Okabe Corporation

Founded as a private shop by founder Okabe Mitsuyusuke, focusing on manufacturing and selling general building hardware.

April 14, 1917

Founding

Reorganized into the partnership Okabe Ironworks.

Reorganized the partnership Okabe Ironworks and established Okabe Ironworks Co., Ltd. with a capital of 300,000 yen.

February 1, 1944

Establishment

Reorganized the joint venture Okabe Ironworks and established Okabe Ironworks Co., Ltd. with a capital of 300,000 yen.

The Minister of Commerce and Industry approved the Japanese Industrial Standards labeling for Form-Tai-type products.

Established a new Tokyo factory in Koshigaya City, Saitama Prefecture, and commenced operations.

Absorbed Okabe Trading Co., Ltd. and changed the company name to Okabe Co., Ltd.

Established a new Kyoto factory in Kume-cho, Kuse-gun, Kyoto Prefecture, and commenced operations.

Co-founded with San-yo Materials Co., Ltd. and established San-yo Okabe Co., Ltd. in Hiroshima City.

Our issued shares were listed on the Second Section of the Tokyo Stock Exchange.

Relocated the Tokyo factory entirely. Established a new Kuki factory in the Kuki Industrial Estate, Kuki City, Saitama Prefecture, and commenced operations.

Established Okabe CO., INC. (consolidated subsidiary) in Illinois, USA.

With the implementation of the first spin‑off plan, the former branches and sales offices were separated and became wholly‑owned subsidiaries for sales.

With the implementation of the second spin‑off plan, the civil engineering and R&D divisions were separated and became wholly‑owned subsidiaries, establishing Okabe Civil Engineering Co., Ltd. and Okabe Engineering Co., Ltd. (liquidated in June 2001).

In the final stage of the second spin‑off plan, the manufacturing division of major products was separated and became a wholly‑owned subsidiary, establishing Okabe Machinery Co., Ltd.

Established Okabe Lease Co., Ltd. as a wholly‑owned subsidiary.

Co‑founded Okako Shikoku Co., Ltd. with Kobayashi Industries Co., Ltd. and Sankō Co., Ltd., holding a 45% stake, and transferred the business of Okabe Shikoku Sales Co., Ltd. to the new company.

In Canada, acquired all shares of the holding company of Coast Hotels Group and entered the hotel business (sold all shares in September 2016).

Merged the manufacturing subsidiary Okabe Seiko Co., Ltd. into Okabe Machinery Co., Ltd. and made it the Chiba factory of Okabe Machinery.

Our issued shares were listed on the First Section of the Tokyo Stock Exchange.

Separated the real estate division and established Okabe Development Co., Ltd.

Established a new Structural Test Center in Noda City, Chiba Prefecture.

Separated the Base Pack Division and established Okabe Structural System Co., Ltd.

Acquired shares of a Hong Kong company in preparation for business expansion into China and renamed it Hong Kong Okabe Limited (sold all shares in January 2010).

Acquired shares of a Hong Kong company in preparation for business expansion into China and named the company Okabe Hong Kong Limited (January 2010, sold all shares).

Merged 16 nationwide sales subsidiaries and established Okabe Building Materials Co., Ltd., which handles temporary structures, formwork, and related building materials. Merged Okabe Tech Co., Ltd., Okabe Structural System Co., Ltd., and Okabe Fencing Co., Ltd. to establish Okabe Struct Co., Ltd., which handles structural equipment products.

Absorbed Okabe Machinery Co., Ltd., a manufacturing subsidiary, into Okabe Building Materials Co., Ltd. as the surviving company, establishing a three-company structure in the construction sector (Okabe Building Materials Co., Ltd., Okabe Struct Co., Ltd., Okabe Civil Engineering Co., Ltd.). The company transitioned to a holding company structure with the group headquarters.

Merged the Kyōji and Hyōgo branches of Okabe Building Materials Co., Ltd. with the Building Materials Civil Engineering Department of Kobayashi Industries Co., Ltd. to establish Kansai Okabe Co., Ltd.

Established O.C.M. Inc., a company primarily selling construction material products in the United States.

Okabe Civil Engineering Co., Ltd. absorbed Okabe Technosystem Co., Ltd.

Established Okabe Construction Materials Co., Ltd. (OTCM) in Taiwan as a building materials sales company (liquidated in December 2007).

Established Okabe Construction Materials Co., Ltd. (OTCM), a construction materials sales company in Taiwan (December 2007, liquidation completed).

Absorbed Okabe Building Materials Co., Ltd., Okabe Struct Co., Ltd., and Okabe Civil Engineering Co., Ltd. as subsidiaries into the parent company, transitioning to a unified new structure as a business company.

Established Okabe Holding USA, Inc. (now Water Grumman Holdings, Inc.) in the United States with full investment to expand the automotive product business, and through that company acquired all shares of Water Grumman Co. (sold in February 2024), which manufactures and sells automotive battery terminals in the U.S. (filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in Delaware in October 2023).

East Okabe Manufacturing Co., Ltd. absorbed seven regional manufacturing subsidiaries and changed its name to OMM Co., Ltd.

East Okabe Manufacturing Co., Ltd. absorbed seven regional manufacturing subsidiaries and changed its name to OMM Co., Ltd.

Established Okabe Man Power Co., Ltd. (liquidated in July 2010).

Established Okabe Man Power Co., Ltd. (July 2010, liquidation completed).

Absorbed Kansai Okabe Co., Ltd. and changed it to the Kansai branch.

Established Okabe Civil Engineering Co., Ltd. (consolidated subsidiary) as a new civil engineering division of the company, inheriting the civil engineering business.

Through Okabe Holding USA, Inc. (consolidated subsidiary), acquired all shares of Aquila Pionbo S.r.l., an Italian company that manufactures and sells automotive battery components (sold in January 2024).

Acquired all shares of Aquila Pionbo S.r.l. (consolidated subsidiary, now Watergrimmel Aquila Company S.p.A.), a company that, through Okabe Holdings USA, Inc. (consolidated subsidiary), operated the manufacturing and sales of automotive battery parts in Italy (sold in January 2024).

Dissolved Okabe Kō Shikoku Co., Ltd. and established the Shikoku Sales Department, starting sales in the Shikoku area.

Dissolved Sanyo Okabe Co., Ltd., established the Central Shikoku branch, and began sales in both the Shikoku and China areas, completing a nationwide sales network.

Absorbed Okabe Lease Co., Ltd. and changed it to the Temporary Lease Group.

Established Changxing Huatai Geline Metal Products Co., Ltd. in Zhejiang Province, China, to further expand the automotive product business (liquidated in April 2019).

Established Changxing Huatai Geling Metal Products Co., Ltd. (liquidated in April 2019) in Zhejiang Province, China, to further expand the automotive-related product business.

Established Okabe Industry Co., Ltd. (consolidated subsidiary) to acquire the manufacturing and sales business of insert spacers and related products.

Entered into a comprehensive business partnership agreement with Tatsumi Co., Ltd.

Absorbed and merged with Okabe Civil Engineering Co., Ltd., changing it to the Civil Engineering Division.

Established a new factory in Shimotsuma City, Ibaraki Prefecture, and commenced operations.

Celebrated the 100th anniversary of the company.

100th anniversary of founding

Acquired all shares of Fuji Bolt Manufacturing Co., Ltd.

Absorbed and merged Okabe Industry Co., Ltd.

Completed the construction of the Comprehensive Test Center in Shimotsuma City, Ibaraki Prefecture.

Acquired all shares of Kawara Co., Ltd.

Absorbed and merged Fuji Equipment Co., Ltd. and changed it to the Construction Group.

To expand the construction-related product business, OCM, Inc. established OCM Manufacturing LLC (consolidated subsidiary) and Okabe Real Estate Holdings LLC (consolidated subsidiary) in Pennsylvania, USA, with full investment.

OCM Manufacturing LLC began manufacturing building material products acquired from Vimco Inc. (Pennsylvania, USA).

Moved from the First Section to the Prime Market following a review of the Tokyo Stock Exchange market classification.

Established PT. Okabe Hardware Indonesia (consolidated subsidiary) in Banten, Indonesia, to start the procurement and sales business of third‑party building materials.

Established PT. Okabe Retail Indonesia (consolidated subsidiary) in Banten, Indonesia, to start the procurement and sales business of third‑party building materials.

PT. Okabe Hardware Indonesia and PT. Okabe Retail Indonesia commenced operations in Indonesia.