NGK History

History

The electrification gradually began to gain traction at the end of the 19th century. At the time, Japan relied on imports for high-voltage insulators. Japanese high-voltage insulator R&D and production began only with a desire to make a contribution to the country by producing insulators locally and a piece of an American insulator to study. Despite such humble beginnings, NGK Insulators has consistently succeeded in developing ultra-high-voltage, ultra-high-strength insulators to meet the massive demand for electricity of rapidly evolving lifestyles and developing industries. As a result, we have grown into the world's foremost manufacturer of insulators underpinning power supply the world over. Here at NGK Insulators, our formidable technological strengths, honed by long years of experience in the production of ceramic insulators, have enabled us to further develop a range of new technologies which are now contributing to the development of the energy, ecology and electronics sectors. These include the world's first large-capacity storage batteries, which are paving the way for next-generation infrastructures; vehicle exhaust cleaning components that provide a major leap forward in the fight to overcome environmental issues; industrial machinery that provide momentum for chemical industries; and the precision machinery that underpins the evolution of electronics. All of us at NGK Insulators are committed to leveraging our original ceramic technologies to advance the creation of things that meet the needs of all society and promote the betterment of the whole world.

PRODUCTS HISTORY

1919-1930

  • 1919 NGK INSULATORS, LTD. is established.
  • 1923 Production of bushings begins.
  • 1929 Construction of a 1,000 kV-class high-voltage insulator test facility is completed.
  • 1930 Manufacturing and sales of the "NG Spark Plug" begin.
    * Renamed the "NGK Spark Plug" in 1934.
    * Production transferred in accordance with the establishment of NGK Spark Plug Co., Ltd. in 1936.
    Research on permeable substrates begins.
1,000kV-class high-voltage insulator test facility
NG Spark Plugs

1931-1940

  • 1931 First deliveries of acid proof pumps are made.
    Production of acid-proof mortar begins.
  • 1932 Sale of laboratory porcelain ware begins.
  • 1934 First deliveries of ceramic diffusers are made.
  • 1938 Titanium porcelain is developed.
Acid proof pump
Ceramic diffusers

1940-1950

  • 1943 Production of short-wave insulators begins.
Short-wave insulators

1951-1960

  • 1953 Production of solid-core station post insulators begins.
  • 1954 Silicon carbide firing kiln shelves and supports are developed.
  • 1955 Research on Beryllium begins.
  • 1958 Manufacturing and sales of beryllium-copper master alloy begin.
Solid-core station post insulators
Beryllium-copper master alloy

1961-1970

  • 1961 Long rod insulator is developed.
    Dry-type capacitor bushing is developed.
  • 1962 Large hollow insulator (extrusion manufacturing) is developed.
    High-speed filtration tank underdrain (porous blocks) technology from Leopold (USA) is introduced.
  • 1963 First deliveries of Insulator Washing Equipment are made.
  • 1967 First deliveries of water sludge dewatering systems are made.
    First deliveries of sewage sludge dewatering systems are made.
    First deliveries of oxygen analyzers are made.
  • 1968 Transparent alumina ceramics HICERAM is developed.
  • 1970 First deliveries of industrial waste incinerators are made.
Porous blocks
Insulator Washing Equipment
Oxygen analyzer
Translucent alumina ceramics HICERAM

1971-1980

  • 1972 Oil‐impregnated paper bushing for 1,000 kV-class test transformer is developed.
    Glass lining manufacturing technology from De Dietrich (France) is introduced.
  • 1973 Ceramic road noise control equipment is delivered for the Meishin Expressway.
  • 1974 First deliveries of fluidized bed sewage sludge incineration systems are made.
    First deliveries of roller hearth kilns are made.
    Sales of molds for tires begins.
  • 1976 Production of ceramic substrates for automotive catalytic converters begins.
  • 1977 HONEYCERAM becomes a registered trademark.
  • 1978 First deliveries of low-level radioactive waste treatment equipment is made.
    Sales of NGK Wall, an enamel wall panel, begin.
    1,000 kV-class (ultra-high voltage) 70-and 84-ton suspension insulators are developed.
Fluidized bed sewage sludge incineration system
Mold for tires
Ceramic substrates for automotive catalytic converters HONEYCERAM
Low-level radioactive waste treatment equipment
NGK Wall, an enamel wall panel

1981-1990

  • 1981 New production method for ferrite products for magnetic heads is developed.
  • 1982 Production of O2 sensors begins.
    First deliveries of total area aeration systems are made in Okayama.
  • 1983 Ceramic filter for beer filtration is developed.
  • 1984 Research on beta alumina for sodium-sulfur batteries begins.
  • 1986 First deliveries of ceramic turbocharger rotors are made.
    Line arrester for power transmission lines is developed.
  • 1987 First deliveries of bioreactors are made.
    Sound-absorbing material made from aluminum fibers is developed.
    Research on sodium-sulfur batteries begins.
  • 1989 Production of diesel particulate filters (DPFs) begins.
  • 1990 First deliveries of the High-Pressure Compaction System for the treatment of non-combustible solid waste are made.
Ferrite products for magnetic heads
O2 sensors
Ceramic turbocharger rotors
Bioreactor
Diesel particulate filters (DPFs)

1991-2000

  • 1991 First deliveries of cyclone-type sewage sludge melting systems are made.
  • 1992 Operation using a prototype NAS battery connected to the power grid begins.
  • 1995 Gas bushings for UHV transmission are productized.
    Piezoelectric micro-actuator for inkjet printers is developed.
  • 1996 Mass production of ceramics for semiconductor manufacturing equipment begins.
    NOx sensor for automotive exhaust is developed.
    Induction-heat melting/solidification system is developed.
  • 1997 Mass production of optical waveguide devices for fiber optic gyroscopes begins.
    Japan’s first ceramic membrane drinking water treatment system is developed.
  • 1998 Production of the Piezoelectric Micro-actuator for Inkjet Printers begins.
    Mass production of glass ceramic substrates for hard disks begin.
  • 1999 Drying kilns and furnaces for manufacturing plasma display panels (PDPs) are developed.
Prototype NAS battery
Gas bushings for ultrahigh voltage transformers
Piezoelectric Micro-actuator for Inkjet Printers
Ceramics for semiconductor manufacturing equipment
Glass ceramic substrates for hard disks

2001-2010

  • 2001 SHG elements for high-power, high-performance blue lasers are developed.
    Piezoelectric ceramic display is developed.
  • 2002 Home-use water purifier is launched.
    MFI zeolite gas separation membrane is developed.
  • 2003 Mass production of NAS batteries begins.
  • 2004 DNA microarray for prognostic diagnosis of pediatric cancer is developed.
  • 2005 Piezoelectric micro-actuator for HDD heads is developed.
  • 2006 First overseas commercial operation of NAS battery begins at AEP (USA).
  • 2007 Subnano ceramic membrane is developed.
  • 2008 In-vehicle high-precision NOx sensor is developed.
  • 2009 Solid oxide fuel cell (SOFC) that uses a flat cylindrical cell (with built-in channels) is developed.
    Atmospheric roller hearth kiln is developed.
Piezoelectric ceramic display
Home-use water purifier
MFI zeolite gas separation membrane
NAS batteries
DNA microarray for prognostic diagnosis of pediatric cancer
Subnano ceramic membrane
In-vehicle high-precision NOx sensor

2011-2020

  • 2011 Home-use water purifier (slim type) is launched.
    Bonded wafers for surface acoustic wave (SAW) filters are developed.
  • 2012 Gallium nitride (GaN) wafers for ultra-high brightness LEDs (light-emitting diodes) are developed.
    Wavelength Control Drying System is developed.
    Gasoline particulate filters (GPFs) are put to practical use.
  • 2013 Zirconium-copper wire is developed.
  • 2015 Containerized NAS battery is developed.
    Ultra-compact piezoelectric micro-actuator for HDD heads is commercialized.
  • 2018 Micro-lenses for ultraviolet LEDs are commercialized.
    Gallium nitride (GaN) wafers for laser light sources are commercialized.
  • 2019 Chip-type ceramic secondary battery EnerCera series is commercialized.
Bonded wafers for surface acoustic wave (SAW) filters
Gallium nitride (GaN) wafers
Ultra-compact piezoelectric micro-actuator for HDD heads
Micro-lenses for ultraviolet LEDs
Chip-type ceramic secondary battery EnerCera series

2021年～

  • 2021 Cumulative production of HONEYCERAM reached 1.8 billion units.

COMPANY HISTORY

1919-1930

  • 1919 NGK INSULATORS, LTD. is established as a spin-off from Nippon Toki’s Insulator Division.
    Kazuchika Okura is appointed as president (the company’s first).
Directors at the time of the company’s founding (middle: president Okura)
Main plant at the time of the company’s founding

1931-1940

  • 1936 NGK Spark Plug Co., Ltd. is established as a spin-off from NGK’s Spark Plug Division.
  • 1939 Magoemon Ezoe is appointed as president (the company’s second).

1941-1950

  • 1942 Construction of Chita Plant, located in Handa, Aichi, is completed.
  • 1944 Yoshiyuki Morimura is appointed as president (the company’s third).
  • 1946 The NGK Workers’ Union is started.
  • 1948 Kumao Yoshimoto is appointed as president (the company’s fourth).
  • 1950 Capital participation in Asahi Malleable Iron Co., Ltd. (present-day ASAHI TEC CORPORATION)
Chita Plant

1951-1960

  • 1951 The 1st issue of Mizuho, the company newsletter, is published.
  • 1956 Capital participation in Fuji Yogyo (present-day NGK ADREC CO., LTD.).
    The Indian liaison office is established (in Mumbai).
  • 1957 Atsuta Plant is completed.
    An insulator plant in Mysore, India is completed with technical cooperation from NGK.
  • 1959 Sanji Nobuchi is appointed as president (the company’s fifth).
    A divisional system is established, and the Chemical Engineering Machinery Department and New Product Division are established.
The 1st issue of Mizuho, the company’s internal newsletter
Insulator plant in Mysore, India
Atsuta Plant

1961-1970

  • 1961 Capital participation in AKECHI INSULATORS CO., LTD. (present-day AKECHI INSULATORS, LTD.)
  • 1962 Construction of Komaki Plant, located in Komaki, Aichi, is completed.
    The European liaison office is established (in Hamburg, West Germany).
    The American liaison office is established (in New York).
  • 1965 NGK INSULATORS OF AMERICA, LTD. (present-day NGK-LOCKE, INC.) is established.
    Capital participation in TAKAMATSU ELECTRIC WORKS, LTD (present-day ENERGY SUPPORT CORPORATION)
  • 1968 Construction of the High Voltage Laboratory is completed.
    Bushing plant at Chita Plant is completed.
    Capital participation in IKEBUKURO HORO KOGYO CO., LTD.
    NGK INSULATORS OF CANADA, LTD. is established.
  • 1969 Katsumi Fukuta is appointed as president (the company’s sixth).
  • 1970 NGK exhibits its “Wind Mobile” jointly with Nippon Toki at Osaka Expo ’70.
Komaki Plant
High Voltage Laboratory

1971-1980

  • 1973 LOCKE INSULATORS, INC. (USA) is established.
  • 1974 The Insulator Museum at the High Voltage Laboratory is completed.
  • 1975 Capital participation in Tochuberi Alloy Kogyo (present-day NGK METEX CORPORATION)
  • 1976 The brand logo is standardized to say “NGK,” and the corporate color is chosen.
    The Tajimi Country Club opens.
    The business group system is adopted. (Three business groups are established: Power, Machinery, and Special Products.)
  • 1977 Junichi Takemi is appointed as president (the company’s seventh).
    NGK-BAUDOUR S.A. (Belgium) is established.
    NGK EUROPE S.A. (N-E, Belgium) is established.
  • 1979 The UHV Contamination Test Hall at the High Voltage Laboratory is completed.
The Insulator Museum
NGK-BAUDOUR S.A.
The UHV Contamination Test Hall

1981～
1990年

  • 1984 NGK Electronics is established.
  • 1985 NGK CERAMICS EUROPE S.A. (Belgium) is established.
    NGK EUROPE GMBH (Germany) is established.
  • 1986 Toshihito Kohara is appointed as president (the company’s eighth).
    The Japanese spelling of NGK INSULATORS LTD. is changed.
    The corporate philosophy and a new corporate logo are established.
    NGK METALS CORPORATION (USA) is established.
    NGK NORTH AMERICA, INC. is established.
  • 1987 P.T. WIKA-NGK Insulators (Indonesia) is established.
  • 1988 NGK CERAMICS USA, INC. is established.
  • 1989 "K Plan 21," NGK’s long-term management plan, is established.
    NGK KILNTECH CORPORATION is established.
    NGK CHEM-TECH, LTD. is established.
  • 1990 NGK OKHOTSK, LTD. is established.
NGK CERAMICS EUROPE S.A.
NGK METALS CORPORATION

1991-2000

  • 1991 Capital participation in SOSHIN ELECTRIC CO., LTD.
    NGK FILTECH, LTD. is established.
  • 1993 NGK STANGER PTY. LTD. (Australia) is established.
  • 1994 Masaharu Shibata is appointed as president (the company’s ninth).
    NGK Printer Ceramics Co., Ltd. is established.
    NGK-LOCKE POLYMER INSULATORS, INC. (USA) is established.
  • 1996 NGK FINE MOLDS, LTD. is established through a merger of NGK Molds and NGK Bealon, Ltd.
    P.T. NGK CERAMICS INDONESIA is established.
    NGK INSULATORS TANGSHAN CO., LTD. (China) is established.
  • 1997 "EXCEL‒01," NGK’s medium-term management plan, is established.
    SIAM NGK TECHNOCERA CO., LTD. (Thailand) is established.
  • 1998 Construction of NGK Printer Ceramics Yamanashi Plant (present-day NGK CERAMIC DEVICE Yamanashi Plant) is completed.
  • 2000 NGK CERAMICS SOUTH AFRICA (PTY) LTD. is established.
NGK STANGER PTY. LTD.
NGK-LOCKE POLYMER INSULATORS, INC.
SIAM NGK TECHNOCERA CO., LTD.
NGK CERAMICS SOUTH AFRICA (PTY) LTD.

2001-2010

  • 2001 NGK CERAMICS SUZHOU CO., LTD. (ACC, China) is established.
    NGK TECHNOCERA SUZHOU CO., LTD. (China) is established.
  • 2002 Shun Matsushita is appointed as president (the company’s tenth).
    Management rights to FM INDUSTRIES, INC. (FMI, USA) are acquired.
    NGK AUTOMOTIVE CERAMICS USA is established.
  • 2003 Shares of ASAHI TEC CORPORATION are transferred to a US investment fund.
    NGK CERAMICS POLSKA SP. Z O.O. (ACP) is established.
    Birla NGK Insulators Private Limited is established.
  • 2005 The board of directors is reformed, and a corporate officer system is introduced.
  • 2006 NGK INSULATORS SUZHOU CO., LTD. (NGK SUZHOU, China) is established.
  • 2007 NGK obtains the naming rights to Nagoya Civic General Gymnasium.
    The Toba General Training Center is completed.
    NGK Water Environment Systems, Ltd. is established.
    NGK AUTOMOTIVE CERAMICS KOREA CO., LTD. is established.
    A system of outside directors is introduced.
    NGK INSULATORS UK, LTD. is established.
  • 2008 NGK CERAMICS MEXICO, S. DE R. L. DE C. V. is established.
    The water environmental business is made into a subsidiary company with the establishment of METAWATER Co., Ltd.
    NGK decides to construct a new facility for HONEYCERAM production in Nomi, Ishikawa.
  • 2009 Structural reform in manufacturing begins.
  • 2010 A representative office opens in New Delhi (India).
NGK CERAMICS SUZHOU CO., LTD.
NGK TECHNOCERA SUZHOU CO., LTD.
FM INDUSTRIES, INC.
NGK CERAMICS POLSKA SP. Z O.O.
Nagoya Civic General Gymnasium after obtaining naming rights
NGK CERAMICS MEXICO, S. DE R. L. DE C. V.
Ishikawa Plant

2011-2020

  • 2011 Taro Kato is appointed as president (the company’s eleventh).
    NAS battery fire incident occurs.
    NGK Group Guidelines for Corporate Behavior is revised.
  • 2012 NGK is recognized as a company that supports parenting by the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare.
    FMI purchases a business involved in semiconductor manufacturing equipment from a US manufacturer.
    NGK decides to build a new large-size HONEYCERAM plant at ACP.
  • 2013 The Competition Law Handbook is published.
  • 2014 Taku Oshima is appointed as president (the company’s twelfth).
    NGK decides to dissolve NGK SUZHOU.
    NGK decides to carry out mass production of gasoline particulate filters (GPFs) at ACP.
  • 2015 NGK ELECTRONICS DEVICES, INC. becomes a group company.
    NGK decides to build a new facility, the second ACP plant.
    NGK decides to build a new NOx sensor element plant in Ishikawa.
    NGK TECHNOLOGIES INDIA PVT. LTD. is established.
    NGK CERAMICS (THAILAND) CO., LTD. is established.
    NGK enters into a plea agreement with the US Department of Justice (DOJ) regarding an antitrust law violation in connection with some of its transactions involving ceramic substrates for automotive catalytic converters.
  • 2016 Gasoline particulate filters (GPFs) production at ACC is announced.
  • 2017 FM INDUSTRIES, INC. establishes a new plant.
    The human resource system for general office workers is revised for the first time in 25 years.
    A retirement age of 65 is adopted.
    NGK decides to build a new plant facility for ceramic products for semiconductor manufacturing equipment in Tajimi, Gifu.
    NGK decides to dissolve LOCKE INSULATORS (USA).
    NGK decides to build the second ACC plant.
  • 2018 The Process Technology Business Group is established, as the company changes to a four-business-group system.
    NGK holds a press conference regarding the Non-Conformity in Testing Procedure.
    Sensory training begins at the Sensory Hazard Prediction Training Center.
  • 2019 The NGK Group Code of Conduct is revised.
    The NGK Group Philosophy is announced.
    The decision is made to dissolve NGK TANGSHAN.
Antitrust Laws Compliance Handbook
NGK CERAMICS (THAILAND) CO., LTD.
NGK CERAMICS DEVICE Tajimi Plant
ACC second plant
Sensory Hazard Prediction Training Center

2021-

  • 2021 Shigeru Kobayashi is appointed as president (the company’s thirteenth).
    Formulated NGK Group Vision: Road to 2050 as a mid-to long-term vision.
  • 2023 Revised the NGK Group Corporate Business Principles and established the NGK Group Code of Conduct.

* This content of this page is current at the time of publication. Please note that company and product names may differ from the latest information.

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