Shimadzu UK - About Us : History

1875

Genzo Shimadzu Sr. (1839-1894) starts a business manufacturing educational physics and chemistry instruments at Kiyamachi-Nijo in Kyoto.

Genzo Shimadzu Sr. (1839-1894)

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)

The first medical X-ray in Japan

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.


The first gas chromatograph in Japan	Electron microscope

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).

The Keihanna Research Laboratory

1992

A new operational principle is established - "To Realize Our Wishes for the Well-being of Mankind and the Earth".

1994

SHIMADZU AUSTRALIA MANUFACTURING PTY. LTD. is established in Australia (company producing measuring instruments and medical equipment).

A joint venture company is established in China, the Tianjin-Shimadzu Hydraulic Equipment Co., Ltd.

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.

2001

Developed the Xcise^TM, an integrated gel-excision processor in partnership with Proteome Systems Limited.

Life Science Laboratory was established.(Kyoto,Tsukuba)

2002

Koichi Tanaka was awarded the Nobel Prize in Chemistry.

Shimadzu's Emblem

The corporate emblem, "the Circle Crossed" originates with Genzo Shimadzu, the founder of Shimadzu Corporation, who decided to use it as our trademark in 1912. Later, the emblem was scientifically re-designed into the present trademark.

The solid circular margin has a width of 1/8 the outer diameter of the circle while the cross bars are another 10% thicker. This design is based on scientific data used to optimize the beauty of uniformity as the dimensional ratios used correct the illusion of difference in widths leading to a pleasing perception of balance.

In late 16th century, when Yoshihiro Shimadzu, the lord of Satsuma Province, passed through Banshu Himeji to visit his land newly given to him by Hideyoshi Toyotomi, one of the three warriors who reunited Japan, Sohbei Inoue, an ancestor of Genzo Shimadzu was given a role to attend the lord. In recognition of the services of Sohbei Inoue, it is reported that Lord Yoshihiro Shimadzu allowed him to use the name of Shimadzu and the family emblem, "the Circle Crossed."

About Us