History

Known initially as Izumi-ya, Sumitomo began its operations in the fields of copper refining, trading, and mining. Its Shikoku Besshi Copper Mine first opened in 1691, and by 1888, mining operations had expanded enough to warrant the introduction of the "shop practices" concept as a way of manufacturing and repairing equipment and tools used at the mine. This marked the beginning of Sumitomo Heavy Industries, Ltd.

The company went through several name changes during the course of its history, first with the change to Kikaika (or "Machinery Division") in 1894, and then to Niihama Seisakusho (or "Niihama Works") in 1928. The company was established as an independent public corporation in 1934 under the name of Sumitomo Machinery Co., Ltd. In 1940, its name was again changed to Sumitomo Kikai Kogyo Co., Ltd. (or "Sumitomo Machinery Industries").

In 1969, the company joined forces with Uraga Heavy Industries, Ltd., a company first established as Uraga Dock Co., Ltd. in 1897 with the advocacy of Takeaki Enomoto. After the merger, the company, now operating under the name of Sumitomo Heavy Industries, Ltd., opened up two large-scale plants, the Oppama Shipyard (currently known as the Yokosuka Works) and Toyo Works, establishing its foundations as a heavy industries company.

Sumitomo Heavy Industries has always strived for technological innovation and applies cutting-edge technologies wherever possible. The company operates in a broad range of business areas ranging from manufacturing equipment and infrastructure to fields making use of the latest advanced technology. Most recently, the company's research and development efforts have focused on fine, mechatronics, and systems technologies and by doing so it has been able to gain a foothold in the areas of precision control devices and key components. For example, the company has succeeded in developing equipment for the manufacturing of LCDs and semiconductors as well as digital home appliances. This new area of business is positioned to become the third core competency for the company after power transmission equipment and plastics machinery.

Significant Events for Sumitomo Machinery Significant Events for Uraga Heavy Industries
1888
November 20 - The company is launched as a machinery production and repair shop for the Besshi Copper Mine
1897
June 21 - Incorporated as Uraga Dock Co., Ltd.
1902
Acquires Tokyo Ishikawajima Shipyards Co., Ltd.'s Uraga Works
1928
Name changed to Sumitomo Besshi Copper Mine, Ltd. - Niihama Works
1934
November 1 - Incorporated as Sumitomo Machinery Co., Ltd.
1940
Name changed to Sumitomo Machinery Industries Co., Ltd.
1945
Name changed to Shikoku Machinery Industries Co, Ltd.
1948
Tamashima Diesel Co., Ltd. is established
1949
May - Company stock is jointly listed on the Tokyo and Osaka Stock Exchanges
1952
Renamed Sumitomo Machinery Industries Co., Ltd.
1953
Tamashima Diesel Co., Ltd. is renamed Uraga Tamashima Diesel Co., Ltd.
1957
New York office is established (currently known as SHI (USA))
1958
June - Company stock is listed on the Nagoya Stock Exchange
1959
Hirozoki Co., Ltd. joins Sumitomo business alliance
1961
Establishment of Nagoya Works
1962
Hiratsuka Laboratory opens Merges with Uraga Tamashima Diesel Co., Ltd. to form Uraga Heavy Industries Co., Ltd.
1964
London office is established (currently known as SHI (Europe))
1965
Establishment of Chiba Works Equity investment made into Nittoku Metal Industry Co., Ltd.
1966
Sumitomo Machinery Corporation of America (SMA) is established.
Environmental Health Research Center opens in Hiratsuka
Significant Events for Sumitomo Heavy Industries
1969
  • June

    Sumitomo Machinery Industries Co., Ltd. and Uraga Heavy Industries Co., Ltd. merge to form Sumitomo Heavy Industries, Ltd.

1971
  • August

    Establishment of Sumitomo Heavy Industries Envirotech Co., Ltd.

1972
  • May

    Establishment of Sumitomo Yale Co., Ltd. (currently known as Sumitomo NACCO Material Handling Co., Ltd.)

  • June

    Establishment of Oppama Shipyard (currently known as Yokosuka Works)

  • December

    Delivers the Company's first cyclotron

1973
  • February

    Establishment of the Ohshima Shipyard

  • November

    Establishment of Toyo Works
    Kogyo Co., Ltd. is merged to form Shin Nippon Machinery Co., Ltd.

1974
  • June

    Equity investment made into Cyclo Drive Germany (currently known as Sumitomo (SHI) Cyclo Drive Germany GmbH)

  • October

    Sumitomo Eaton Hydraulics Co., Ltd. is established

1975
  • February

    Systems Research Center is established in Tanashi

  • September

    Japan's first ULCC (420,000 ton tanker) is launched into sea. Thereafter, the ship is enlarged into the Sea Wise Giant, the world's largest tanker at 560,000 tons

1976
  • November

    Malaysia Shipyard & Engineering is established

1977
  • November

    Sumitomo Cyclo Redutores do Brasil Ltda. (SCB) is established

1978
  • May

    Dongguk Heavy Industries is established in South Korea

1979
  • March

    Receives orders for steel girders to be used on the Innoshima Bridge

1980
  • March

    SPM Corporation (currently known as SHI Plastic Machinery Inc. of America) is established
    Develops miniature cyclotron for use in medical diagnostics

  • April

    Sumitomo Heavy Industries Casting and Forging Co., Ltd. (currently known as Sumitomo Heavy Industries Himatex Co, Ltd.) is established

1981
  • April

    Completes production of world's largest press at 16,000 tons

1982
  • March

    Delivers first gas turbine-equipped naval escort vessel, the Hatsuyuki

  • October

    Merges with Nittoku Metal Industry Co., Ltd., and forms Precision Equipment Division (currently known as the Precision Equipment Group)

  • December

    Shin Nippon Machinery Co., Ltd. is listed on the Tokyo Stock Exchange Second Section

1983
  • April

    Sumitomo Eaton Nova Corporation is established
    Integration of the Hiratsuka Research Center and the Environmental Technologies Research Center

1984
  • September

    Delivers first all-Japanese made training ship, the Nihonmaru

1985
  • March

    Establishment of Hong Kong office

  • June

    International Construction Machinery (Shenzhen) Co., Ltd. is established in China

1986
  • October

    Sumitomo (SHI) Construction Machinery Co., Ltd. is established

1987
  • August

    SMA moves its factory from New Jersey to Virginia

  • November

    Osaka University orders world's largest ring cyclotron

1988
  • April

    Enters the laser processing business
    Opening of the Great Seto Bridge

  • October

    The Diesel Engine Group is separated to form Diesel United Ltd. jointly with IHI

1989
  • January

    SHI Resort Development Co., Ltd. is established on the former Kawama Factory site

  • May

    Acquires Lumonix, a Canadian manufacturer of laser devices

  • September

    Delivers training vessel, the Kaioumaru Completes construction of Yokohama Bay Bridge

  • December

    Completes development of the world's smallest synchrotron radiation (SR) emitting device

1990
  • October

    SHI Plastic Machinery Co, Ltd. (formerly known as SPM) is established as a sales and service company for injection molding machines

1991
  • March

    Delivers world's first 95,000 ton, two-tiered tanker

  • October

    Absorbs the operations of Sumitomo Heavy Industries Envirotech and strengthens environmental business

1992
  • January

    The KSX-815, an ultra high-precision flat surface grinding machine, is awarded the Great New Product Award by the Nikkan Kogyo Shimbun

  • June

    The Quantum Technology Research Center is established in Tanashi

  • July

    Construction of the Laser Center is completed in Hiratsuka

1993
  • March

    Delivery of the Company's first double-hull VLCC

  • April

    Establishment of a dedicated factory within the Tamashima Works (currently known as the Okayama works) site for the compact Cyclo Gear motor, Altax®

  • June

    Delivery of the world's largest mud work system, the Hakuryo

  • August

    Receipt of orders for stiffening girders for the Akashi-Kaikyo Bridge, the world's longest suspension bridge

1994
  • April

    Main Research and Development Center is established
    The Company's compact Cyclo® Gear motor, Altax® , receives the Nikkei BP Technology Award

  • August

    Eight offices in Tokyo are consolidated to form the Shinagawa Head Office

  • December

    Establishment of a new Cyclo® Drive company, Tianjin SM Cyclo Co., Ltd. in Tianjin, China

1995
  • January

    Construction completed for Tokyo Bay Aqua-Line Bridge

  • May

    Delivers the Tosho, the world's largest grab bucket dredger

  • August

    Delivers first boiler machine for power generation
    Delivers a large-scale experimental ship, the Asuka

  • September

    Lumonix Corporation, a Canadian affiliate of the Company, is listed on the Canadian Stock Exchange
    New Cyclo® Drive company is established in Singapore

  • October

    The Company and IHI jointly form the naval venture Marine United

1996
  • March

    Delivers world's largest continuous unloader with a iron ore and coal loading capacity of 3,300 T/H and 2,200 T/H, respectively

  • April

    A new Cyclo® Drive company, Tatung SM Cyclo Co., Ltd., is established in Taiwan

  • October

    Sumitomo (SHI) Cyclo Drive Europe, Ltd. is established in the United Kingdom

1997
  • February

    Construction of the Chikunan Clean Center, a large-scale, fully continuous municipal incinerator for the city of Tsukuba, is completed

  • April

    A new Cyclo® Drive company, SM Cyclo of Korea Co., Ltd., is established in South Korea
    City Marina Velasis opens on the former Kawama Works site

  • June

    Oppama Shipyard is renamed Yokosuka Works

  • October

    Delivers training ship, the Seiunmaru

1998
  • January

    Sumitomo Plastic Machinery Manufacturing Company of America is established to manufacture injection molding machines in the US.

  • March

    Finalizes a technology sharing agreement with Kruppe Uhde for gasification furnaces

  • April

    Opening of the Akashi-Kaikyo Bridge, the world's longest suspension bridge

  • May

    Begins sale of SE-S series electric injection molding machines
    Relocates gear box factory from Tanashi Works to Okayama Works

  • June

    Receives order for a coal-fired power generation system for independent power producers (IPP)

1999
  • March

    Completes construction of a large-scale fully continuous municipal incinerator for the city of Akashi in Hyogo Prefecture

  • April

    Opening of the Kurushima-Kaikyo Bridge (Shimanami Kaido)

  • May

    Acquires Osaka Chain and Machinery, Ltd. (currently known as SEISA Gear, Ltd.)

  • June

    Implements corporate officer performance system

  • December

    Establishment of SHI Control Systems, Ltd.

2000
  • January

    Reorganizes the Main Research and Development Center to form the current Research and Development Center

  • March

    Delivers the Tenryu, a training support ship

  • July

    Separates the precision forging business from the Company and establishes Sumiju Precision Forging Co., Ltd.

  • October

    Sumitomo Heavy Industries Finetech, Ltd. is established

  • November

    Acquires CBC Tech Co., Ltd., a manufacturer of extrusion molding machines; the company is renamed Sumitomo Heavy Industries Modern, Ltd.

2001
  • March

    Joint establishment with NKK and Hitachi Zosen of JP Steel Plantech Co., Ltd., a sales company for steel manufacturing

  • April

    Sumitomo Construction Machinery Co., Ltd, is split into two companies: Sumitomo Construction Machinery Co., Ltd., which focuses on roadwork equipment and excavators, and Sumiju Construction Crane Co., Ltd., which focuses on the crane business
    Establishes SHI Financial Services Co., Ltd.

  • May

    Forms alliance with Hitachi Construction Machinery Co., Ltd. and Tadano Ltd. for work in the crane business

  • June

    Begins operation of Synex Co., Ltd. after acquisition of NEC's semiconductor encapsulator business

  • September

    Transfer of the Research and Development Center from the Hiratsuka office to the Yokosuka Works site
    The Company's Proton Therapy System is the first one of its kind to be recognized as a medical treatment device in Japan

  • December

    Finalizes technology sharing agreement with Foster Wheeler Energy on circulating fluidized bed boilers

2002
  • January

    Acquires US-based APD Cryogenics, Inc. and expands cryogenic refrigeration business

  • April

    The related engineering divisions of NKK, Hitachi Zosen, and the Company join JP Steel Plantech Co., Ltd.
    Establishes Sumitomo Heavy Industries Advanced Machinery Co., Ltd. as a sales and service company focusing on laser products

  • June

    The semiconductor encapsulation device business of Shibaura Mechatronics Co., Ltd. is transferred to Synex Co., Ltd.
    The Company's paper manufacturing machinery and press machine divisions are split up; establishment of Sumitomo Heavy Industries Techno-Fort Co., Ltd.

  • July

    Finalizes technology sharing agreement with SOPRA on high energy excimer laser-emitting devices
    Establishes Hitachi Sumitomo Heavy Industries Construction Crane Co., Ltd. jointly with Hitachi Construction Machinery Co., Ltd.

  • November

    Completes construction of precision machinery factory within the Yokosuka Works site

2003
  • March

    Completes construction of a logistics center for power transmission equipment in Shanghai

  • April

    Shin Nippon Machinery Co., Ltd. becomes a wholly owned subsidiary after a stock swap
    The shipbuilding division is split up and subsequently, Sumitomo Heavy Industries Marine & Engineering Co., Ltd. is established
    The Company's shares are delisted from the Nagoya Stock Exchange

  • June

    Establishes Metso SHI Co., Ltd. to focus on paper making and pulp equipment
    Establishment of two new injection molding machine sales offices in Dalian, China and Detroit, USA

  • August

    Establishes Sumitomo Heavy Industries Modern, Ltd. to focus on the film processing equipment business

  • September

    The Company's shares are delisted from the Frankfurt Stock Exchange

  • October

    Introduces a global group brand for the Power Transmission Equipment business
    Integrates the operations of Otsuka Tech Co., Ltd. into Sumitomo Heavy Industries Finetech Co., Ltd.

  • November

    Completes construction of new Sumitomo Heavy Industries Forging Co., Ltd. factory within the Yokosuka Works site

2004
  • February

    Establishes Sumitomo Heavy Industries (Shanghai), Limited
    A portion of the Tanashi Works site is sold

  • July

    Begins sale of world's first automatic radiopharmaceutical administering device for use in Positron Emission Tomography (PET)

  • October

    The total number of injection molding machines delivered surpasses 40,000 units
    Completes expansion of precision positioning equipment plant within the Okayama Works site

2005
  • January

    Establishes service office for injection molding machines in Hanoi, Vietnam

  • February

    Issues JPY 10 billion worth of straight corporate bonds with a 5-year maturity period

  • March

    Delivers belt-based moving walkways to Chubu International Airport and the Aichi World Expo as part of the clients' universal design plans
    Dissolves Sumiju Construction Co., Ltd.

  • July

    The Company's cassette-based drug combining device for use in PET receives approval to be used as a medical device

  • December

    Completes expansion of precision positioning equipment plant within the Okayama Works site

2006
  • January

    The Hanoi injection molding machine office is locally incorporated

  • March

    Integrates the operations of the Research and Development Center (Niihama Factory) into Yokosuka Works

  • April

    Absorbs the operations of Synex Co., Ltd. into the Company

  • May

    Completes construction of a factory to manufacture motors for use in power transmission equipment in Hanoi, Vietnam
    Transfers the operations of sMobile to Lightwell Co., Ltd.

  • October

    SEISA Gear, Ltd. becomes a wholly owned subsidiary

  • December

    Dissolves Sumitomo (SHI) Cyclo Drive, Europe Ltd.

2007
  • January

    Establishes Sumitomo Heavy Industries Environment Co., Ltd.

  • April

    Former president Yoshio Hinoh assumes the office of chairman of the board of directors, and former executive managing director Yoshinobu Nakamura becomes president

  • May

    Nihon Spindle Mfg. Co., Ltd. became a subsidiary.

  • December

    Establishment of Sumitomo Construction Machinery (Tangshan) Co., Ltd.
    Establishment of Sumitomo Heavy Industries (Tangshan), Ltd.

2008
  • March

    Acquired 100% ownership of Demag Plastics Group (Present Sumitomo(SHI)Demag Plastics Machinery Gmbh)

2009
  • March

    Acquired 100% ownership of SEN Corporation, an SHI and Axcelis Company Co., Ltd. (Present SEN Corporation)

  • December

    Steel structure and equipment operations transferred to Sumitomo Heavy Industries Process Equipment Co., Ltd.

2010
  • April

    Establishment of Sumitomo Heavy Industries Business Associates Co., Ltd.

  • July

    Base for reduction gear business established in Brazil

2011
  • March

    Acquired 100% ownership of Hansen Industrial Transmissions NV.

  • April

    Medium-term management plan "Innovation 21" launched

  • November

    Sumitomo Heavy Industries Gearmotors Co., Ltd. established

2012
  • April

    Base for water treatment business established in China
    Leasing company for construction machinery established in China
    Base for precision equipment business established in Taiwan

2013
  • April

    President Yoshinobu Nakamura became Chairman and Vice President Shunsuke Betsukawa became President.
    Sumitomo Heavy Industries Material Handling Systems Co., Ltd., established by integrating Logistics & Parking System Division and Sumitomo Heavy Industries Engineering & Services Co., Ltd.
    Industrial Equipment Division established by integrating Quantum Equipment Division and Sumitomo Heavy Industries Techno-Fort Co., Ltd.

2014
  • April

    "The Medium-Term Management Plan 2016" launched

2015
  • January

    Established the new technology research center building at the Ehime Works

  • October

    Sumitomo Heavy Industries Material Handling Systems Co., Ltd. takes over the industrial crane business from Mitsubishi Heavy Industries Machinery Technology Corporation
    Revised Business principles

2016
  • February

    Base for precision equipment business established in Shanghai

  • August

    Sumitomo Heavy Industries Environment Co.,Ltd. merged Sumiju Environmental Engineering Co., Ltd.

2017
  • February

    Acquired 100% ownership of Persimmon Technologies

  • March

    Hitachi Sumitomo Heavy Industries Construction Crane Co., Ltd. became a consolidated subsidiary

  • April

    "The Medium-Term Management Plan 2019" launched
    Merged Sumitomo Heavy Industries Mechatronics,Ltd.

  • June

    Acquired the CFB boiler business of Amec Foster Wheeler plc.

2018
  • April

    Merged Sumiju Tomida Machinery Co,Ltd. and Sumijyu Technos,Ltd.
    Name has changed from Hitachi Sumitomo Heavy Industries Construction Crane Co., Ltd. to Sumitomo Heavy Industries Construction Cranes Co., Ltd.

2022
  • April

    Senior Executive Vice President Tetsuya Okamura became Chairman.
    Merged Sumiju Business.,Ltd.