History

History and Overview of AuBEX

"AuBEX was founded by Eiichi Shibusawa, who is considered to be the father of Japanese capitalism. The company was established as Tokyo Hat K.K. in 1892 for the domestic production of top hats, which were mostly imported at that time. It changed its name to AuBEX Corporation in 1985.
AuBEX has undergone several changes in our long history stretching back to 1892. By applying the processing technologies developed through many years of manufacturing hats, we entered the pen nib business and now command a large share of the global market as a pen nib manufacturer. Likewise, we have enhanced our pen nib manufacturing technologies and expanded our businesses to the fields of medical equipment and cosmetics products.

To learn more about Eiichi Shibusawa, visit:
Shibusawa Eiichi Memorial Foundation website
(https://www.shibusawa.or.jp/)

Company History

December,
1892

Established Tokyo Hat K.K. at Hikawashita, Koishikawa-mura, Tokyo (current Koishikawa, Bunkyo-ku) as the first company in Japan for the domestic production of top hats. Founders included Eiichi Shibusawa, Kokutoku Masuda, and Kyohei Makoshi, with an initial capital amount of 36,000 yen.
October,
1926

Commended by the Japan Industrial Association for achievements in the hat manufacturing business.
March,
1945

Head Office and Honjo factory are lost in the war.
October,
1946

Rebuilt Honjo factory and resumed the manufacture of fedora hats.
July,
1947

Relocated Head Office to Nihonbashi Horidome, Chuo-ku, Tokyo.
May,
1949

Listed on the Tokyo Stock Exchange (Now listed on the 2nd Section of the Tokyo Stock Exchange.)
August,
1955

Started the manufacture of safety helmets made of fiber-reinforced plastic (FRP).
March,
1957

Started the planning, production, and sales of men's clothing such as casual shirts and knit wear.
April,
1958

Started the production of nibs for fiber pens for marking at the Honjo factory.
August,
1960

Manufacture of hats for Japanese athletes competing at the 1960 Summer Olympics in Rome.
August,
1962

Moved the Head Office from Horidome, Chuo-ku to Narihira, Sumida-ku. Changed name of Honjo factory to Head Office factory.
October,
1963

Submitted patent application for manufacturing technology to make synthetic fiber pen nibs for writing thin letters.
October,
1964

Delivered hats for the official blazers of athletes and officials at the 1964 Summer Olympics in Tokyo.
August,
1966

Started the manufacture of pen nibs made of polyester staple fiber bundle.
March,
1970

Sold Expo hats at the Expo '70 held in Osaka.
August,
1970

Established Chiba factory (now in Shiroi-shi).
June,
1971

Started manufacture of plastic pen tips.
January,
1976

Started sales of 0.8 mm plastic pen tips. Usefulness of ultra-thin pen tips made widely known.
April,
1985

Tokyo Hat K.K. renamed AuBEX Corporation.
April,
1987

Established Asahi Shoji Co., Ltd. (currently a consolidated subsidiary)
December,
1992

100th anniversary
April,
1996

Started sales of vessel fusers for infusing drug solutions.
January,
2001

Established Chiba Distribution Center. Relocated the Head Office and Asahi Shoji Co., Ltd. factory are relocated to the site of the new center.
April,
2001

Established AMI Incorporation. (currently a consolidated subsidiary)
June,
2004

Withdrew from the safety appliance business.
November,
2005

Established Tianjin AuBEX Technology Co., Ltd. (Tianjin, China).
December,
2006

Sold the land and building of the Head Office.
January,
2007

Transferred the Hat Department of Apparel Business Division to AURORA Co., Ltd.
March,
2007

Withdrew from the apparel business.
April,
2007

Relocated Head Office to Arca Central 22F, 1-2-1, Kinshi, Sumida-ku, Tokyo.
November,
2007

Started operating Tianjin AuBEX Technology Co., Ltd. (a Chinese subsidiary).
May,
2010

Relocated Head Office to Hulic Ryogoku Building 9F, 4-31-11, Ryogoku, Sumida-ku, Tokyo.
November,
2016

Established Chiba New Tech Center (Inzai-shi).

History

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