Company, of the United States, to produce motor magnets for the automobile industry.

Sales in 1988 were up 25 percent over the previous year and were expected to continue to rise.

In 1989 TDK purchased a large American manufacturer of mixed-signal integrated circuits, Silicon Systems Inc. (SSI), for $200 million, further diversifying its range of products.

TDK moved aggressively to cut costs, consolidating Japanese production of blank audio and videotapes in one factory in 1993.

Based in Milpitas, California, and founded in 1994, Headway produced a variety of recording heads but was particularly strong in the area of GMR heads.

In May 1996, TDK announced a plan to shift all its floppy disk manufacturing overseas, some to a California subsidiary, some to several Southeast Asian companies.

Continuing its policy of making strategic acquisitions, TDK acquired Grey Cell Systems Limited in September 1997.

In June 1998 Sato retired from his position as president of TDK and was succeeded by Hajime Sawabe.

The company reported net income of $1 million on sales of $160 million for 1999.

In 2000, the company acquired Headway Technologies, a company based in the United States.

2001 Digital audio players introduced.

Generating more than one-quarter of 2002 revenues were recording devices, with the main product in this sector being magnetic recording heads used in computer hard disk drives.

More job cuts and plant closures were likely as TDK hoped to return to profitability by fiscal 2003.

The company also acquired a polymer lithium battery manufacturing company, Amperex Technology in 2005.

2008 Germany based electronic device manufacturer EPCOS acquired.

In 2009, the Development of Ferrite Materials and Their Applsications by TDK and the Tokyo Institute of Technology received the award, becoming the 89th IEEE Milestone worldwide and 10th in Japan.

2012 Dysprosium (Dy) free magnets developed.

In 2014, TDK stepped back from the recording media business.

2016 witnessed the acquisition of two companies, namely Micronas Semiconductor Holdings AG and Hutchinson Technology Inc.

The company came into a joint venture with Qualcomm in 2017.