Corporate History
Comfortable life with Sanden’s history!
Sanden has created ages in people’s life.










1940s
Sanden’s founder, Kaihei Ushikubo, who had been running a textile mill, started manufacturing components of communication devices and mica-condensers in July 1943, when Japan was fighting in World War II and the private sector manufacturing plants were enforced either to shift themselves to ammunition producing plants or close their business. This is how the predecessor company of Sanden, called Sankyo Electric Company, was created with a capital of \198,000. After the war, having taken cues from employees who had been riding bicycles to work, the company changed its business to develop dynamo lighting sets for bicycles. It had run a sales campaign for dynamo bicycle lamps with a trademark “Owl” shining in the darkness, and with the slogans “Second sight in the night” and “A thousand times brighter than a full moon ”. It marked a monthly production of 30 thousand units in 1953, thereby establishing itself as a permanent fixture in the dynamo bicycle lamp business sector.
1943 | July | Established Sankyo Electric Company in a lot where the present head office of Sanden is located. Started producing parts for wireless communication devices, mica-condensers, and paper-condensers by synthetic resin molding. |
---|---|---|
1948 | March | Started manufacturing the dynamo bicycle lamp. |
1950s
JIS was established for the dynamo lamp in April 1952 with the development of the economy as well as the industry. The low-voltage method that prolonged the lamp’s life introduced by Sankyo Electric was adopted as JIS standard. The company started exporting the dynamo bicycle lamp in 1953. Thereafter, it entered the electric home appliance business, aiming to grow from a back-street factory into a modernized company. It further entered the market for refrigerating machines for business use. Engineering staff of the company who sensitively perceived customers’ needs succeeded in developing an open-type showcase for the first time in the industry, which became a hot-selling product.
1952 | April | Became a designated plant for manufacturing the dynamo bicycle lamp in line with the establishment of the JIS system. |
---|---|---|
1956 | April | Started producing mini-motors, electric washers, and other home electric appliances. |
June | Moved main business office to Tokyo. | |
1958 | June | Started producing ice-cream refrigerating stockers and refrigerated showcases. |
1960s
With robust sales of freezers and refrigerated showcases, the company developed an original bubbler juice vending machine in October 1961. The company, which had cemented its position through its freezing technology, listed its stocks on the second section of Tokyo Stock Exchange in August 1962. It further developed oil heaters in July 1963. Thereafter, it succeeded in developing a clean forced ventilation type heater that did not pollute the air in the room for the first time in the world. It consistently accumulated technologies both in cooling and heating areas of business.
1961 | October | Started producing juice vending machines. |
---|---|---|
1962 | August | Listed on the second section of Tokyo Stock Exchange. |
1963 | July | Started producing a Pot-type oil heater. |
1964 | December | Sankyo Sales Company was established, spinning off the sales division from Sankyo Electric Company with capital of \25 million. |
1970s
While the company continued development of new products based on its refrigerating and ventilation technologies, it received an offer for technical collaboration for small-scale compressors from Mitchell Corporation in 1969. Taking this opportunity, it started to produce car compressors in 1970 and entered the Automotive air-conditioner market. It listed its stocks on the first section of Tokyo Stock Exchange, after much anticipation, in 1973. And it changed its trade name to “Sanden”. Thereafter, it established overseas bases one after the other in the U.S., Singapore, and in European countries. Sanden consistently expanded its production and sales of compressors all over the world.
1970 | June | Entered a technical collaboration agreement with Mitchell Corporation in the U.S. The company was commended for the contribution to exports by the Minister of Industry and Trade. |
---|---|---|
1971 | March | Started producing Automotive air-conditioners and SD compressors for Automotive air-conditioners. |
August | Entered a technical collaboration agreement with the Kaiser USA. | |
1973 | March | Increased capital by public offering. |
August | Established a new trade name “Sanden” and listed Sankyo Electric Company’s stocks on the 1st section of Tokyo Stock Exhange. | |
October | Changed the name of Sankyo Sales Co., Ltd. to Sanden Sales Co., Ltd. | |
1974 | November | Established Sankyo International Co., Ltd. with a capital of \10 million. Established Singapore Office of Sankyo International Co., Ltd. Established Sankyo International (USA) Inc with a capital of US$30,000. |
1976 | April | Increased capital by public offering. |
1977 | April | Increased capital by public offering. |
December | Established Sankyo International (S) PTE. Ltd. in Singapore with a capital of S$50,000. | |
1978 | February | Started producing refrigerating devices for freezer cars. |
April | Issued German mark-denominated convertible bonds (DM40 million). | |
August | Established Sankyo International (Australia) PTY. Ltd. with a capital of A$50,000. | |
December | Established a British branch of Sankyo International Co., Ltd. | |
1979 | March | Issued the first Swiss franc-denominated convertible bonds (CHF 40 million). |
October | Established Sankyo Denki Denso Co., Ltd. that was to engage in the production of dynamo bicycle lamps with a capital of \50 million. |
1980s
In 1981, we developed, produced, and started to sell the world's first scroll-type compressor for automotive air-conditioning systems. In 1982, Sankyo Electric co. Ltd. changed its name to Sanden Corporation, the same as its trademark. We have introduced C.I.(Corporate Identity) along with the completion of our new Tokyo headquarters building. In 1988, we acquired Vendo Company, the second largest vending machine manufacturer in USA. Thereby, we have become a global corporation with production and sales bases around the world.
1980 | January | Established Taiwan Office of Sankyo International Co., Ltd. |
---|---|---|
Fabuary | Issued US dollar-denominated convertible bonds (US$25 million). | |
April | Reorganized a British branch of Sankyo International Co., Ltd. to an overseas subsidiary corporation by the name of Sankyo International (UK) Ltd. | |
October | Established a car-compressor manufacturing plant in Sankyo International (USA). | |
1981 | March | Started producing scroll-type compressors for automotive air-conditioners. |
September | Established Sanden Auto Airconditioning Co., Ltd. in Taiwan with a capital of T$6 million. | |
December | Issued bonds with warrant (total amount of issue for \5 billion). | |
1982 | October | Established a plant to manufacture compressors for Automotive air-conditioners in Sankyo International (Singapore). |
October | Changed the name of Sankyo Electric Co., Ltd. and Sankyo International Co., Ltd. to Sanden Corporation and Sanden International Co., Ltd. respectively. | |
November | Newly established a plant for manufacturing food-related machines within a headquarters plant (now the Kotobuki Plant). | |
1983 | June | Issued the second Swiss franc-denominated convertible bonds (CHF 50 million). |
November | Changed the name of Sanden Auto Airconditioning Co., Ltd. to Taiwan-Sanden Co., Ltd. | |
1984 | Febuary | Increased capital by public offering. |
April | Released a new logo mark with the introduction of CI. | |
April | Established joint venture companies in India, Malaysia, and Mexico. | |
1985 | April | Started sales of residential central heating and ventilation systems. |
1987 | May | Developed a variable-capacity scroll compressor. |
July | Established Sanden Logistics Co., Ltd. | |
August | Established Sanden System Engineering Co., Ltd. | |
1988 | Febuary | Established P.T. Sanden, Jaya Indonesia. |
May | Acquired Vendo Company., a US vending machine maker. | |
June | Developed “Deo-fit”, deodorant. | |
November | Awarded a good design prize for a refrigerating showcase and the dynamo bicycle lamp. | |
1989 | August | The US Wylie Plant started its operations. |
December | Established Sanden Refrigeration Thailand as the first overseas showcase producing firm. |
1990s
In 1995, we built the car air-conditioning compressor plant in France in accordance with on our policy of manufacturing and selling products close to our customers. We also actively tackled environmental issues and received "Agency for Natural Resources and Energy Secretary-General's Award" and "Ozone Layer Protection Award (EPA Prize)". We also worked to improve the hygiene environment, such as hand disinfectants, and provided productions that enrich and comfort our lives and for the next generation.
1990 | July | Completed Sanden Communication Plaza. |
---|---|---|
August | Entered a Technical Assistance Agreement with General Motors Corporation for open-scroll type compressors for Automotive air-conditioners. | |
1992 | August | Established Sanden Teco (Thailand). |
1993 | Febuary | Awarded a prize for a beverage vending machine regenerative type energy-saving system by the Director-General of the Agency for Natural Resources and Energy. |
June | Established Sanden International China (Hong Kong). | |
July | Entered a Technical Assistance Agreement with Hadsys Corporation for open-scroll type compressors for car air-conditioners. | |
1994 | July | Entered a Technical Assistance Agreement with Ford Motors Corporation for open-scroll type compressors for Automotive air-conditioners. |
1995 | April | Established Sanden Manufacturing Europe in France. |
August | Established Sanden International Philippines. | |
1996 | October | The plant in France started its operations. |
October | Was awarded EPA prize (contribution to ozone layer preservation) by the US Environment Protection Agency. | |
1997 | April | Merged with Sanden Sales Co., Ltd., and Sanden International Co., Ltd. |
1998 | January | Acquired ISO14001 certification at head office and Kotobuki Plant. |
October | Awarded Deming prize (implementation prize). | |
1999 | July | Acquired ISO14001 certification at every business base. |
November | Founder Kaihei Ushikubo, a supreme adviser, passed away. |
2000s
Constructed the Sanden Forest and Akagi Plant in 2002 based on the concept of "Coexistence of the environment and manufacturing facilities". Sanden's own STQM activities expanded globally, and Group companies in Japan, USA and Singapore have received the Deming Prize. In 2003, the 60th anniversary of the company's founding, the first STQM World Convention was held in Japan. Leveraging our global strength, we began supplying "Glass Front Vendor" vending machines which are jointly developed in Japan, Europe, USA and China, and electric compressors for hybrid vehicles.
2000 | May | Received orders for one million units of new-type compressors from General Motors. |
---|---|---|
June | Established a joint venture company with Shanghai EK CHOR General Machinery Co., Ltd. | |
August | Zero-emission was achieved at three domestic plants (Kotobuki, Yattajima, and Sakai Plants). | |
September | Acquired approval for Automotive air-conditioner engineers from Tianjin Automotive Industrial (Group) Co., Ltd. in China. | |
October | Sanden Logistics Co., Ltd., and Sanwatech Co., Ltd. received Deming Prizes. | |
October | Established a Technical Center in Germany. ![]() |
|
October | Established a charter for safety and health | |
November | Kaihei Ushikubo won a Gunma Resident’s Honor Award. | |
2001 | May | The cumulative global production of Compressors reached 100 million units |
Stptember | Sanden International Singapore won a SQC prize (Singapore Quality Class Prize). | |
October | Sanden System Engineering Co., Ltd. won a Deming Prize and a Mitsukuratechs TQM Encouragement Prize. | |
October | The Sakai Plant won the President Award by Japan Greenery Research and Development Center. | |
2002 | April | Completed Sanden Forest at Akagi Plant. |
June | Received an order for 10 million units of compressors from Peugeo/Citroen. | |
October | Won a Japan Quality Control Medel. | |
November | Akagi Plant won a “Superior Trendsetting Factories and Offices Award”. | |
2003 | Febuary | Prepared an “Environment Learning Program” aiming toward co-existing with nature, capitalizing on Sanden Forest and provided it to elementary schools in the region. |
April | Started full-fledged expansion of electronic money system business using Edy. | |
April | Washinosuke Amada, a founder and an advisor, passed away. | |
May | Transferred to a new organization. Implemented reinforcement of business management system and enhancement of corporate governance by overhauling management meeting. | |
May | Biomass study session was held at Akagi Plant in a bid to promote biomass utilization in Gunma Prefecture. | |
May | Won a “Japan Industrial Film and Video Contest Encouragement Prize” for a film introducing Sanden Forest. | |
August | Commemorated the 60th year anniversary of the foundation of the company. | |
September | Started supplying compressors for Automotive air-conditioners to Europe Ford (320 thousand units a year). | |
October | The Akagi Plant won the President Award by Japan Greenery Research and Development Center. | |
November | Won a “TPM World Class Prize”. | |
November | Held a worldwide STQM (Sanden Total Quality Management) meeting for the first time where the entire company’s quality control activities were presented. | |
November | Held a “Clean and Green Ecology Meeting” at Akagi Plant with a theme of appreciation for Mount Akagi. | |
2004 | January | Established a plant for producing compressors for Automotive air-conditioners in Poland. |
February | Established Shanghai Sanden Behr and accelerated Automotive air-conditioner businesses in China. | |
February | Won an “Energy Conservation Center Chairman’s Prize” for Cup-method vending machine JBC-2. | |
February | Established Shanghai Sanden Behr (currently Sanden Huayu Automotive Air-conditioning Co.,Ltd. and accelerated Automotive air-conditioner businesses in China. |
|
April | Expanded electronic money business. Introduced Edy system to Saitama Public Pool. | |
April | Akagi Plant won the Greenery Day Minister of the Environment's Prize for Meritorious Service Related to the Natural Environment. | |
May | Established “Shenyang Sanden”, the 4th production plant in China, which supplies Automotive air-conditioners to Chinese automobile makers. | |
July | Started development of multipurpose wireless modems that accept multiple communication methods. | |
August | Developed a Freon-free beverage vending machine using a CO2 refrigerant. | |
September | Launched sales of SANAJET, an odor-elimination device which mists a photo-catalytic titanium dioxide aqueous solution. | |
2005 | January | Store Master (a control system that automatically optimizes indoor temperatures and humidity changes for showcases) earned the Award Honoring Excellent Energy-Saving Device. |
January | Launched sales of Rekuru, a dryer-type garbage disposing device. | |
March | Established SandenVendo America, Inc., a new base for distribution-system business in the US. | |
June | Signed a comprehensive agreement with Waseda University’s Environmental Research Institute, to promote environmental technology development in business-academia collaboration. | |
July | Announced a seismic isolator for indoor vending machines. | |
September | Established a new plant to produce Automotive air-conditioners in Tianjin, China (will start operations in August 2006) | |
September | Akagi Plant won the Kanto Bureau of Economy, Trade and Industry Director-General Prize, honoring high-quality plantation in a factory. | |
October | Launched Eco-Cute(Heat Pump Hot water Supply System Heat Pumps). | |
2006 | Janualy | Established Sanden Shanghai Refrigeration Co., Ltd. and started Commercial Store Systems Business in China. |
May | Received the “2005 Supplier of the year” from General Motors. | |
May | Received the “Global Excellence Award” from Ford Motors. | |
June | Sanden Manufacturing Poland Sp. z o.o. started commercial production. | |
October | Sanden International America and Sanden International Singapore received the Deming Application Prize. | |
November | Received the 3rd "France-Japan Investment Award" | |
2007 | July | Started the food equipment business. |
October | Masayoshi Ushikubo, a Chairman, received the ‘Deming Prize for Individuals’ | |
November | Announced a construction of a new plant in India to expand automotive equipment business. | |
2008 | June | Acquired 100% ownership of Mexican corporate joint venture. |
September | Announced a construction of die-casting plant in China for compressors. | |
2009 | June | Started production of electric compressor for first hybrid model of Mercedes-Benz. |
December | Established Kankyo Mirai Zaidan, a foundation for creating a new business models and developing human resources in environmental field. |
2010s
Sanden Forest and Akagi Plant received the Prime Minister's Award for Contributions to the Green Promotion Campaign after more than 10 years of continuous performance evaluation. We began supplying "Eneranger", a socially beneficial beverage vending machine that can provide beverages in the event of power outages, and the world's first CO2 refrigerant compressor for car air conditioners. In addition to creating corporate value based on the environment activities, we are also actively engaged in product development that contributes to the society. In 2015, we transitioned to a holding company structure and changed our corporate name to "Sanden Holdings Corporation".
2010 | April | Installed the first Global Standard Model Glass-Fronted Vending Machine in China. |
---|---|---|
August | The cumulative global production of Compressors reached 200 million units | |
2011 | December | Realizes Global Finance System with NEC’s Cloud-oriented Service Solution. |
2012 | April | Sanden International Taiwan receives “Special Contribution Award” by Ford. |
May | Commemorated the 10th year anniversary of the establishment of the Sanden Forest/ Akagi Plant. | |
May | Sanden International Taiwan receives “Best Quality Award” by Honda. | |
October | Attended COP11 (the eleventh meeting of the Conference of the Parties). | |
December | Established Die-casting plant in Thailand. | |
2013 | February | Established Sanden Manufacturing Mexico SA de CV . |
April | Akagi Plant receives Prime Minister’s Award for Outstanding Merit concerning Greenification Campaigns. | |
November | Poland 2nd Plant is constructed. | |
November | Commercial system business division wins the Deming Award in 2013. | |
November | Wins Japan Quality Encouragement Prize and Quality Innovation Prize. | |
2014 | March | Sanden Forest wins the highest rank of Superlative Stage from SEGES(Social and Environmental Green Evaluation System |
May | Announced details of its decision to transition to a holding company structure and establishment of companies in preparation | |
July | Established new sales branch in France, Sanden Environmental Solutions | |
August | Sanden Forest/Akagi Plant certified as “a place of experience for environmental education” | |
October | Participated COP12 held in Korea | |
2015 | January | Sanden Chongqing Automotive Air Conditioning Co., Ltd., completed its acquisition of Chongqing Huaen Industry Co., Ltd. |
April | Transferred to a holding company structure and change its name to Sanden Holdings Corporation |
|
October | Established new production line of HVAC air-conditioning systems in Sanden Manufacturing Poland sp. z o.o. | |
2016 | February | Expanded compressor production line in Sanden Manufacturing Poland sp. z o.o. |
May | Moved Tokyo headquarters to Akihabara Daibiru Building. | |
July | Held 9th STQM World Convention in Japan | |
July | The cumulative global production of Compressors reached 300 million units | |
September | Received Minister of the Environment Award Ozone Layer Protection / Global Warming Prevention in recognition of the development and commercialization of CO2 system for plug-in and remote type of refrigerator. | |
2017 | January | Sanwa Co.,Ltd. acquired 5 domestic subsidiaries of Automotive Systems business. Sanwa Fabtech. acquired 3 domestic subsidiaries of Commercial Store Systems Business. |
February | Received the Excellence Award of Civil Engineering Design Prize in recognition of Sanden Forest / Akagi Plant's development of landscape by using neo-natural river reconstruction method. | |
August | Established Climate Wind Tunnel which enables to produce any weather conditions in Tianjin, China. | |
September | Received the 5th Green Social Contribution Award in recognition of Sanden Forest / Akagi Plant's biodiversity conservation activities by using neo-natural river reconstruction method. | |
October | Held 10th STQM World Convention in Poland | |
2018 | April | ‘Huayu Sanden Heqing New Plant’ in Shanghai |
July | Held 11th STQM World Convention in Japan | |
August | Production of Electric Compressors at Huayu Sanden Heqing New Plant | |
2019 | February | Certified as ‘Health and Productivity Management Organization 2019’ |
April | Executed company split by means of absorption-type company split through which its wholly owned companies, including Sanden Automotive Components Corporation, Sanden Automotive Climate Systems Corporation and Sanden Retail Systems Corporation, succeed to a portion of the rights and obligations concerning shares etc. and their administration business of its subsidiary companies that are conducting Automotive Systems Business and Commercial Store Systems Business | |
October | Executed transfer of all of the issued shares of Sanden Retail Systems Corporation to SDRS Holdings Corporation formed through contributions from affiliated business entities operated by Integral Corporation |