TDK Corporation

Founded in 1935

Completion of Kamata Factory

Named the ferrite core "oxide core" and released it.

Color film production became popular.

Invented the alternating bias magnetic recording method.

The Naval Technical Research Institute officially adopted the ferrite core for ship radio use.

Naval Technical Institute officially adopts ferrite cores for ship radio

Massively ordered ferrite cores for radio mu-tuning, and opened the Hirazawa branch factory in Hirazawa Town, Akita Prefecture.

Mass orders for ferrite cores for radio mu-tuning

Establish new Hirazawa branch factory in Hirazawa Town, Akita Prefecture

Proposed the embedded-program computer and presented the concept of communication satellites.

Propose integrated computer

Announce concept of communication satellite

Kamata Factory Fire (April)

Resumed ferrite production (October at Hirazawa factory).

Shortly after World War II in 1947 (Showa 22), the conventional radio (such as the parallel four radio) with a lot of noise and difficult to hear was replaced by a high-performance superheterodyne radio. The radio of this type required an intermediate frequency transformer (IFT) as an essential component, and ferrite was needed as its core, so orders flooded TDK, the only ferrite manufacturer in Japan at the time. This helped TDK overcome postwar difficulties and laid the foundation for today.

Demand for intermediate-frequency transformers for superheterodyne radio surged, and the transistor was invented.

Demand for intermediate frequency transformer cores for superheterodyne radio surges

Surge in orders for ferrite

Following the start of television broadcasting experiments, TDK began developing prototypes of bias yoke cores for CRT image display and ferrite cores for flyback transformers

Commenced research and development of magnetic tape

Released ferrite cores for black-and-white TV bias yokes, and started production of flat circular ceramic capacitors at the Hirazawa factory.

Launch black-and-white TV bias yoke cores

Start production of parallel cylindrical ceramic capacitors at Hirazawa factory

Released magnetic recording tape "Sync Tape."

Mass production commenced around the start of the broadcast

Released open-reel recording magnetic tape under the product name Syncro Tape

Released the world's first transistor radio.

Launch world's first transistor radio

In 1955 (Showa 30), Japan released its first transistor radio. This radio also used TDK ferrite as the core of a bar antenna. TDK ferrite greatly contributed to the widespread adoption of radio, the cornerstone of AV equipment.

Released the disc-shaped capacitor "Alcon."

Release disk-shaped capacitor "Alcon"

Release of Japan's first transistor radio

Ichioka Factory established, development of hard disk drives

New establishment of Ichikawa Factory

Develop hard disk drive

First artificial satellite, successful launch of Sputnik 1

Adopted by broadcasting stations

Paramist PM-4 parametron computing element wins Grand Prix at Brussels World’s Fair

Paramista PM-4 wins the Grand Prix

Invention of IC

In 1960 (Showa 35), research and development began with ferrite-based magnetic drum head core pieces. The product released two years later was called "boat-shaped head core" because its cross-section resembled a boat.

First barium ferrite magnet released by TDK

Television color broadcasting begins

Research and development of magnetic drum head core pieces using ferrite

Listed on First Section of Tokyo Stock Exchange, first manned spaceflight achieved

List shares on First Section of Tokyo Stock Exchange

Ferrite head for magnetic drum released, satellite communication experiment on TV successful

Launch ferrite heads for magnetic drums

Boat-shaped head core

Since developing a erase head for tape recorders in 1963 (Showa 38), it has been widely used in industrial fields, including magnetic heads for cassette decks and VTRs, magnetic card ticket vending machines, and currency exchange machines.

Synchronized video tape adopted as broadcast tape

Since developing a erase head for tape recorders in 1963, magnetic heads for cassette decks, VTRs, and even magnetic card-based ticket vending machines and currency exchange machines have been widely used in industrial fields

Approximately 60% of the video tapes used in the Tokyo Olympics were TDK products

First domestic cassette tape released (OEM product: June 1966, TDK brand product: September 1966)

Release first domestic cassette tape

First domestic OEM cassette tape released

Cassette tape sold under the product name "Syncro Cassette"

Provision of OEM Products

Launch TDK brand products

In 1968 (Showa 43), developed the "IBM2314-compatible head core piece" to meet the demand for high recording density.

TDK Taiwan established, radio wave darkroom released, "SD" cassette tape for music released in the United States, liquid crystal display announced

Establishment of TDK Taiwan Corporation

Release of music cassette tape "SD" in the United States

First music cassette tape SD cassette released

IBM 2314-compatible head core piece

Internet research and development, Apollo 11 lunar landing

Glass head for magnetic disk released

Head release

Layered ceramic chip capacitor released, microprocessor announced

Release of laminated ceramic chip capacitors

In 1972 (Showa 47), developed the "Winchester head."

Winchester head developed

Winchester head developed in 1972

Winchester head

High coercivity iron oxide magnetic material "Avirin" for magnetic tape developed

High coercivity ferrite magnetic material for magnetic tape

Development of "Avirin"

In 1973, a new technology of coating cobalt on the surface of needle-shaped magnetic powder achieved superior properties over the high-performance tape material (chromium dioxide) used at the time. The SA (Super Abirin) tape for music/video released with this new magnetic powder named "Abirin" greatly contributed to the improvement of recording and video culture with high sound and picture quality

Launch of Switching Power Supply

Launch of Samarium-Cobalt Magnets

Switching power supply released, samarium-cobalt magnet released

SA cassette released using Abirin magnetic material

Automatic Insertion Machine for Vertical Lead Components Printed Circuit Boards

Launch of "Abisart"

Launch of Home Video Recorder (VHS Format)

Automatic board insertion machine for vertical lead components "Abisart" released, home video recorder (VHS format) released

The ultra-thin radio released in 1976 was the first consumer appliance manufactured with chip components and SMT, using TDK's laminated ceramic chip capacitors

Layered Ceramic in Thin Radio

Use of Chip Capacitors

Layered ceramic chip capacitor used in slim radio

Launch of VHS/Betamax Video Tapes

VHS/Betamax video tape released, birth of an IVF child

Video tape released using Abirin magnetic material

Video tape released under the TDK brand

Launch of Headphone Stereo

Start of Cellular Automobile Phone Service

Headphone stereo released, car telephone service started

Launch of Layered Inductors

In 1980 (Showa 55), developed a groundbreaking technique to form coils using a laminated process without winding, and commercialized the world's first laminated chip inductor.

In 1980, a revolutionary technique was developed to form coils by laminated construction without winding, and the world's first laminated chip inductor was commercialized

Listing on New York Stock Exchange

Launch of Compact Disc Player

Listed on the New York Stock Exchange, compact disc player released

New plant established at Mikumagawa

Company name changed to TDK Corporation

Release of home computer game console

First mobile phone in the world

Change company name to TDK Corporation, launch home computer game console, first mobile phone in the world

Magnetic head manufacturing company in Hong Kong

Acquisition of SAE Magnetics (H.K.) Ltd.

Acquire Hong Kong magnetic head manufacturer SAE Magnetics (H.K.) Ltd., discover high-temperature superconductivity

Acquisition of Hong Kong magnetic head manufacturer SAE Magnetics (H.K.) Ltd.

Release of thin-film magnetic head

Release of MHD (Multilayer Hybrid Integrated Circuit Components)

Completion of technical center in Ichikawa City, Chiba Prefecture

Launch of internet service

Launch of Hubble Space Telescope

In 1990, a technical center was completed in Ichikawa City, Chiba Prefecture.

Completion of Technical Center in Ichikawa City, Chiba Prefecture

Release of CD-R using recordable organic dye film

Establishment of local subsidiary in Amoy, China

Release of high-density recording AMR head

In 1994, established a local subsidiary in Amoy, China.

Release of GMR head

Successful development of TMR head

Acquisition of U.S. magnetic head manufacturer Headway Technologies, Inc.

Acquisition of U.S. magnetic head manufacturer Headway Technologies, Inc.

Release of digital audio player

Introduction of Executive Officer System

Release of PMR head

Opening of TDK History Museum in Kaho City, Akita Prefecture

Acquisition of polymer lithium battery manufacturer and distributor Amperex Technology Ltd. (ATL)

Acquisition of power product development, manufacturing, and distribution company Lambda Power Group (including Densai Lambda)

In 2005, opened the TDK History Museum in Kaho City, Akita Prefecture.

Establish new TDK History Museum in Kaho City, Akita Prefecture

Release of PMR (perpendicular magnetic recording) heads

Acquisition of polymer lithium battery manufacturer and distributor Amperex Technology Ltd. (ATL)

The TDK brand record media sales business was transferred to Imation Corp. in the United States. Smartphones were launched and popularized in the U.S.

Transfer of TDK brand recording media sales business to U.S. company Imation Corp.

German electronic device manufacturer EPCOS AG was acquired through a TOB. The Lehman Shock occurred.

Acquisition of German electronic device manufacturer EPCOS AG through a TOB

The "Invention and Industrialization of Ferrite" was recognized as an IEEE milestone.

In 2009, "The Invention and Industrialization of Ferrite" was recognized as an IEEE milestone.

"Invention and Industrialization of Ferrite" recognized as IEEE Milestone

"The Invention of Ferrite and Its Industrialization" recognized as an IEEE milestone

The arrival of a smart society.

The environmental basic plan "TDK Environmental Activities 2020" was formulated (starting from April 2011). The world population surpassed 7 billion.

Formulation of the environmental basic plan "TDK Environmental Activities 2020" (started in April 2011)

Developed a dysprosium-free magnet.

Development of dysprosium-free magnets

Exited the record media business. Ferrite was selected as one of Japan's 100 postwar innovations. The world's first fuel cell vehicle was launched.

Withdrawal from the recording media business

Ferrite selected as one of Japan's 100 postwar innovations

The IoT and AI era arrived. Gravitational wave observation was successful.

Formulated "TDK Environmental Vision 2035" and reopened the TDK History Future Museum. Acquired sensor manufacturer Micronas Semiconductor Holding AG, U.S. HDD head suspension manufacturer Hutchinson Technology Inc., and MEMS inertial sensor manufacturer Tronics Microsystems SA.

In 2016, the TDK History Mirai Hall was renovated and reopened.

Renovate and reopen TDK History Future Museum

Formulation of TDK Environmental Vision 2035

Acquisition of Micronas Semiconductor Holding AG

Acquisition of Hutchinson Technology Inc.

Acquisition of Tronics Microsystems SA

Established a business partnership and joint venture with Qualcomm Incorporated, and acquired sensor manufacturer InvenSense, Inc. Acquired ICsense NV, which develops ASICs (application-specific integrated circuits).

Business partnership with Qualcomm Incorporated and establishment of a joint venture

Acquisition of InvenSense, Inc.

Acquisition of ICsense NV

Invested in venture companies and established TDK Ventures, Inc.

Establishment of TDK Ventures, Inc.

Joined the "Responsible Business Alliance," an initiative promoting corporate social responsibility in the global supply chain. The COVID-19 pandemic occurred.

Membership in the Responsible Business Alliance

Outbreak of the novel coronavirus (COVID-19)

Strengthened efforts toward environmental response in line with "2050 CO2 Net Zero."

Strengthening environmental initiatives toward CO2 net zero by 2050

Joined the international environmental initiative RE100, and established business partnerships and joint ventures with ATL and CATL. The world population surpassed 8 billion.

Membership in RE100

Business partnership with ATL and CATL and establishment of a joint venture

All domestic manufacturing sites of TDK began operating on 100% renewable energy, and acquired Qeexo, Co., which develops an automated machine learning platform.

TDK began operating all domestic manufacturing sites with 100% renewable energy

Acquisition of Qeexo, Co

Established the new AI company TDK SensEI Pte. Ltd., which optimizes advanced industrial machinery through edge AI and sensor fusion.

Establishment of new AI company TDK SensEI Pte. Ltd.

Acquired SoftEye, a leading company for AI/smart glasses technology.

Acquisition of SoftEye