The History of Makita
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In 1958, Makita Corporation, which was founded in 1915 as an electric motor sales and repair company, became the first company in Japan to manufacture and sell portable electric planers. Over the half century since, Makita has worked to build a steady position as a manufacturer of power tools. Today, Makita continues to provide products and services that are beneficial to all types of customers engaged in housing construction. Makita’s history is one of close interaction with customers and parallels the evolution of power tools. 1910 ~ 1969 1958
Model 1000 Electric Hand Planer 120mm (the first product in Japan)
1915
Founded Makita Electric Works (proprietorship) in Nagoya, Aichi. Began selling and repairing lighting equipment, motors, and transformers.
1935
First exported electric generators and motors to the Soviet Union
1938
Incorporated the proprietorship’s business form and established Makita Electric Works, Inc.
1945
Moved the plant, in an attempt to avoid air raid, to the current head office in Sumiyoshi-Cho, Anjo-City.
1958
Started marketing portable electric planers, the first product in Japan.
1959
Transformed into an electric power tool manufacturer.
Initiated exports of electric power tools with shipment of 1300 hand-held electric planers to Australia.
1960
Finished construction of new main plant.
1962
Changed the trade name to Makita Electric Works, Ltd.
Went public and listed the company in the 2nd Section of Nagoya Stock Exchange.
1963
Became an entirely debt-free company.
1965
Celebrated 50th anniversary.
1968
Listed the company in the 2nd Section of Tokyo and Osaka Stock Exchanges.
1969
6500D battery-powered drill (first rechargeable power tool).
1970 ~ 1979 1978
Model 6010D Rechargeable Drill 10 mm (first Ni-Cd battery tool)
1970
Designated to the 1st Section of Tokyo, Nagoya and Osaka Stock Exchanges.
(Osaka listing terminated in February 2003)
Established Makita U.S.A. Inc (in the United States)
Established a new facility, Okazaki Plant.
1971
Established Makita France S.A. (in France) (changed the name to Makita France SAS April 2004)
1972
Established Makita Electric (U.K.) Ltd. (in the United Kingdom)
(changed the name to Makita (U.K.) Ltd. December 1992)
1973
Established Makita (Australia) Pty. Ltd. (in Australia)
Listed on Amsterdam Stock Exchange using Continental Depositary Receipts (CDR)
(Amsterdam listing terminated in February 2004)
Established Makita Power Tools Canada Ltd. (in Canada)
(changed the name to Makita Canada Inc. January 1991)
1974
Established Makita Benelux B.V. (in the Netherlands)
(changed the name to Makita Nederland B.V. January 2010)
Established Makita S.p.A. (in Italy)
1976
Raised capital overseas for the first time, through CDR offering.
1977
Started trading of American Depository Receipt on NASDAQ.
NASDAQ listing terminated in April 2013）
Established Makita S.A. Makita N.V. (in Belgium)
Established Makita Werkzeug GmbH (in Germany)
1978
Launched 6010D rechargeable drill (first nickel cadmium battery tool).
1980 ~ 1989 1981
Model AN5000 Air Nailer (first pneumatic tool)
Model AC6001 Air Compressor
1981
Launched AN5000 pneumatic nailer and AC6001 air compressor (first air tools).
Established Makita Brasil Ferramentas Elétricas Ltda. (in Brazil)
(Started production of power tools in South America.)
Established Makita Werkzeug Gesellschaft m.b.H. (in Austria)
1982
Issued European Depositary Receipts (EDR) and listed on Luxembourg Stock Exchange.
(Luxembourg listing terminated in June 1998)
1983
Established Makita Power Tools Singapore Ltd. (in Singapore)
(changed the name to Makita Singapore Pte.Ltd. April 1991)
Started production of power tools in Canada.
1984
Established Makita Corporation of America (in the United States)
1985
Started production of power tools in the United States.
1986
Established Joyama Kaihatsu Ltd. (Toyokawa, Aichi)
1987
Power tools became subject to retaliatory tariffs due to semiconductor market trade friction between U.S. and Japan.
1988
Established Makita (Taiwan) Ltd.
1989
Established Makita Espana S.A. (in Spain)
(changed the name to Makita, S.A. November 1991)
Changed the year end from February 20 to March 31.
Three power tools (circular saw, grinder, drill) designed by Giorgetto Giugiaro exhibited at the Word Design Exposition held in Nagoya City.
Established Makita Manufacturing Europe Ltd. (in the United Kingdom)
1990 ~ 1999 1996
Model 6213D Rechargeable Driver-drill (first Ni-MH battery tool)
1991
Acquired Sachs Dolmar GmbH, chain saw manufacturer. (in Germany)
(changed the name to Dolmar GmbH September 1991)
Introduced corporate identity (CI) program.
Changed the name to Makita Corporation.
Started production of power tools in Europe (U.K)
1992
Anti-dumping suit filed against Makita in U.S.
Established Makita Power Tools (HK) Ltd. (in Hong Kong)
1993
Sponsored Japan tour by the MR. BIG rock band from the U.S.
Established Makita (New Zealand) Ltd. (in New Zealand)
Established Makita (China) Co., Ltd. (in China)
1994
Established Makita Sp.zo.o. (in Poland)
Established Makita Mexico, S.A. de C.V. (in Mexico)
1995
Established Makita International Europe Ltd. (in the United Kingdom)
Established Makita, spol.sr.o (in Czech Republic)
Started production of power tools in China.
1996
Established Makita Elektromos Kisgépértékesítö Kft. (in Hungary)
1997
Established Makita Gulf FZE. (in the United Arab Emirates)
6213D rechargeable driver-drill exhibited at the Chicago Hardware Show (first nickel hydride battery tool).
1998
Established Makita Herramientas Ele´ctricas de Argentina S.A. (in Argentina)
1999
Established Makita Chile Comercial Ltda. (in Chile)
Established Makita Hellas S.A. (in Greece)
2000 ~ 2009 2005
Model HR4011C Rotary Hammer 40 mm (with Anti Vibration Technology)
2000
Established Makita Romania S.R.L. (in Romania)
Established Makita SA (in Switzerland)
Established Makita (Kunshan) Co., Ltd. (in China)
2001
Established Makita Latin America Inc. (in the United States)
Established Makita Oy (in Finland)
2002
Launched the 2nd brand MAKTEC specifically for the Asian market.
2003
Finished construction of new corporate headquarters.
Established Makita LLC. (in Russia)
2004
Established Makita s.r.o. (in Slovakia)
2005
Launched TD130D (first Lithium-ion Battery tool).
Celebrated 90th anniversary.
Established Makita EU S.R.L. (in Romania)
Established Makita Ukraine LLC.
2006
Acquired nailer business from Kanematsu-NNK Corp.
Established Makita Peru S.A. (in Peru)
2007
Started production of power tools in Romania.
Made Fuji Robin Industries Ltd. a consolidated subsidiary.
(changed the name to Makita Numazu Corporation August 2007, merged into the Company April 2013)
2008
Established Makita Bulgaria EOOD (in Bulgaria)
Established Makita Power Tools India Private Ltd. (in India)
Established Makita Colombia, S.A. (in Colombia)
Established Makita Africa s.a.r.l.a.u. (in Morocco)
2009
Established Makita Vietnam Co., Ltd. (in Vietnam)
2010 ~ 2010
Model TD133D Cordless Impact Driver (with brushless motor)
2011
Established Makita Manufacturing (Thailand) Co., Ltd. (in Thailand)
Established Makita d.o.o. (in Slovenia)
2012
Started production of power tools in Thailand.
2013
Established Makita Power Tools (Malaysia) Sdn. Bhd. (in Malaysia)
Masahiko Goto became Chairman and Shiro Hori became President.
Established Makita Europe N.V. (in Belgium)
2014
Established Makita Kazakhstan LLP (in Kazakhstan)
2015
Celebrated 100th Anniversary.