HOYA Corp. history, profile and corporate video

 HOYA Corp. engages in the manufacture and sale of imaging products, electronics, and medical-related equipment. Its operations are carried out through the following segments: Information Technology, Life Care, and Other. The Information Technology segment includes electronics and imaging-related products. The Life Care segment offers health care and medical-related products. The Other segment comprises of information system design and new business operations. The company was founded on November 1, 1941 and is headquartered in Tokyo, Japan.“

“Hoya History

1941       Nov.      The brothers Shoichi and Shigeru Yamanaka established an optical glass production plant in the city of HOYA, Tokyo, and production of optical glass began.

HOYA´s First Plant

1944       Aug.       The plant incorporated with capital of 1.2 million yen.

1945       Oct.        HOYA launched crystal products.

Crystal Stemware

1961       Oct.        HOYA listed on the Second Section of the Tokyo Stock Exchange.

1967       Apr.       The company launched progressive multifocal lenses.

1972       Dec.       HOYA Started Sales of soft contact lenses.

1973       Feb.       The Company listed on the First Section of the Tokyo Stock Exchanges.

1974       Jan.        The company began production of IC substrates. The company introduced online ordering system for eyeglass lens.

1984       Aug.       The company was renamed Hoya Corporation, and the current Head Office building is completed.

1986       Oct.        The company established R&D Center bldg. in the city of Akishima.

1987       Jun.        HOYA launched intraocular lenses (IOLs) as well as aspherical molded-glass lenses.

1989       Apr.       HOYA established HOYA Europe B.V. of the Netherlands(currently HOYA Holdings N.V.) and HOYA Corporation USA to reinforce global management.

HOYA Holdings N.V., of the Netherlands.

1991       Mar.      HOYA launches glass disks for HDDs.

1993       Oct.        First Group’s Philosophy of Environment issued.

1995       Jun.        HOYA invited first outside director.

1996       Aug.       HOYA formed an alliance with IBM to develop a next-generation glass disk for HDDs.

1997       Apr.       HOYA reorganized Group operations and introduced “internal company system.” Hoya establishes HOYA Holdings Asia Pacific Pte Ltd, as the third regional area HQ after HOYA Holdings N.V. and HOYA Holdings, Inc., the area HQs for Europe and North America, respectively.

2001       May       HOYA launches HOYALUX Summit Pro and NuLux lenses that use EYRY, a high-index, plastic lens material.

                   Oct.        HOYA begins manufacturing soft intraocular lenses.

2003       Jun.        HOYA establishes a company-with-committees system.

                Jul.         HOYA transfers its global financial management operations to an area HQ in Europe.

2005       Nov.      HOYA common stock splits four-for-one.

2007       Aug.       As a result of the Tender Offer, PENTAX became a consolidated subsidiary of HOYA.

2008       Mar.      HOYA and PENTAX merged.

2009       Mar.      HOYA terminated the Crystal business.

                Oct.        To focus on the global market, the eyeglass division relocated its headquarters from the Netherlands to Thailand, home to a cutting-edge production facility.

2010       Jan.        HOYA Healthcare Co. Ltd. was absorbed by HOYA Corporation and became Eye Care Division.

                Jun.        HOYA sold the hard disk glass media manufacturing operation.

                Oct.        HOYA spined off the specialty glass business for imaging sensor into its wholly owned subsidiary, HOYA CANDEO OPTRONICS.

                Dec.       Disclosed its consolidated financial statements in accordance with first-time adoption of IFRSs for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2010 on its web site.

(Voluntarily filed its consolidated financial statements under IFRS from the fiscal year ended March 31, 2011.)

2011       Oct.        HOYA sold PENTAX Imaging Systems business to Ricoh Company, Ltd.

2012       Apr.       Eyeglass business expanded its direct presence in Brazil by acquiring 100% shares of OPTOTAL HOYA LIMITADA.

                Oct.        Next generation High Definition (HD+) Endoscopic platform debuted.

                Nov.      HOYA, SEIKO and EPSON; Agreements executed in the field of optical products business.

2013       Feb.       HOYA acquired eyeglass lens development and manufacturing business from Seiko Epson Corporation.

                Jun.        HOYA acquired 30% of the shares of Seiko Optical Products Co. Ltd., a wholly owned subsidiary of SEIKO Holdings Corporation responsible for the sales of the eyeglass-related products.

                Nov.      HOYA acquired the majority shares of Wassenburg, a leading company in the field of endoscope reprocessing.

2014       Mar.      Hoya completed the acquisition of a 50% stake in Seiko Optical Products that became a consolidated subsidiary.”

*Information from Forbes.com and Hoya.co.jp

**Video published on vimeo by “HOYA TURKEY“