Company History

2020's

2022

2022: 60th anniversary of the establishment of HI-LEX labor union celebrated.

2022.12: Inauguration of Industrial Equipment Division.

2020

2020: Taro Teraura appointed as president (a new president for the first time in 42 years) to restart HI-LEX under new leadership.

2020: Electronic Control Center established.

2020: Gotenyama women’s dormitory completed.

2021

2021: New company established in Tianjin, China (Tianjin HI-LEX Cable System Co., Ltd.).

2021: Mass production and sales of high window switch gears (cables) commenced.

2021: Orders for seat modules accepted.

2021: HI-LEX Medical established.

2010's

2019

2019: Bathing aid unit “Bath Assist” marketed.

2019: Mass production of ECUs (manufactured in-house) for PLG commenced.

2019: Mass production of highly durable innerwear for Muscle Suit realized.

2019: Mass production at HI-LEX Czech commenced.

2019: EVAHEART Inc. becomes a subsidiary.

2019: Daedong Door (South Korea) launches into India.

2018

2018: Hi-Lex Miyagi starts operation.

2018: HI-LEX Brazil factory started operation.

2018: Succeeded in downsizing the assist artificial heart EVAHEART-2 sales start.

2017

2017: Order acceptance of W/R for Toyota’s compact cars decided.

2017: A new company established in the Czech Republic.

2017: Isuzu starts mass production of EPKBs.

2016

2016.01: 70th anniversary of the founding is reached.

2016.04: Ceremony celebrating the 70th anniversary of the founding is held.

2016.05: Spanish company Castellon Automotive becomes a subsidiary.

2016.10: Lames S.P.A in Italy becomes a subsidiary.
Establishment of Hi-Lex Miyagi is in the works.
Establishment of a manufacturing subsidiary in the Czech Republic is in the works.

2015

2015.06: Share price reaches its highest value to date.

2015.09: Approval is granted for the manufacturing of new product, Hi-Lex Graft artificial blood vessels.

2015.10: Micro-catheter for cancer treatment (broadcast on the TV show Doors to Dreams) goes on sale.

2015: Sales are restarted in Brazil with a third entrance into the market.
New window glass regulators orders are received from HLE clients in Europe.

2014

2014.03: Daedong Door, Inc. (DDDR) is established.

2014.05: Pt. Hi-Lex Cirebon (Indonesia) is established.

2014.07: Chongquing Evaheart Medical Device Co., Ltd. (CEMD) is established.
Construction begins on HLR Plant.
Hangzhou Hi-Lex Cable System Co., Ltd. (HZHL) is established in China.

2014.10: Consolidated net sales of 200 billion yen are reached.

2014.12: HLIND Plant in Chennai is newly established.

2014: PLG receives orders for struts compatible with Mazda vehicles.
Hino EPBK R&D Excellence Award is received.
Platform lifting home door is developed.

2013

2013.03: Hi-Lex Europe (HLE) Technology and Business Center is established.

2013.07: Listed on the Second Section of the Tokyo Stock Exchange.
Mass production is started on the TOTO bathtub drain cap cable.

2013.09: Masuda Mega Solar Plant is completed, and power generation is started.

2012

2012.03: 50th anniversary of the formation of the Hi-Lex labor union is celebrated.
Orders are taken for the powered rear glass slider for Nissan pick-up trucks.
40th anniversary of the founding of TSK (Korea) Co., Ltd. is reached.

2012.07: HCS is presented with the Honda Quality Circle Improvement and Development Award in the UK.

2012.11: Mass production is started on the power rear gate (PRG) for Fuji Heavy Industries.
Inroads are made into the assistant artificial heart industry (Sun Medical Technology Research Corp. becomes a subsidiary).

2012.12: HI-LEX RUS LLC (HLR) is established in Russia.

2012: German Technology Center representative office is established.

2011

2011.03: Around 23 million yen is donated in relief after the Great East Japan Earthquake (HL Group).

2011.05: Development Contribution Award is received from Nissan Shatai (for the mass-production of power sliding doors.)

2011.06: Operation of HLINA No. 2 Plant is started.

2011.07: Order for gear shift cables is placed by a Russian car maker.

2011.08: First order is received from Renault (900 million yen per year).

2011.11: President Teraura becomes the director of Kibo no Ie (House of Hope—a welfare facility for the disabled).

2011: CHG is awarded the All China Labor Competition for Advanced Teams Award (Line 4A02).

2010

2010.02: Honda Award for Excellent Engineering is awarded to the R&D department.

2010.05: 15th anniversary of the founding of CHG is celebrated.

2010.06: Operation of HLIND No. 2 Plant is started.

2010.07: New power sliding door is ordered by Nissan.

2010.12: Golden Presentation Award is received from the Japanese Society for Alternatives to Animal Experiments.

2010: Shanghai Office is opened.
China market sales of 22 billion yen are exceeded.
Operation of CCHL Plant is started.

2000's

2009

2009.4: CHG is relocated to a new plant.

2009.09: Takarazuka Plant (relocated to Sanda Plant) becomes the site for the relocation and expansion of the medical equipment division.
GHL operation is started.
HLB subsidiary is withdrawn.
Mass production is started on the new helix cable product, SPI-RAX.

2009.10: Hi-Lex Kanto Kamogawa Plant is closed.

2009.11: First order from Fuji Heavy Industries for our window glass regulators is received.
First exhibition at the world's largest medical equipment exhibition, MEDICA, is held.

2008

2008.05: Operation of the new Hi-Lex Saitama Plant is started.
Resin molding division is relocated to Sanda-Nishi Plant.

2008.07: Daedong Hi-Lex of America Inc. (DDHLA) is established.

2007

2007.12: Medical equipment division is introduced.
Guangzhou Hi-Lex Cable System Co., Ltd. is established (currently Guangdong Hi-Lex Cable System Co. Ltd (GHL)).
Changchun TSK Automotive Inc. is established (currently CHANGCHUN HI-LEX CABLE CO., LTD. (CCHL)).

2007: North America New Technical Center is opened.
Double-threaded outers are developed.
New DDHL plant in Bosun is opened.

2006

2006.01: PLG starts sales.

2006.03: QS9000 certification is converted to the new ISO/TS16949 certification.

2006.05: Nippon Cable System Inc. is renamed Hi-Lex Corporation.

2006.07: Hi-Lex Hungary Cable System Manufacturing LLC is established.

2006.11: Award for originality is received from the Japan Society for Artificial Organs.
Kyotan TSK, Co., Ltd. operations are started.

2006: Micro-catheter, Gold Crest, is developed and goes on sale.
Large-scale orders of door modules are received in North America.
New TSC Plant is transferred and expanded.

2005

2005.04: 10th anniversary of the founding of CTC is reached.

2005.11: Toyota Technical Development Appreciation Award is received.

2005: ISO13485 certification is received (medical equipment quality control system).
Defined contribution pension scheme is introduced.
TSC is listed on the stock market.

2004

2004.03: Full-scale production of window glass regulators is started by YTC.

2004.10: Izushi Cable is damaged in major floods.

2004: Door modules from Japan, the US, and Korea are ordered from PLG.
Activities toward certification of CAPS instructors are started.

2003

2003.01: Yantai TSK Cable System Co., Ltd. (YTC) is established.
New Izushi Cable Plant is completed.

2003.03: 40th anniversary of the formation of the labor union is reached.

2003.07: DAEDONG HI-LEX INC. (DDHL) is established in South Korea.

2003.10: Earnings of 50 billion yen are exceeded.

2003: CAPS activities are started at overseas subsidiaries.
GTC operation is started.
CTP operation is started.

2002

2002.02: Operation of HCI’s Hudson Plant is started.

2002.03: Hi-Lex India (P) Ltd. (HLIND) becomes a subsidiary.

2002.04: Alpha Hi-Lex is established.

2002.08: Guangzhou TSK Control Cable Co., Ltd. (GTC) is established.

2002.09: Hyogo Prefectural Governor’s Prize is received for outstanding offices for the employment of persons with disabilities.
Chongqing TSK Automotive Inc. (CTP) is established (currently Chongqing Hi-Lex Control Cable System Co. Ltd. (CQHL)).

2002.11: 30th anniversary of the founding of TSK (Korea) Co., Ltd. is reached.

2002: Overseas production of 50 percent is exceeded.
Approval is obtained to produce medical equipment.

2001

2001.01: CTC in China becomes a subsidiary.

2001.02: Fuji Hi-Lex is established.

2001.06: ISO14001 certification is acquired.

2001: Partnership is formed with Alpha Corporation.
Full-scale mass production of power sliding doors is started.

2000

2000.03: Activities toward CAPS are kicked off.

2000.05: Hi-Lex Cable System Co., Ltd. (HCS) is established in the UK.

2000.06: Certification of Excellence is received from Mazda.

2000.10: P.T. Lippo TSK (currently P.T. Hi-Lex Indonesia (P) (HLINA)) becomes a subsidiary.

2000: Internal urethral catheter for cats is commercialized.
Hi-Lex Do Brazil (HLB) Office is opened.

1990's

1999

1999.02: Toyota Quality Control Excellence Award is won for the second year in a row.

1999.3: Hi-Lex Vietnam Co., Ltd. (HLV) is established.

1999.05: Nagoya Office is relocated.

1999.10: Mikkabi Plant Circle is a participant in the Honda NH Circle World Meeting.
President Shinomiya of TSK (Korea) Co., Ltd. is awarded the Minister of International Trade and Industry Prize.

1999: Capital is increased for TSK (Korea) Co., Ltd., and factories are expanded.
Wheelchair fixtures are developed and go on sale.

1998

1998.04: Construction on the new HLM Plant is completed.

1998.07: Machino TSK Nippon Cable (P) Ltd. is established.

1998.10: QS-9000 certification is acquired.

1998: Electric nozzle deflectors are developed and go on sale.
Europe Office is closed.

1997

1997.01: Toyota President's Award for Cost Improvement is received.

1997.11: Activities toward QS-9000 certification are kicked off.

1997: Honda VA and VE Special Awards are received.
Three companies in America and Mexico are awarded QS9000 certification.
HCI and HLM plants are expanded.
Licensed production agreement is signed with Kuster Co., Gmbh for window glass regulators.
Production at Southeast Asian companies is greatly reduced due to financial instability.
Lippo TSK and TSC are awarded ISO9002 certification.
Raising and lowering systems for air conditioner grilles go on sale.

1996

1996.01: Representative office is opened in Europe.

1996.02: CTC operation is started.

1996.04: Toyota President’s Award for Cost Improvement is received.

1996.05: Medical equipment goes on sale.

1996.09: Mikkabi Plant Circle representatives are presented with the Honda NH Circle Japan Block Competition Award for Excellence.

1996.10: 50th anniversary of the founding of the company is celebrated.

1995

1995.01: Part of the head office and Sanda Plant is damaged in the Great Hanshin Earthquake.

1995.05: Joint venture company, Chongqing TSK Cable Ltd. (CTC), is established in Chongqing (now named CHONGQING HI-LEX CABLE SYSTEM GROUP CO., LTD. (CHG)).

1995.06: New TSC Plant is completed.

1995.09: ISO9001 certification is acquired.

1994

1994.05: Project team is formed for entering the field of medical equipment.

1994.09: Effort to acquire ISO9001 certification is launched.

1994.11: Slim 30 methodology is implemented.

1994.12: HCI is presented with the Ford Q1 Award.

1993

1993.01: Technical assistance agreement is signed with ABF, Hungary.

1993.05: Technical assistance agreement is signed with Mueller, Brazil.

1993.10: Hi-Lex Mexicana S.A.DE C.V. is established.

1993: Integrated mini-accelerator actuator is developed and goes on sale.
Auto pull-up systems are developed.

1992

1992.05: Construction of the Kanto TSK Kamogawa Plant is completed.
Technology licensing agreement with Madhusudan Auto Ltd., India, and Flextech Manufacturing (Pty) Ltd, South Africa, is signed.

1992.06: Sanda-Nishi Plant is expanded.

1992.11: TSK of America is established as a holding subsidiary in the US.

1992: IBM AS400 Online System is introduced.

1991

1991.09: Ceremony is held to celebrate the 30th anniversary of the founding of the labor union.

1990

1990.07: Monthly sales of 10 million cables are reached.

1990: HCI operation is started.

1980's

1989

1989.01: Construction of technical headquarters on the head office site is completed.

1989: Hayashi Spring Inc. is renamed Nippon Cable System Saitama.

1989.05: Construction of Sanda-Nishi Plant is completed.
Hi-Lex Controls Inc., America, is established.

1989.06: Nippon Cable System Shimane, Inc. is established.

1989.09: Capital investment in Bowden, UK, is made.

1988

1988.09: Convertible bonds are issued for the first time.

1988.10: PM Excellent Place of Business prize is awarded.
PT. Hi-Lex Parts Co., Ltd. Indonesia is established.

1988: GVE(Group Value Engineering) activities are introduced.

1987

1987.04: Capital investment in Flexdrive Industries Ltd., Australia, is made.

1987.06: Capital investment in Dae Dong Cable Co., Ltd., South Korea, is made.

1987: HLC is presented with the Pentastar Award by Chrysler.

1986

1986.01: TPM activities are kicked off.

1986.09: 40th anniversary of the founding of the company is celebrated.

1985

1985.02: President Teraura is appointed honorary ambassador of the state of Michigan to Japan.

1985.03: Monthly sales of 8 million cables are reached.

1985.04: Technical partnership is established with Dae Dong Cable Co., Ltd., South Korea.
Construction of Kanto TSK Inc. Mutsuzawa Plant is completed.

1985.06: Construction of Utsunomiya Technology Center is completed.

1985.11: Izushi Cable, Inc. is established.

1985: Hi-Lex Automotive Center is opened in Detroit, USA.

1984

1984.06: Capital is increased to 2,522,933,500 yen.

1984.09: First TSK robot is introduced at Sanda Plant.

1984.12: Technical license agreement is concluded for Hi-Lex Cable in the Soviet Union.

1984: Steering systems are developed for small marine engines.
Cable Engineering Standard (CES) is created.

1983

1983.08: Mass production of window glass regulators is started.

1983: No. 1 rank in the Nikkei Review of Industry Leaders is achieved.
HLC expands its plant.

1982

1982.01: Shouichi Kadoya, president of TSK (Korea) Co., Ltd. is awarded the Minister of International Trade and Industry Award for Economic Cooperation.

1982.04: Mikkabi Plant is expanded.

1982.08: Technical partnership is established with West German company Kuster Co., Gmbh.

1982.10: General quality inspections are instituted company-wide.

1981

1981.05: Capital investment in Hayashi Spring Inc. is made.
Construction on Mikkabi Plant is completed.
TSK of America is renamed Hi-Lex Corporation (HLC).

1981.08: Manual transmission (MT) control cable is developed.

1981.10: Annual production of 90 million cables is reached, and earnings of 20 billion yen are exceeded.
65 percent market share in Japan is achieved, as is a number one ranking in cables worldwide.

1981.12: Capital investment in Thai Steel Cable (TSC) Co., Ltd., Thailand, is made.

1980

1980.08: Tomesaburo Teraura, founder and chairman, passes away.

1980.09: Monthly sales of 7 million cables are reached.

1980.11: Capital is increased to 1,149,252,500 yen.
Teraura Scholarship Foundation is inaugurated.

1970's

1979

1979.02: Monthly sales of 6 million are reached.

1979.10: PT. Lippo TSK Indonesia is established in Indonesia.

1979: Window glass regulator system is developed.

1979.11: Capital is increased to 1,044,775,000 yen.

1978

1978.01: Vice President Makoto Teraura is advanced to president, and President Tomesaburo Teraura becomes chairman.

1978.06: Production plant is completed in the US, and production is started.

1978.08: Tokyo Office is opened in Sayama, Saitama.

1978.10: Capital is increased to 790 million yen.

1978.11: Capital is increased to 908.5 million yen.
Chairman’s Award (later Founder’s Award) and President’s Award are inaugurated by the president.

1977

1977.03: Monthly sales of 5 million cables are exceeded, and earnings of 1 billion yen are reached.

1977.04: Joint-venture contract is signed with Lippo Group, Indonesia.

1977.06: Capital is increased to 600 million yen.
Listed on the Second Section of the Osaka Securities Exchange.

1977.11: Capital is increased to 690 million yen.

1977.12: Manufacturing with an integrated production line is started.

1976

1976.01: Capital investment in Kansai Cable, Inc. is made.

1976.03: Production on shaft cables is started.

1976.04: Capital investment in Mikuni Cable, Inc. is made.
Capital investment and technical support agreement is ratified with Armstrong Cycle Parts Sdn. Bhd., Malaysia.

1976.07: Capital is increased to 456.75 million yen.

1976.08: HI-LEX Cable-dedicated section is put into operation at Kaibara Plant.

1975

1975.04: TSK of America is established.

1975.11: Jump Over S.M.I.L.E. movement is launched.
Remote control boxes are developed.

1975.12: Numata Foundation is established.

1974

1974.04: Tomesaburo Teraura is awarded with the Medal with Blue Ribbon.

1974.07: Capital is increased to 190 million yen.

1974.08: Capital is increased to 210 million yen.

1974.11: Capital is increased to 315 million yen.

1973

1973.03: Capital investment in Kanto TSK is made.

1973.04: Capital investment in Tamba Cable, Inc. is made.

1973.05: New strand wire section is completed at Kaibara Plant.

1973.06: New office is completed at Sanda Plant.

1973.08: Capital investment in Tajima TSK, Inc. is made.

1973.10: Technical partnership is established with Flexible Drive Agencies Pty. Ltd., Australia, for Hi-Lex Cables.
Capital investment in Hyogo Cable, Inc. is made.

1973.11: In-house production of base wire for inner cables is started.
Capital is increased to 150 million yen.

1972

1972.03: Expansion of Kaibara Plant is completed.

1972.10: Construction of Technical Center is completed.

1972.11: TSK (Korea) Co., Ltd. is established.

1971

1971.02: 4S Strategy is implemented.

1971.07: Corporate name is changed to Nippon Cable System, Inc.

1971.08: Development of TSK Grease is undertaken.

1971.09: Control boxes are developed for sea craft.

1970

1970.03: 25th anniversary of the founding of the company is celebrated.

1970.04: Tomesaburo Teraura is inaugurated as a member of the council of the Ministry of International Trade and Industry.

1970.6: Teraura becomes the vice chairman of the Japan Auto Parts Industries Association, and is appointed head of the Kansai Branch.

1970.7: Construction of Kaibara Plant is completed.
Teraura becomes the president of the Takarazuka Rotary Club.

1970.10: Monthly sales of 3 million cables are reached.

1970.11: Technical partnership with US-based Controlex, Inc. is started.
Nagoya Office is relocated to the city of Toyota.

1970: Representative office is opened in Michigan, USA.

1960's

1969

1969.05: HI-LEX Cable is sold for the first time.
Quality Assurance Section is established.

1969.08: Molding section is completed at Sanda Plant.

1969.11: FACOM230-10D computer is introduced and office automation (OA) starts.

1967

1967.09: Monthly sales of 2 million cables are reached; the company’s share of the domestic market reaches 70 percent, and it becomes the world’s number one cable manufacturer.

1967: New TS-coated Cables are sold for the first time.

1966

1966.03: Monthly sales of 1.5 million cables are reached.

1966.05: Continuous winding machine is developed.

1966.07: Fire damages the plating section at Sanda Plant. Consequently, the 7th day of every month is designated as disaster prevention day.

1966.10: Representative offices are opened in Sapporo, Sendai, and Fukuoka.

1966.11: First QC case study presentation is held.

1965

1965.08: Special production line for outer casings is completed at Sanda Plant.
Hamamatsu Office is opened.
Nagoya Liaison Office is reorganized as the Nagoya Office.

1964

1964: TQC is fully incorporated, and work standards are created.

1963

1963.12: De-merger occurs with Toyo Machinery & Metal Co., Ltd., leading to an independent restart with 100 million yen in capital.

1963: In-house production of molds is started.
Development is started on New TS-coated Cables.

1962

1962.02: TSK labor union is inaugurated.

1962.04: Merger is concluded with Toyo Machinery & Metal Co., Ltd., with Tomesaburo Teraura appointed vice president.

1962.08: Monthly sales of 1 million cables are reached.

1962.09: Construction of Sanda Die-Cast Plant is completed.

1961

1961.04: Tokyo Office is opened.

1961.06: Tomesaburo Teraura assumes office as the first president of the Takarazuka Chamber of Commerce.
Die-cast end cap molding is started.

1960

1960.04: Capital is increased to 50 million yen.
Nagoya Liaison Office is opened.

1960.05: Takarazuka Cable Conduit Association is inaugurated (predecessor to the Hoyukai).

1960.10: Construction of Sanda Plant is completed.
Head office is completed (currently the offices of Hi-Lex Medical).

1950's

1959

1959.09: Delivered cables damaged in the Isewan Typhoon floods are replaced free of charge.
First issue of the company newsletter is published.

1957

1957: Involuntary retirement is undertaken due to a sharp decline in orders (employees reinstated after two years).
Quality Control (QC) efforts are made and a system for improvement strategy proposals is implemented.

1956

1956.10: Construction of a parts manufacturing plant is completed.

1956: Focus starts to be shifted from components for indicators to functional parts.

1955

1955: TSK research and development laboratory is established.

1954

1954.08: Capital is increased to 4.75 million yen.

1954: Management creed of “Quality Product, Competitive Prices, Prompt Delivery” is enacted.
Inroads are made into the four-wheel-drive vehicle market.

1953

1953.05: Tomesaburo Teraura assumes the role of executive secretary of the Japan Small Vehicle Manufacturers Association.
Construction of a strand wire plant is completed.

1953: System to give a much greater return of profits is voluntarily implemented.

1952

1952: Mass production method is established for PVC-coated cables.
Rail system is initiated for faster deliveries.

1951

1951.02: Samples of PVC-coated cable are shipped.

1950

1950.02: PVC-coated cable development starts.
TSK (Takarazuka Sakudokan K.K.) trademark is registered.

1940's

1949

1949.01: Takarazuka Cable Conduit Plant is bought by Tomesaburo Teraura and restarts operations under the business name of Takarazuka Sakudokan K.K. with a capital of 2 million yen. Teraura assumes office as president.

1946

1946.01: After demobilization, Tomesaburo Teraura returns to Taikou Kikai Seisakusho and starts making cables at the company’s Takarazuka Cable Conduit Plant.

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