1875 - Genzo Shimadzu Sr. (1839-1894) starts a business manufacturing educational physics and chemistry instruments at Kiyamachi-Nijo in Kyoto.
1877 - A hydrogen balloon is manufactured and a manned launch is performed successfully.
1895 - The manufacture of storage batteries begins.
1896 - Radiographs are successfully taken.
1909 - The first medical X-ray apparatus in Japan is completed (delivered to the Chiba Kokufudai Eisei Hospital)
1917 -The storage battery department is separated and Japan Storage Battery Co., Ltd. established.
Reorganized into a joint stock company (established September 1st , with a capital of 2 million yen).
1934 - The first spectrographs in Japan are completed.
1947 - The manufacture of electron microscopes is started for the first time in Japan.
1956 - The first gas chromatograph in Japan is developed.
1975 - Shimadzu Scientific Instruments is established.
1980 - The Shimadzu Science Foundation is established.
1989 - KRATOS GROUP PLC., U.K. is acquired.
1991 - The Keihanna Research Laboratory is established (Kansai Science City Seika District). The Hadano Works is established (Kanagawa prefecture).
1992 - A new operational principle is established - "To Realize Our Wishes for the Well-being of Mankind and the Earth".
1996 - SHIMADZU PHILIPPINES MANUFACTURING INC. (company producing electronic balances) is established in the Philippines.
1997 - Shimadzu's Sanjo works acquired ISO14001 accreditation.
1998 - Established SHIMADZU (SUZHOW) INSTRUMENTS MANUFACTURING, Co., Ltd. in China. Acquired Nordiko Ltd., U.K.
1999 - Developed optical CT for the first time in the world.
2000 - Established a joint-venture marketing company Dong-il SHIMADZU Corporation in S.Korea.
Started practical trials of Carbon Dioxide Fixation technology.
1991 - Shimadzu Oceania Pty Ltd (SOP) started direct operations in Australia, with its' head office in Sydney, Australia. The company was involved in the direct sales and marketing of scientific instruments. It also managed the sales and marketing through distributors of Shimadzu's medical products (Solus X-Ray Division of Hanimex), tensile testing instruments (AMITEST) and New Zealand (Douglas Scientific).
- The opening was also celebrated by the first in a series of ongoing joint CSIRO-Shimadzu seminars which are held alternately in Australia and Japan. The aim is to form a closer relationship between the research arms of both organisations.
1995, October - SOP started direct operations in New Zealand with its' branch head office in Auckland, after the Douglas Pharmaceuticals decided to close down its' scientific division. All Douglas Scientific staff were employed in the new company.
1996, July - Shimadzu Medical Systems Pty Ltd (SOPM) started direct operations with its' head office in Sydney for Shimadzu's Medical products. To avoid confusion, SOP changed its' registered name to Shimadzu Scientific Instruments (Oceania) Pty Ltds (SOPS). The two companies are sharing facilities and have a combined staffing in excess of 60 people, in all states of Australia and New Zealand.
1996, September - SAM purpose built and opened the second factory in Dandendong, Victoria. To date, approximately 50 different types of high-tech instruments including Analytical Instruments, Medical Equipment, Environmental Measuring instruments and Testing machines have been produced at SAM. Annual turnover is in excess of $50,000,000 and production will continue to expand. Staffing levels have been steadily increasing and over 150 people are now employed.
1998, May - SAM manufactured the 2000th model UV-1601 UV-Vis Spectrophotometer and celebrated three years of production. Click here to learn more about this historic event.
