THK Global

Corporate History

Apr. 1971 Hiroshi Teramachi established Toho Seiko Co., Ltd., in Meguro-ku, Tokyo. The company started selling parts for machine tools, link balls, LM rollers, and LM balls.
Apr. 1972 Toho Seiko started selling its main products, LM Guides and ball splines.
Dec. 1972 Toho Seiko took over Nisshin Seisakusho Co., Ltd., and began operating the new acquisition as its Tokyo factory.
Mar. 1973 THK CO., LTD., was established by a joint investment between Toho Seiko and Miyairi Valve Seisakusho Co., Ltd.
Apr. 1977 Toho Seiko acquired the manufacturing department of THK CO., LTD., and began operating it as its Kofu plant.
Sept. 1979 Toho Seiko started manufacturing and selling ball screws.
Mar. 1981 THK America, Inc. (currently a consolidated subsidiary) was established in Chicago, Illinois, U.S.A.
July 1982 Toho Seiko started manufacturing and selling X-Y tables.
Oct. 1982 With a change in the face value of its shares (from 500 yen to 50 yen per share), Toho Seiko was taken over by THK CO.,LTD. (a pro forma merging corporation). The plants of Toho Seiko continued operation as THK's Nagoya and Osaka plants.
Oct. 1982 THK Europe GmbH (currently THK GmbH, a consolidated subsidiary) was established in Düsseldorf, Germany.
Jan. 1984 The company's trading name was re-established as THK CO., LTD.
Feb. 1984 THK acquired Daiko Seisakusho Co., Ltd., and began operating the new acquisition as its Gifu plant.
Apr. 1985 THK took over Toyo Seiko Co., Ltd., and began operating the new acquisition as its Mie plant. THK established Yamaguchi plant (which manufactures LM Guides).
Dec. 1985 THK participated in capital investment in Daito Seiki Co., Ltd. (currently THK INTECHS CO., LTD., currently a consolidated subsidiary), and entered into a technical tie-up.
Jan. 1988 THK Yasuda Co., Ltd. (currently THK NIIGATA CO., LTD., currently a consolidated subsidiary), was established in Yasuda-cho (currently Agano City), Kitakanbara-gun, Niigata Prefecture, by joint investment between THK CO., LTD., and Samon Kogyosho CO., LTD.
Apr. 1988 THK took over THK Distribution Co., Ltd.
Jan. 1989 THK Taiwan Co., Ltd. (currently a consolidated subsidiary), was established in Taipei, Taiwan, as a joint venture between THK and Fishion Trading Co., Ltd. (Taiwan).
May 1989 THK co-founded the CNTIC-THK Service Center in Beijing, China, with National Technical Import & Export Corporation (China) and Beijing Numerical Control Technical Development Center (China).
Nov. 1989 THK was listed on the over-the-counter market.
Apr. 1991 THK participated in capital investment in Beldex Co., Ltd. (currently THK INTECHS CO., LTD., currently a consolidated subsidiary).
June 1991 THK established the Yamagata plant.
Oct. 1991 THK participated in capital investment in Samick Industrial Co., Ltd. (currently Samick THK Co., Ltd., currently an equity investee), in South Korea, and entered into a technical tie-up.
Aug. 1992 THK acquired PGM Ballscrews Ireland Ltd. (currently THK Manufacturing of Ireland Ltd., currently a consolidated subsidiary), located in Dublin, Ireland.
May 1993 THK Europe B.V. (currently a consolidated subsidiary) was established in Amsterdam, the Netherlands.
May 1994 THK participated in capital investment in Toden System Co., Ltd. (currently Talk System Co., Ltd., currently a consolidated subsidiary).
Mar. 1996 DALIAN THK CO., LTD. (currently a consolidated subsidiary), was established in Dalian, China, as a joint venture between THK and Wafangdian Bearing Group Corporation.
July 1996 THK started manufacturing and selling Caged Ball LM Guides.
Aug. 1997 THK Manufacturing of America (currently a consolidated subsidiary) was established in Hebron, Ohio, U.S.A.
Aug. 1998 THK started manufacturing and selling linear motor actuators.
Feb. 2000 THK Manufacturing of Europe S.A.S. (currently a consolidated subsidiary) was established in Ensisheim, France.
Jan. 2001 THK started manufacturing and selling Caged Roller LM Guides.
Feb. 2001 THK was listed on the First Section of the Tokyo Stock Exchange.
Oct. 2002 THK France S.A.S. (currently a consolidated subsidiary) was established in Dardilly, France.
Aug. 2003 THK (SHANGHAI) CO., LTD. (currently a consolidated subsidiary), was established in Shanghai, China.
Mar. 2004 THK MANUFACTURING OF CHINA (WUXI) CO., LTD. (currently a consolidated subsidiary), was established in Wuxi, China.
Nov. 2004 Daito Seiki Co., Ltd. (currently THK INTECHS CO., LTD., currently a consolidated subsidiary) became a full subsidiary of THK through share exchange.
Feb. 2005 THK MANUFACTURING OF CHINA (LIAONING) CO., LTD. (currently a consolidated subsidiary), was established in Dalian, China.
Sept. 2005 THK (CHINA) CO., LTD. (currently a consolidated subsidiary), was established in Dalian, China, as THK's controlling company in China.
Dec. 2006 Established THK LM System Pte. Ltd. (currently a consolidated subsidiary) in Singapore.
May 2007 RHYTHM CO., LTD. (currently THK RHYTHM CO., LTD., currently a consolidated subsidiary), and its group companies became a subsidiary of THK through sale of its shares.
July 2007 THK RHYTHM (THAILAND) CO., LTD. (currently a consolidated subsidiary), was established in Ryaong, Thailand.
Sept. 2008 THK MANUFACTURING OF VIETNAM CO., LTD. (currently a consolidated subsidiary), was established in Bac Ninh, Vietnam.
July 2009 THK transferred business of Beldex Co., Ltd. to THK INTECHS CO., LTD. (currently a consolidated subsidiary; company name changed from “Daito Seiki Co., Ltd.” in July 2009), to integrate operations.
Mar. 2011 THK established THK RHYTHM CHANGZHOU CO., LTD. (currently a consolidated subsidiary), in Changzhou, China.
June 2011 THK acquired all outstanding shares in TRW Steering & Suspension (Malaysia) Sdn. Bhd. (currently THK RHYTHM MALAYSIA Sdn. Bhd., currently a consolidated subsidiary) in Malaysia.
Feb. 2012 THK RHYTHM MEXICANA S.A. DE C.V. (currently a consolidated subsidiary) was established in Guanajuato, Mexico.
Mar. 2012 Development and manufacturing division of ball joint products at Future Automotive Industry Division was split off from THK and merged into THK RHYTHM CO., LTD. (currently a consolidated subsidiary).
Apr. 2012 THK established THK MANUFACTURING OF CHINA (CHANGZHOU) CO., LTD. (currently a consolidated subsidiary) in Changzhou, China.
Nov. 2012 THK India Pvt. Ltd. (currently a consolidated subsidiary) was established in Bengaluru, Karnataka, India.
Feb. 2015 DALIAN THK CO., LTD. (currently a consolidated subsidiary), was expanded and moved to Dalian Economic and Technological Development Zone in China.
Aug. 2015 THK completed the business transfer of L&S (Linkage and Suspension) business of TRW Automotive Inc. (now part of ZF Friedrichshafen AG) in Europe and North America and the purchase of shares of its subsidiaries.
Oct. 2017 The headquarters was moved to the current location (2-12-10, Shibaura, Minato-ku, Tokyo).