
Corporate History
1940s
1946 | January |
After demobilization, Tomesaburo Teraura returns to Taikou Kikai Seisakusho and starts making cables at the company’s Takarazuka Cable Conduit Plant.
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1949 | January | Takarazuka Cable Conduit Plant is bought by Tomesaburo Teraura and restarts operations under the business name of Takarazuka Sakudokan K.K. with a capital of 2 million yen. Teraura assumes office as president. |
1950s
1950 | February | PVC-coated cable development starts. |
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TSK (Takarazuka Sakudokan K.K.) trademark is registered. | ||
1951 | February | Samples of PVC-coated cable are shipped. |
1952 | - | Mass production method is established for PVC-coated cables. |
Rail system is initiated for faster deliveries. | ||
1953 | May | Tomesaburo Teraura assumes the role of executive secretary of the Japan Small Vehicle Manufacturers Association. |
Construction of a strand wire plant is completed. | ||
- | System to give a much greater return of profits is voluntarily implemented. | |
1954 | August | Capital is increased to 4.75 million yen. |
- | Management creed of “Quality Product, Competitive Prices, Prompt Delivery” is enacted. | |
Inroads are made into the four-wheel-drive vehicle market. | ||
1955 | - | TSK research and development laboratory is established. |
1956 | October | Construction of a parts manufacturing plant is completed. |
- | Focus starts to be shifted from components for indicators to functional parts. | |
1957 | - | Involuntary retirement is undertaken due to a sharp decline in orders (employees reinstated after two years). |
Quality Control (QC) efforts are made and a system for improvement strategy proposals is implemented. | ||
1959 | September | Delivered cables damaged in the Isewan Typhoon floods are replaced free of charge. |
First issue of the company newsletter is published. |
1960s
1960 | April | Capital is increased to 50 million yen. |
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Nagoya Liaison Office is opened. | ||
May | Takarazuka Cable Conduit Association is inaugurated (predecessor to the Hoyukai). | |
October | Construction of Sanda Plant is completed. | |
Head office is completed (currently the offices of Hi-Lex Medical). | ||
1961 | April | Tokyo Office is opened. |
June | Tomesaburo Teraura assumes office as the first president of the Takarazuka Chamber of Commerce. | |
Die-cast end cap molding is started. | ||
1962 | February | TSK labor union is inaugurated. |
April | Merger is concluded with Toyo Machinery & Metal Co., Ltd., with Tomesaburo Teraura appointed vice president. | |
August | Monthly sales of 1 million cables are reached. | |
September | Construction of Sanda Die-Cast Plant is completed. | |
1963 | December | De-merger occurs with Toyo Machinery & Metal Co., Ltd., leading to an independent restart with 100 million yen in capital. |
- | In-house production of molds is started. | |
Development is started on New TS-coated Cables. | ||
1964 | - | TQC is fully incorporated, and work standards are created. |
1965 | August | Special production line for outer casings is completed at Sanda Plant. |
Hamamatsu Office is opened. | ||
Nagoya Liaison Office is reorganized as the Nagoya Office. | ||
1966 | March | Monthly sales of 1.5 million cables are reached. |
May | Continuous winding machine is developed. | |
July | Fire damages the plating section at Sanda Plant. Consequently, the 7th day of every month is designated as disaster prevention day. | |
October | Representative offices are opened in Sapporo, Sendai, and Fukuoka. | |
November | First QC case study presentation is held. | |
1967 | September | Monthly sales of 2 million cables are reached; the company’s share of the domestic market reaches 70 percent, and it becomes the world’s number one cable manufacturer. |
- | New TS-coated Cables are sold for the first time. | |
1969 | May | HI-LEX Cable is sold for the first time. |
Quality Assurance Section is established. | ||
August | Molding section is completed at Sanda Plant. | |
November | FACOM230-10D computer is introduced and office automation (OA) starts. |
1970s
1970 | March | 25th anniversary of the founding of the company is celebrated. |
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April | Tomesaburo Teraura is inaugurated as a member of the council of the Ministry of International Trade and Industry. | |
June | Teraura becomes the vice chairman of the Japan Auto Parts Industries Association, and is appointed head of the Kansai Branch. | |
July | Construction of Kaibara Plant is completed. | |
Teraura becomes the president of the Takarazuka Rotary Club. | ||
October | Monthly sales of 3 million cables are reached. | |
November |
Technical partnership with US-based Controlex, Inc. is started.
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Nagoya Office is relocated to the city of Toyota. | ||
- | Representative office is opened in Michigan, USA. | |
1971 | February | 4S Strategy is implemented. |
July | Corporate name is changed to Nippon Cable System, Inc. | |
August | Development of TSK Grease is undertaken. | |
September | Control boxes are developed for sea craft. | |
1972 | March | Expansion of Kaibara Plant is completed. |
October | Construction of Technical Center is completed. | |
November | TSK (Korea) Co., Ltd. is established. | |
1973 | March | Capital investment in Kanto TSK is made. |
April | Capital investment in Tamba Cable, Inc. is made. | |
May | New strand wire section is completed at Kaibara Plant. | |
June | New office is completed at Sanda Plant. | |
August | Capital investment in Tajima TSK, Inc. is made. | |
October | Technical partnership is established with Flexible Drive Agencies Pty. Ltd., Australia, for Hi-Lex Cables. | |
Capital investment in Hyogo Cable, Inc. is made. | ||
November | In-house production of base wire for inner cables is started. | |
Capital is increased to 150 million yen. | ||
1974 | April | Tomesaburo Teraura is awarded with the Medal with Blue Ribbon. |
July | Capital is increased to 190 million yen. | |
August | Capital is increased to 210 million yen. | |
November | Capital is increased to 315 million yen. | |
1975 | April | TSK of America is established. |
November | Jump Over S.M.I.L.E. movement is launched. | |
Remote control boxes are developed. | ||
December | Numata Foundation is established. | |
1976 | January | Capital investment in Kansai Cable, Inc. is made. |
March | Production on shaft cables is started. | |
April | Capital investment in Mikuni Cable, Inc. is made. | |
Capital investment and technical support agreement is ratified with Armstrong Cycle Parts Sdn. Bhd., Malaysia. | ||
July | Capital is increased to 456.75 million yen. | |
August | HI-LEX Cable-dedicated section is put into operation at Kaibara Plant. | |
1977 | March | Monthly sales of 5 million cables are exceeded, and earnings of 1 billion yen are reached. |
April | Joint-venture contract is signed with Lippo Group, Indonesia. | |
June | Capital is increased to 600 million yen. | |
Listed on the Second Section of the Osaka Securities Exchange.
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November | Capital is increased to 690 million yen. | |
December | Manufacturing with an integrated production line is started. | |
1978 | January | Vice President Makoto Teraura is advanced to president, and President Tomesaburo Teraura becomes chairman. |
June | Production plant is completed in the US, and production is started. | |
August | Tokyo Office is opened in Sayama, Saitama. | |
October | Capital is increased to 790 million yen. | |
November | Capital is increased to 908.5 million yen. | |
Chairman’s Award (later Founder’s Award) and President’s Award are inaugurated by the president. | ||
1979 | February | Monthly sales of 6 million are reached. |
October | PT. Lippo TSK Indonesia is established in Indonesia. | |
- | Window glass regulator system is developed. | |
November | Capital is increased to 1,044,775,000 yen. |
1980s
1980 | August | Tomesaburo Teraura, founder and chairman, passes away. |
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September | Monthly sales of 7 million cables are reached. | |
November | Capital is increased to 1,149,252,500 yen. | |
Teraura Scholarship Foundation is inaugurated. | ||
1981 | May | Capital investment in Hayashi Spring Inc. is made. |
Construction on Mikkabi Plant is completed. | ||
TSK of America is renamed Hi-Lex Corporation (HLC). | ||
August | Manual transmission (MT) control cable is developed. | |
October | Annual production of 90 million cables is reached, and earnings of 20 billion yen are exceeded. | |
65 percent market share in Japan is achieved, as is a number one ranking in cables worldwide. | ||
December | Capital investment in Thai Steel Cable (TSC) Co., Ltd., Thailand, is made. | |
1982 | January | Shouichi Kadoya, president of TSK (Korea) Co., Ltd. is awarded the Minister of International Trade and Industry Award for Economic Cooperation. |
April | Mikkabi Plant is expanded. | |
August | Technical partnership is established with West German company Kuster Co., Gmbh. | |
October | General quality inspections are instituted company-wide. | |
1983 | August | Mass production of window glass regulators is started. |
- | No. 1 rank in the Nikkei Review of Industry Leaders is achieved. | |
HLC expands its plant. | ||
1984 | June | Capital is increased to 2,522,933,500 yen. |
September | First TSK robot is introduced at Sanda Plant. | |
December | Technical license agreement is concluded for Hi-Lex Cable in the Soviet Union. | |
- | Steering systems are developed for small marine engines. | |
Cable Engineering Standard (CES) is created. | ||
1985 | February | President Teraura is appointed honorary ambassador of the state of Michigan to Japan. |
March | Monthly sales of 8 million cables are reached. | |
April | Technical partnership is established with Dae Dong Cable Co., Ltd., South Korea. | |
Construction of Kanto TSK Inc. Mutsuzawa Plant is completed. | ||
June | Construction of Utsunomiya Technology Center is completed. | |
November | Izushi Cable, Inc. is established. | |
- | Hi-Lex Automotive Center is opened in Detroit, USA. | |
1986 | January | TPM activities are kicked off. |
September | 40th anniversary of the founding of the company is celebrated. | |
1987 | April | Capital investment in Flexdrive Industries Ltd., Australia, is made. |
June | Capital investment in Dae Dong Cable Co., Ltd., South Korea, is made. | |
- | HLC is presented with the Pentastar Award by Chrysler. | |
1988 | September | Convertible bonds are issued for the first time. |
October |
PM Excellent Place of Business prize is awarded.
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PT. Hi-Lex Parts Co., Ltd. Indonesia is established. | ||
- | GVE(Group Value Engineering) activities are introduced. | |
1989 | January | Construction of technical headquarters on the head office site is completed. |
- | Hayashi Spring Inc. is renamed Nippon Cable System Saitama. | |
May | Construction of Sanda-Nishi Plant is completed. | |
Hi-Lex Controls Inc., America, is established. | ||
June | Nippon Cable System Shimane, Inc. is established. | |
September | Capital investment in Bowden, UK, is made. |
1990s
1990 | July | Monthly sales of 10 million cables are reached. |
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- | HCI operation is started. | |
1991 | September | Ceremony is held to celebrate the 30th anniversary of the founding of the labor union. |
1992 | May | Construction of the Kanto TSK Kamogawa Plant is completed. |
Technology licensing agreement with Madhusudan Auto Ltd., India, and Flextech Manufacturing (Pty) Ltd, South Africa, is signed. | ||
June | Sanda-Nishi Plant is expanded. | |
November | TSK of America is established as a holding subsidiary in the US. | |
- | IBM AS400 Online System is introduced. | |
1993 | January | Technical assistance agreement is signed with ABF, Hungary. |
May | Technical assistance agreement is signed with Mueller, Brazil. | |
October | Hi-Lex Mexicana S.A.DE C.V. is established. | |
- | Integrated mini-accelerator actuator is developed and goes on sale. | |
Auto pull-up systems are developed. | ||
1994 | May | Project team is formed for entering the field of medical equipment. |
September | Effort to acquire ISO9001 certification is launched. | |
November | Slim 30 methodology is implemented. | |
December | HCI is presented with the Ford Q1 Award. | |
1995 | January | Part of the head office and Sanda Plant is damaged in the Great Hanshin Earthquake. |
May | Joint venture company, Chongqing TSK Cable Ltd. (CTC), is established in Chongqing (now named CHONGQING HI-LEX CABLE SYSTEM GROUP CO., LTD. (CHG)). | |
June | New TSC Plant is completed. | |
September | ISO9001 certification is acquired. | |
1996 | January | Representative office is opened in Europe. |
February | CTC operation is started. | |
April | Toyota President’s Award for Cost Improvement is received. | |
May | Medical equipment goes on sale. | |
September | Mikkabi Plant Circle representatives are presented with the Honda NH Circle Japan Block Competition Award for Excellence. | |
October | 50th anniversary of the founding of the company is celebrated. | |
1997 | January | Toyota President's Award for Cost Improvement is received. |
November | Activities toward QS-9000 certification are kicked off. | |
- | Honda VA and VE Special Awards are received. | |
Three companies in America and Mexico are awarded QS9000 certification. | ||
HCI and HLM plants are expanded. | ||
Licensed production agreement is signed with Kuster Co., Gmbh for window glass regulators. | ||
Production at Southeast Asian companies is greatly reduced due to financial instability. | ||
Lippo TSK and TSC are awarded ISO9002 certification. | ||
Raising and lowering systems for air conditioner grilles go on sale. | ||
1998 | April | Construction on the new HLM Plant is completed. |
July | Machino TSK Nippon Cable (P) Ltd. is established. | |
October | QS-9000 certification is acquired. | |
- | Electric nozzle deflectors are developed and go on sale. | |
Europe Office is closed. | ||
1999 | February | Toyota Quality Control Excellence Award is won for the second year in a row. |
March | Hi-Lex Vietnam Co., Ltd. (HLV) is established. | |
May | Nagoya Office is relocated. | |
October | Mikkabi Plant Circle is a participant in the Honda NH Circle World Meeting. | |
President Shinomiya of TSK (Korea) Co., Ltd. is awarded the Minister of International Trade and Industry Prize. | ||
- | Capital is increased for TSK (Korea) Co., Ltd., and factories are expanded. | |
Wheelchair fixtures are developed and go on sale. |
2000s
2000 | March | Activities toward CAPS are kicked off. |
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May | Hi-Lex Cable System Co., Ltd. (HCS) is established in the UK. | |
June | Certification of Excellence is received from Mazda. | |
October | P.T. Lippo TSK (currently P.T. Hi-Lex Indonesia (P) (HLINA)) becomes a subsidiary. | |
- | Internal urethral catheter for cats is commercialized. | |
Hi-Lex Do Brazil (HLB) Office is opened. | ||
2001 | January | CTC in China becomes a subsidiary. |
February | Fuji Hi-Lex is established. | |
June | ISO14001 certification is acquired. | |
- | Partnership is formed with Alpha Corporation. | |
Full-scale mass production of power sliding doors is started. | ||
2002 | February | Operation of HCI’s Hudson Plant is started. |
March | Hi-Lex India (P) Ltd. (HLIND) becomes a subsidiary. | |
April | Alpha Hi-Lex is established. | |
August | Guangzhou TSK Control Cable Co., Ltd. (GTC) is established. | |
September | Hyogo Prefectural Governor’s Prize is received for outstanding offices for the employment of persons with disabilities. | |
Chongqing TSK Automotive Inc. (CTP) is established (currently Chongqing Hi-Lex Control Cable System Co. Ltd. (CQHL)). | ||
November | 30th anniversary of the founding of TSK (Korea) Co., Ltd. is reached. | |
- | Overseas production of 50 percent is exceeded. | |
Approval is obtained to produce medical equipment. | ||
2003 | January | Yantai TSK Cable System Co., Ltd. (YTC) is established. |
New Izushi Cable Plant is completed. | ||
March | 40th anniversary of the formation of the labor union is reached. | |
July | DAEDONG HI-LEX INC. (DDHL) is established in South Korea. | |
October | Earnings of 50 billion yen are exceeded. | |
- | CAPS activities are started at overseas subsidiaries. | |
GTC operation is started. | ||
CTP operation is started. | ||
2004 | March | Full-scale production of window glass regulators is started by YTC. |
October | Izushi Cable is damaged in major floods. | |
- | Door modules from Japan, the US, and Korea are ordered from PLG. | |
Activities toward certification of CAPS instructors are started. | ||
2005 | April | 10th anniversary of the founding of CTC is reached. |
November | Toyota Technical Development Appreciation Award is received. | |
- | ISO13485 certification is received (medical equipment quality control system). | |
Defined contribution pension scheme is introduced. | ||
TSC is listed on the stock market. | ||
2006 | January | PLG starts sales. |
March | QS9000 certification is converted to the new ISO/TS16949 certification. | |
May | Nippon Cable System Inc. is renamed Hi-Lex Corporation. | |
July | Hi-Lex Hungary Cable System Manufacturing LLC is established. | |
November | Award for originality is received from the Japan Society for Artificial Organs. | |
Kyotan TSK, Co., Ltd. operations are started. | ||
- | Micro-catheter, Gold Crest, is developed and goes on sale. | |
Large-scale orders of door modules are received in North America. | ||
New TSC Plant is transferred and expanded. | ||
2007 | December | Medical equipment division is introduced. |
Guangzhou Hi-Lex Cable System Co., Ltd. is established (currently Guangdong Hi-Lex Cable System Co. Ltd (GHL)). | ||
Changchun TSK Automotive Inc. is established (currently CHANGCHUN HI-LEX CABLE CO., LTD. (CCHL)). | ||
- | North America New Technical Center is opened. | |
Double-threaded outers are developed. | ||
New DDHL plant in Bosun is opened | ||
2008 | May | Operation of the new Hi-Lex Saitama Plant is started. |
Resin molding division is relocated to Sanda-Nishi Plant. | ||
July | Daedong Hi-Lex of America Inc. (DDHLA) is established. | |
2009 | April | CHG is relocated to a new plant. |
September | Takarazuka Plant (relocated to Sanda Plant) becomes the site for the relocation and expansion of the medical equipment division. | |
GHL operation is started. | ||
HLB subsidiary is withdrawn. | ||
Mass production is started on the new helix cable product, SPI-RAX. | ||
October | Hi-Lex Kanto Kamogawa Plant is closed. | |
November | First order from Fuji Heavy Industries for our window glass regulators is received. | |
First exhibition at the world's largest medical equipment exhibition, MEDICA, is held. |
2010s
2010 | February | Honda Award for Excellent Engineering is awarded to the R&D department. |
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May | 15th anniversary of the founding of CHG is celebrated. | |
June | Operation of HLIND No. 2 Plant is started. | |
July | New power sliding door is ordered by Nissan. | |
December | Golden Presentation Award is received from the Japanese Society for Alternatives to Animal Experiments. | |
- | Shanghai Office is opened. | |
China market sales of 22 billion yen are exceeded. | ||
Operation of CCHL Plant is started. | ||
2011 | March | Around 23 million yen is donated in relief after the Great East Japan Earthquake (HL Group). |
May | Development Contribution Award is received from Nissan Shatai (for the mass-production of power sliding doors.) | |
June | Operation of HLINA No. 2 Plant is started. | |
July | Order for gear shift cables is placed by a Russian car maker. | |
August | First order is received from Renault (900 million yen per year). | |
November | President Teraura becomes the director of Kibo no Ie (House of Hope—a welfare facility for the disabled). | |
- | CHG is awarded the All China Labor Competition for Advanced Teams Award (Line 4A02). | |
2012 | March | 50th anniversary of the formation of the Hi-Lex labor union is celebrated. |
Orders are taken for the powered rear glass slider for Nissan pick-up trucks. | ||
40th anniversary of the founding of TSK (Korea) Co., Ltd. is reached. | ||
July | HCS is presented with the Honda Quality Circle Improvement and Development Award in the UK. | |
November | Mass production is started on the power rear gate (PRG) for Fuji Heavy Industries. | |
Inroads are made into the assistant artificial heart industry (Sun Medical Technology Research Corp. becomes a subsidiary). | ||
December | HI-LEX RUS LLC (HLR) is established in Russia. | |
- | German Technology Center representative office is established. | |
2013 | March | Hi-Lex Europe (HLE) Technology and Business Center is established. |
July | Listed on the Second Section of the Tokyo Stock Exchange. | |
Mass production is started on the TOTO bathtub drain cap cable. | ||
September | Masuda Mega Solar Plant is completed, and power generation is started. | |
2014 | March | Daedong Door, Inc. (DDDR) is established. |
May | Pt. Hi-Lex Cirebon (Indonesia) is established. | |
July | Chongquing Evaheart Medical Device Co., Ltd. (CEMD) is established. | |
Construction begins on HLR Plant. | ||
Hangzhou Hi-Lex Cable System Co., Ltd. (HZHL) is established in China. | ||
October | Consolidated net sales of 200 billion yen are reached. | |
December | HLIND Plant in Chennai is newly established. | |
- | PLG receives orders for struts compatible with Mazda vehicles. | |
Hino EPBK R&D Excellence Award is received. | ||
Platform lifting home door is developed. | ||
2015 | June | Share price reaches its highest value to date. |
September | Approval is granted for the manufacturing of new product, Hi-Lex Graft artificial blood vessels. | |
October | Micro-catheter for cancer treatment (broadcast on the TV show Doors to Dreams) goes on sale. | |
- | Sales are restarted in Brazil with a third entrance into the market. | |
New window glass regulators orders are received from HLE clients in Europe. | ||
2016 | January | 70th anniversary of the founding is reached. |
April | Ceremony celebrating the 70th anniversary of the founding is held. | |
May | Spanish company Castellon Automotive becomes a subsidiary. | |
October | Lames S.P.A in Italy becomes a subsidiary. | |
Establishment of Hi-Lex Miyagi is in the works. | ||
Establishment of a manufacturing subsidiary in the Czech Republic is in the works. |