1943
|
Koshinkai
Kenkyujo was established by Yoshijiro Sakai, the Founder. |
1950
|
Started
the research of occupational safety and health protective equipment. |
1952
|
Koshinkai
Kenkyujo was incorporated. A particulate respirator under research
passed the national standard. |
1963
|
Koken
Ltd. was established and served as an organization in charge
of production and sales. Koshinkai Kenkyujo was assigned to
conduct research and successfully developed “micron filter,” an
electro-static filtering material which presently makes up
the mainstream of particulate respirators. |
1967
|
Hannou
Laboratory, where basic research has been performed, was established. |
1969
|
Koken
was awarded the Award of the Minister of International Trade
and Industry for the contribution to the safety of mining. |
1972
|
Koken
received a letter of appreciation from the managing director
of the technical research department of the then-Defense Agency
for cooperation in performing experimental R&D of air-purifying
equipment. |
1976
|
Yoshijiro
Sakai was awarded the Medal with Purple Ribbon and the Achievement
Award of the Minister of Labor, for contribution to occupational
safety. |
1978
|
The development
of “Alpha-ring filter”, the Japan’s first
integrally-molded paper filter with high performance, was completed. |
1981
|
Koken
Bosai (accident prevention) System was established and served
as an organization in charge of sales. Koken Ltd. was assigned
to conduct production and R&D. |
1983
|
Koken
received a letter of appreciation from the managing director
of the technical research department of the then-Defense Agency
for cooperation in performing experimental R&D of new protective
respirator and new protective clothing. |
1985
|
Koken
completed the merger with Koshinkai Kenkyujo and Ninomiya Production
Center and increased its capital to JPY380 million. Koken received
a major order of respirators from the then-Defense Agency and
successfully established a full-scale production system. |
1986
|
Koken
registered its name on the Tokyo Over-the-Counter Stock Exchange
Market and increased its capital to JPY644.6 million. |
1987
|
Koken
completed the merger with Koken Bosai System. All factories
and production centers were re-named to “Techno-Yard.” |
1988
|
The construction
of the Sayama Techno-Yard was completed. |
1992
|
Cancer
control substance was developed at the Tokorozawa Laboratory
and disclosed. New R&D facility at the Tokorozawa Laboratory
was constructed. |
1995
|
Koken
added Oxilyzer, a strong acid electrolyzed water generator,
and push-pull ventilation system on product line, as part of
environmental quality improvement equipment-related business.
Koken respirators contributed in the recovery operations of
the Great Hanshin Earthquake and the Tokyo Subway Sarin Gas
Attack. Newly-developed personnel system, or Total Personnel
System, was installed. |
1997
|
Oxilyzer
was approved as medical equipment by the Ministry of Health
and Welfare. The construction of the Nakai Techno-Yard and
Nakai Logistics Center was completed. |
1999
|
Entire
organization was approved under ISO9001. The construction of
the Gunma Techno-Yard was completed. EcoBeam, a non-chemical
water treatment system, was added on product line as a part
of environmental quality improvement equipment-related business. |
2000
|
Koken’s
SCBAs contributed in the recovery operation of the criticality
accident at the nuclear power plant in Tokai Village, emergency
response operation of the volcano eruption in the Miyake Island,
and as emergency measures against dioxins generated in the
trash incinerating facilities. Koken Laminar, a unit-type open-style
pull-pull ventilation system, was introduced. |
2001
|
Particulate
respirators using the newly-developed “Mighty Micron
Filter,” corresponding to the new Japanese national assay
standard, were introduced. Products for nuclear, biological
and chemical (NBC) events (emergency evacuation respirators
for NBC attacks and strong acid electrolyzed water disinfection
shower system) were developed and introduced. |
2002
|
The Gunma
Techno-Yard was approved under ISO 14001 Environment Management
System (Assessment registration). Two new products (breath-response
PAPR “Breath-Link Model 10” and polluted soil purification
system Aqua Flush, using UV-rays and electrolyzed water) with
the use of world’s first innovative technology were simultaneously
introduced. |
2003
|
The Nakai
Techno-Yard and Nakai Logistics Center were approved under
ISO Environment Management System (Assessment registration). |
2004
|
Open-draft “Laminar
Table HD-01” and breath-response PAPR “Model BL-50” were
introduced. Koken canceled the Over-the-Counter registration
at the Japan Securities Dealers Association (JSDA) and went
public on the Japan Association of Securities Dealers Automated
Quotations (JASDAQ) market. |
2005
|
The Tokorozawa
Techno-Yard was approved under ISO 14001 Environment Management
System (Assessment registration). |
2006
|
“Kagami-Naishi,” a
fully-automated endoscope washer, was approved as medical equipment
under the pharmaceutical affairs law. “Lifemaster,” emergency
respirator for evacuation from fire and special evacuation,
was introduced. Koken launched a recycling system of used filters
for particulate respirators. |
2007
|
Recycling system of used chemical
cartridges was started. |
2008
|
Development
of innovative technologies, "Nano-fiber filtar" and "Open
clean bench," was disclosed. |
2009
|
Logistics
center (now called Saitama Logistics Center) was re-located
from Kanagawa Pref. to Saitama Pref. |