KOKUSAI ELECTRIC’s Journey
The first iteration of our company was the Deposition Process Solutions business (semiconductor manufacturing equipment business) of Hitachi Kokusai Electric Inc. (formerly Kokusai Electric Co., Ltd.), a subsidiary of Hitachi, Ltd.
Aiming to optimize the Video and Communications Solutions and Deposition Process Solutions businesses operated at the time by Hitachi Kokusai Electric Inc., Hitachi, Ltd. and Hitachi Kokusai Electric Inc. decided to spin off the Deposition Process Solutions business to the investment company Kohlberg Kravis Roberts & Co. L.P. (hereinafter “KKR”), its new capital partner, in February 2017. Then HKE Holdings Co., Ltd. (a special purpose company operated and managed by KKR) made a tender offer for shares of Hitachi Kokusai Electric Inc., and Hitachi Kokusai Electric Inc. was delisted from the 1st Section of the Tokyo Stock Exchange in March 2018. In May 2018, Hitachi Kokusai Electric Inc. became a subsidiary of HKE Holdings Co., Ltd.
In June 2018, Hitachi Kokusai Electric Inc. spun off its Deposition Process Solutions business to HKE Holdings Co., Ltd. and its name was changed to KOKUSAI ELECTRIC CORPORATION, as it remains to this day.
Foundation to 1980s
- 1949
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Kokusai Electric Co., Ltd. is established, which mainly manufactures and sells telecommunications and high-frequency application equipment
- 1956
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Receives order for single germanium/silicon crystal puller, and launches semiconductor manufacturing equipment business
- 1961
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Develops world’s first lifetime measurement system and resistivity measurement system for measuring performance of single silicon crystal with high frequency application
- 1961
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Kokusai Electric Co., Ltd. is listed on the Tokyo Stock Exchange (listed on 1st Section that October)
- 1963
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Starts researching impurity diffusion in semiconductor manufacturing equipment
- 1964
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Research on impurity diffusion in semiconductor device manufacturing leads to development of diffusion furnace
- 1970
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Develops CVD system
- 1971
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Establishes Kokusai Electric Co., of America (now Kokusai Semiconductor Equipment Corporation), a subsidiary based in Delaware, US
- 1977
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Establishes Kokusai Electric Europe GmbH (now Kokusai Semiconductor Europe GmbH), a subsidiary based in Düsseldorf, Germany
- 1983
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Develops 150-mm wafer-ready silicon epitaxial growth system (DC-7000)
- 1985
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Launches VERTRON® vertical CVD diffusion system
- 1987
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Develops 150-mm wafer-ready vertical CVD system (VERTRON®-II)
- 1989
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Establishes KOKUSAI ELECTRIC SYSTEM SERVICE CO.,LTD (now Kokusai Electric Semiconductor Service Inc.)
- 1989
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Toyama Works (now Toyama Technology & Manufacturing Center) begins operations
1990s
- 1990
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Develops 200-mm wafer-ready vertical CVD system (VERTRON®-III)
- 1990
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Develops load-lock system that suppresses natural oxide film formation (VERTRON®-Ⅴ(C))
- 1991
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Opens Toyama Works (now Toyama Technology & Manufacturing Center) Training Center
- 1993
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Establishes Kook Je Electric Korea Co., Ltd., a consolidated subsidiary in Cheonan, South Korea
- 1996
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Establishes Kokusai Electric Asia Pacific Co., Ltd. in Taiwan
- 1996
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Develops 300-mm wafer-ready vertical diffusion/CVD system (ZESTONE®-III)
- 1996
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Develops 300-mm wafer-ready single wafer CVD system (ZESTONE®-VII)
2000s
- 2000
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Kokusai Electric Co., Ltd., Hitachi Denshi, Ltd., and Yagi Antenna Co., Ltd. merge to form "Hitachi Kokusai Electric Inc."
- 2001
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Kokusai Electric System Service Inc. transfers its communication and information division to Hitachi Electronics System Service Co., Ltd. and its name is changed to Kokusai Electric Semiconductor Service Inc.
- 2002
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Kokusai Electric Asia Pacific Co., Ltd. establishes Kokusai Electric Asia Pacific Shanghai Ltd. (now KE Semiconductor Equipment (Shanghai) Co., Ltd.)
- 2002
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Develops single wafer plasma nitridation system suitable for next-generation processes (MARORA®)
- 2003
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Develops QUIXACE® that incorporates Q-TAT (Quick-Turn Around Time)
- 2005
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Develops NEW QUIXACE® L/L (QLV2)
- 2008
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Develops high-productivity ashing/annealing system TANDUO®
2010s
- 2010
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Kook Je Electric Korea Co., Ltd. Pyeongtaek Factory is built
- 2011
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Develops QUIXACE ULTIMATE®
- 2011
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Kook Je Electric Korea Co., Ltd. Cheonan Factory is expanded
- 2015
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Develops high-productivity vertical system, AdvancedAce®-300
- 2017
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HKE Holdings LLC (now KOKUSAI ELECTRIC CORPORATION) is established in Marunouchi, Chiyoda Ward, Tokyo
- 2017
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Toyama Works (now Toyama Technology & Manufacturing Center) Tsurugi-Kan is completed
- 2017
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HKE Holdings LLC becomes HKE Holdings Co., Ltd. (now KOKUSAI ELECTRIC CORPORATION)
- 2018
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Hitachi Kokusai Electric Inc. is delisted from the 1st Section of the Tokyo Stock Exchange
- 2018
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HKE Holdings Co., Ltd. (now KOKUSAI ELECTRIC CORPORATION) acquires 100% ownership of Hitachi Kokusai Electric Inc.
- 2018
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Hitachi Kokusai Electric Inc.’s Deposition Process Solutions business is spun off to HKE Holdings Co., Ltd., and its name is changed to KOKUSAI ELECTRIC CORPORATION
- 2018
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20% of common shares of Hitachi Kokusai Electric Inc., a wholly-owned subsidiary of KOKUSAI ELECTRIC CORPORATION, are sold to Hitachi, Ltd. and 20% to HVJ Holdings Inc., and it becomes a non-consolidated subsidiary
- 2018
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Head office moves from Marunouchi, Chiyoda Ward, Tokyo to Kanda, Chiyoda Ward, Tokyo
- 2019
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Develops AdvancedAce® II
2020s
- 2020
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Develops TSURUGI-C2® 剱®, a high-quality deposition and high-performance semiconductor manufacturing equipment
- 2020
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KOKUSAI ELECTRIC CORPORATION sells all shares of Hitachi Kokusai Electric Inc. to HVJ Holdings Inc., so it is no longer a subsidiary
- 2021
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Toyama Technology & Manufacturing Center obtains ISO 45001 certification
- 2021
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¥9.9 billion of other capital surplus is transferred to capital, for a free capital increase of ¥10 billion in capital
- 2022
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Corporate slogan “Technology & Tai-wa for Tomorrow” is formulated
- 2022
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New Corporate Philosophy, “KOKUSAI ELECTRIC Way,” is formulated
- 2023
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KOKUSAI ELECTRIC CORPORATION was listed on the "Prime Market" section of the Tokyo Stock Exchange.
- Note:
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VERTRON, ZESTONE, MARORA, QUIXACE, QUIXACE ULTIMATE, TANDUO, AdvancedAce, and TSURUGI-C2 and 剱 logo are registered trademarks of KOKUSAI ELECTRIC CORPORATION.
