Konica Minolta is a leader in the Information technology business. Founded in 1863, their technology can be found in planetariums as well as offices around the world. Their business units include: Business technologies such as printers and copiers up to, and including, production level equipment, a health care division offering x-ray, ultra sound, and other medical technology, an industrial optical division which produces various lenses and meters, and a performance materials division which produces films and photo plates. Below is a detailed chart showing key points in their corporate history.
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| 1873 | Rokusaburo Sugiura begins selling photographic and lithographic materials at Konishiya Rokubeiten (the beginnings of Konica Corporation) |
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| 1903 | The Cherry Hand Camera, Japan’s first brand name camera, is marketed |
| 1928 | Kazuo Tashima establishes Nichi-Doku Shashinki Shoten (Japan-Germany Camera Company, later known as Minolta Co., Ltd.) |
| 1933 | The internally developed and produced X-ray film, Sakura X-ray Film is released |
| 1940 | The first Japanese-made color film, Sakura Natural Color Film, is announced |
| 1957 | The company’s first planetarium unit is completed |
| 1960 | The company’s first copier, Minolta Copymaster, is completed |
| 1975 | The world’s first 35mm camera with built-in flash, Konica C35EF, is launched |
| 1977 | The world’s first finger-measurement type pulse oximeter, OXIMET MET-1471, is launched |
| The world’s first 35mm compact autofocus camera, Konica C35AF, is launched | |
| 1983 | The world’s first copier with stepless zoom magnification/reduction function, EP450Z, is launched |
| 1984 | Ultra-high-precision aspheric plastic lens for CD players is developed |
| 1985 | Minolta 7000, SLR camera with an autofocus function, is launched |
| 1987 | Simple color-proofing system, Konsensus, is launched |
| 1989 | Laser Imager Li-10, medical digital imaging output system, is launched |
| 1990 | SP101, monochrome laser printer, is launched |
| CF70, digital full-color copier, is launched | |
| 2000 | Fully launched business for TAC films for LCD polarizers |
| Konica Minolta Supplies Manufacturing Co., Ltd. is established as a joint venture for the production of polymerized toner | |
| 2003 | A holding company, Konica Minolta Holdings, Inc. is established by integrating the management of Konica Corporation and Minolta Co., Ltd. |
| 2004 | Konica Minolta opens its own planetarium, Sunshine Starlight Dome “Manten” |
| Nassenger V, next-generation inkjet textile printer, is launched | |
| 2005 | The world’s first phase contrast mammography unit is launched |
| 2007 | Konica Minolta withdraws from the photo and camera business |
| Digital Imaging Square, the first presentation space oriented toward the production print market, is opened | |
| 2010 | bizhub PRESS C8000, digital printing system, is launched |
| 2011 | AeroDR, cassette-type digital radiography system, is launched |
| The world’s first Organic Light Emitting Diode (OLED) lighting panels using only phosphorescent materials are released | |
| 2012 | Konica Minolta Planetarium “Tenku” is opened at the TOKYO SKYTREE TOWN® |
| 2013 | The group management system is reorganized and the company name changed to Konica Minolta, Inc. |
| Konica Minolta and Panasonic Healthcare sign an agreement on transfer of ultrasound diagnostic equipment business |
Konica Minolta’s 2017 consolidated sales statement shows their strength in the market.
| Revenue (millions of Yen) | Operating profit | Profit before tax | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fiscal Year ended Mar 2017 | 962,555 | -6.7% | 50,135 | -16.5% | 49,341 | -15.0% |
