Corporate history

1948

Tokai Electronics Laboratory (original company of Hamamatsu Photonics) established.

1953

Hamamatsu TV Co., Ltd. (former name) established with capital of 500,000 yen.

1955

Capital increased to 1 million yen.

1956

Capital increased to 2 million yen.

1959

Capital increased to 4 million yen.

1960

Capital increased to 8 million yen.

1961

Tokyo Business Office opened in Takanawa, Minatoku.

1964

Ichino Factory (present Main Factory) started operation.

1966

	New York Business Office opened.
	Capital increased to 12 million yen.

1967

	Main plant and office moved to Ichino-cho, Hamamatsu City.
	Capital increased to 30 million yen.

1969

Hamamatsu Corporation established as a U.S.A.-affiliated company.

1971

Tokyo Business Office name changed to Tokyo Sales Office, moved to Azabu.

1973

	First building at Toyooka Factory completed.
	West-German joint company, Hamamatsu Television Europe GmbH, established.
	Capital increased to 60 million yen.

1974

Capital increased to 90 million yen.

1978

Capital increased to 125 million yen.

1979

	Osaka Sales Office opened.
	Capital increased to 225 million yen.

1980

Tokyo Sales Office moved to Toranomon.

1981

	Tenno Glass Works completed.
	Capital increased to 450 million yen.

1983

	Company name changed to Hamamatsu Photonics K.K.
	Capital increased to 495 million yen.

1984

	Registered on the over-the counter market of the Japan Securities Dealers Association.
	Capital increased to 1.165 million yen.

1985

	Headquarters Business Office opened and Tsukuba Research Laboratory established.
	Capital increased to 5.001 million yen.
	Affiliated company established in France.

1987

Capital increased to 7 billion yen.

1988

	Then Prince Akihito (present Emperor) visited Toyooka Factory.
	Affiliated companies established in the U.K. and Sweden.
	Joint company established in China.

1989

Tokyo Sales Office promoted to Tokyo Branch Office. Tsukuba Sales Office opened.

1990

Central Research Laboratory and Sendai Sales Office opened.

1991

European Communication & Support Office established. Affiliated companies established in Italy and Spain.

1994

	Miyakoda Factory opened.
	Became a member of Federation of Economic Organizations.

1996

Company's stock registered on the second section of the Tokyo Stock Exchange.

1997

Electron Tube Center obtained ISO-9000 certification.

1998

	Company's stock registered on the first section of the Tokyo Stock Exchange.
	Solid State Division and Systems Division obtained ISO-9000 certification.
	Sports Photonics Laboratory opened.

1999

Photochemical Co., Ltd. established.

2000

	Building 15 of Toyooka Factory acquired from Yamaha Corp. (currently Mitsue Factory) as an assembly and mass production factory for opto-semiconductors.
	Industrial development base acquired in Kurematsu, Hamamatsu City, where basic planning is underway to realize the concept of a "Photonics Industry Development Graduate School", where new industries based on light will be developed. Planning is also underway for a New Industry Development Laboratory, where the results of the Graduate School will be put into practical application. The base is temporarily being called the Kurematsu Laboratory.

2001

Shanghai office in the eastern area of China opened.

2002

Masatoshi Koshiba, professor emeritus of University of Tokyo, was awarded the Nobel Prize in physics. Prof. Koshiba was recognized for having established the new field of "Neutrino Astronomy" as a result of research conducted at the Kamiokande, which was equipped with photomultiplier tubes made by HAMAMATSU.

2003

	As a first step of new industry to achieve "true health" for mankind, the building of a clinical facility for the Hamamatsu Medical Imaging Center run by the Hamamatsu Medical Photonics Foundation was completed to facilitate the early detection of cancer and dementia.
	Electron Tube Division and Solid State Division obtained ISO-14001 certification.

2004

	Systems Division obtained ISO-14001 certification.
	The Photon Fair '04 held.
	A tie-up was formed with Hiroshima University to conduct comprehensive joint research programs on interactions between light and matter.

2005

"The Graduate School for the Creation of New Photonics Industries" where new industries based on light started.