DENSO Corp. history, profile and corporate video
DENSO Corp. engages in the manufacture and sale of electronic parts for automobiles and communication equipment. Its products include air conditioning systems, engine-related components, body equipment, driving control, and safety products. It operates through the following segments: Japan, North America, Europe, Oceania, and Others. The Others segment includes the area of Brazil. All other segments cater to the orders of its respective region. The company was founded on December 16, 1949, and is headquartered in Kariya, Japan.
DENSO Corporation is part of the Toyota Group, one of the largest conglomerates in the world.
“Denso History
1949 Establishment of Nippondenso Co., Ltd. having been separated from Toyota Motor Co., Ltd. with ¥15 million capital.
1950 Publication start of DENSO JIHO (internal Japanese-language newsletter).
1953 Technical cooperation with Robert Bosch GmbH of Germany.
1954 Start of Assigned Service Station System.
1955 Establish Injection Pump Preparation Section.
1956 Adoption of Corporate Motto.
Establishment of Refrigerator Preparation Section.
1957 Establishment of AICHI DENSO CO., LTD. (consolidated in 1959) to start spark plug business.
1960 Adoption of Corporate Song.
1961 Awarded Deming Prize; the most prestigious award for quality control.
1964 Adoption of DENSO Policy based on the Trade Liberalization of Japan (in correspondence to liberalization of trade).
1965 Operations start at Ikeda Plant and Hiroshima Plant.
1966 Adoption of DENSO Policy based on the Capital Liberalization of Japan (in correspondence to liberalization of capital).
Establish Chicago Sales Office and branch offices in Los Angeles and Detroit in the United States.
1967 Operations start at Anjo Plant.
1968 Establishment of IC Research Center.
1970 Operations start at Nishio Plant.
Adoption of DENSO Safety and Health and Environment Standard.
Establish overseas branch office in Stuttgart, Germany.
1971 Establishment of Nippondenso of Los Angeles, Inc. as the first overseas subsidiary.
Adoption of DENSO Globalization Policy (in correspondence to liberalization of automotive capital).
1972 Establishment of Nippondenso Thailand Co., Ltd., Nippondenso (Australia) Pty. Ltd., and Nippondenso Canada, Inc.
1973 Establishment of Nippondenso (Europe) B.V. in The Netherlands.
1974 Adoption of DENSO New Management Policy (in correspondence to new business environment after the oil crisis).
Operations start at Takatana Plant.
1977 Received the first gold medal during International Youth Skill Olympics.
1978 Started consignment production of small motors to what is currently known as Asmo Co., Ltd.
1979 Awarded the first Okochi Memorial Production Prize (Production Engineering Section).
Adoption of DENSO Policy for the 1980s (aiming to become a corporation with sales amount of one trillion yen after 10 years).
1980 Establish Nippondenso Compressores Ltda. in Brazil.
Awarded the Minister of International Trade and Industry Prize for excellent energy control at the plant.
1982 Operations start at Daian Plant.
1984 Opening of Nukata Testing Center.
Establishment of DENSO Taiyo Co., Ltd.
Tie-up with Allen-Bradley Co., Inc. in regard to factory automation (FA) business.
Establish Nippondenso Manufacturing U.S.A., Inc. in Michigan.
1985 The first recognition of In-house Technical Skill Certification (In-house Trade Skill Tests) based on In-house Trade Skill Tests Recognition Regulations set by the Ministry of Labor.
Establishment of Nippondenso America, Inc. near Detroit.
Received the Japan Society of Mechanical Engineers (JSME) Medal for New Technology for the first time.
1986 Adoption of DENSO Policy for the 1990s (aiming to become global DENSO).
Establishment of Technical Education Center.
1987 Operations start at Toyohashi Plant.
Establishment of DENSO Technical College.
Operations start at Kota Plant.
1989 Establishment of Nippondenso Manufacturing (Barcelona),. S.A. in Spain.
1990 Operations start at Agui Plant.
Establish NDM Manufacturing Ltd. in the United Kingdom as a joint venture with Magneti Marelli S.p.A. of Italy.
1991 Opening of DENSO Research Laboratories.
Establishment of Nippondenso International (Europe) B.V. in The Netherlands.
Start of a joint venture with AT&T Co. of the United States in regard to integrated circuit (IC) cards.
1993 Operations start at Kitakyushu Plant.
1994 Adoption of DENSO’s Principles for Change (reform of corporate constitution in the post-bubble period).
Yantai Shougang Nippondenso Co., Ltd. established in China.
Adopted DENSO Philosophy and new Corporate Song.
DENSO Micro Car was recognized as the world smallest model car in Guinness Book of Records.
1995 Received the global environment award.
Establishment of DENSO International Singapore Pte. Ltd.
1996 Corporate name changed to DENSO Corporation.
Acquisition of ISO 14001, the international standard of environmental management system, by Ikeda Plant.
1997 Acquisition of QS 9000/ISO 9001 certification by all automobile-related divisions of DENSO.
Adoption of “DENSO VISION 2005” as a long-term management goal.
1998 All domestic plants have obtained ISO 14001 certification.
Operations start at Zenmyo Plant.
1999 Acquisition of Rotating Machines Division of Magneti Marelli S.p.A.
2000 Adopt “DENSO ECOVISION 2005” as an environmental management goal.
2001 Acquisition of Climate Control Equipment Division of Magneti Marelli S.p.A
Estabishment of DENSO Abdul Latif Jameel Co., Ltd. in Saudi Arabia.
Opening of Abashiri Proving Ground.
2002 Achieved the goal of zero emissions at all 14 operations in Japan.
2003 Establishment of DENSO (China) Investment Co., Limited in China.
2004 Announcement of DENSO VISION 2015.
2005 Establishment of DENSO Training Academy Thailand, DENSO`s first overseas regional training center.
2006 Announcement of DENSO Group Corporate Behavior Declaration.
2007 Foundation of DENSO International Asia(DIAT).
2009 Establishment of DENSO SALES RUS L.L.C. in Russia
2010 Establishment of DENSO THERMAL SYSTEMS MOROCCO S.A.R.L. in Morocco”
*Information from Forbes.com and Globaldenso.com
**Video published on YouTube by “DENSO in North America“