Chapter 2 (1978-1988) | HISTORY | 50 Years of Nidec Group

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1978

INDEX

1973-1977

1978
1979
1980
1981
1982
1983
1984
1985
1986
1987
1988

1989-2000

2001-2005

2006-2009

2010-2014

2015-2018

2019-2023

1978

Sep.

The production of AC motors for belt-driven 8-inch floppy disk drivers (FDDs) starts.

Nov.

Nidec Torin Corporation Is Established Jointly by Nidec and Torin Corporation of the U.S. in Order to Enter the Fan and Blower Market.

Fan production line

1979

Mar.

The company’s sales reach 1 billion yen in its sixth fiscal year.

Oct.

A full-scale production of spindle motors for 8-inch HDDs starts.

1980

Jul.

Nidec Electronics GmbH is established on the outskirts of London, U.K.

1981

Feb.

A full-scale production of axial-flow type AC fans starts.

May

The production of brushless DC motors for belt-driven 8-inch FDDs starts.

Jun.

Nagoya Branch Office (Chikusa-ku, Nagoya) opens.

Nov.

A full-scale production of spindle motors for 5.25-inch HDDs (bottom rotor type) starts.

1982

Feb.

A full-scale production of spindle motors for 14-inch HDDs starts.

Jun.

Mineyama Plant Is Established; The Production of HDD Spindle Motors, AC Motors, and Fans Starts.

Mineyama Plant Family Tour

Oct.

A full-scale production of axial flow-type brushless DC fans (TA450DC) starts.

1983

Apr.

A full-scale production of spindle-type brushless DC motors for 8-inch FDDs starts.

Jul.

The company celebrates its 10th anniversary at Kyoto Hotel.

Sep.

The company holds its first Salesman's Convention.

The production of brushless DC motors for 8-inch magneto-optical disk drives starts.

Nov.

The company’s head office is relocated to Meiji Seimei Kyoto Building in Karasuma Oike, Nakagyo-ku, Kyoto.

Tokyo Sales Office is upgraded to Tokyo Branch, and relocated to Suginami-ku (then to Nishi-Shinjuku in July 1989).

Dec.

Nidec Torin Corporation is established in the U.S.

1984

Feb.

The company acquires the axial-flow fan division of Cleveback Corporation (former Torin Corporation) of the U.S., and makes a full-scale entry into the fan market (Global).

A full-scale production of spindle motors for 3.5-inch HDDs (bottom rotor type) starts.

Mar.

A full-scale production of spindle motors for 5.25-inch half-height HDDs starts.

Jul.

The production of the BETA SL Series of thin axial-flow fans starts.

Oct.

Shiga Plant (Now Shiga Technical Center) Is Established; The Production of AC Motors Starts.

Shiga Technical Center

Nov.

The company opens a representative office in Singapore.

1985

Sep.

Nidec Torin Corporation merges with Nidec America Corporation.

A full-scale production of spindle motors for 5.25-inch HDDs (in-hub type) starts.

1986

Mar.

The company’s sales reach 10 billion yen (in its 13th fiscal year).

Apr.

Nidec Europe B.V. is established in Brussels, Belgium.

Jun.

Nidec Launches 3Q6S Campaign.

3Q6S Campaign poster

Jul.

The company completes the construction of the second phase building of its Shiga Plant, transferring the development and production divisions of fans from the Mineyama Plant and brushless DC motors from the Kameoka Plant.

The production of the GAMMA Series of sirocco fans starts.

Sep.

A full-scale production of spindle motors for 3.5-inch HDDs (in-hub type) starts.

The production of the H Series of axial flow fans with IC chips for drive circuits starts.

Oct.

Tottori Densan Co., Ltd. (Tottori City) is established as a production base for HDD spindle motors through a merger with Ichinomiya Denki Co., Ltd.

1987

Apr.

A full-scale production of spindle motors for 3.5-inch half-height HDDs starts.

May

The company opens a representative office in Seoul, South Korea.

A full-scale production of sensor-less HDD spindle motors starts.

1988

Mar.

The company completes the construction of the third-phase building of its Shiga Plant, transferring the development and production divisions for HDD spindle motors from the Kameoka Plant in April.

May

The production of the T Series of axial flow fans with a low-noise design starts.

Jun.

Okayama Nidec Corporation is established in Okayama Prefecture as a precision component factory and production base for brushless DC motors.

Jul.

A full-scale production of spindle motors for 2.5-inch HDDs starts.

Nov.

Nidec Is Listed on the Second Section of the Osaka Securities Exchange and the Kyoto Stock Exchange.

Listed on the Second Section of the Osaka Securities Exchange

Go to Chapter 3 (1989-2000)

Nidec Torin Corporation Is Established Jointly by Nidec and Torin Corporation of the U.S. in Order to Enter the Fan and Blower Market.

With the rapid proliferation of office automation equipment, Nidec frequently received inquiries from customers asking whether it handled fans. This prompted the company to begin in-house development of small fans for office automation equipment. At first, it ordered parts from Torin Corporation, a prestigious American manufacturer of general machinery, and manufactured fans based on Torin’s design drawings.

In November 1978, after three years of persistent negotiations, Nagamori and Torin agreed to establish a joint venture company, Nidec Torin Corporation, through an equal investment ratio.

This company imported and sold products from Torin, and by combining Nidec’s motor technology with Torin’s fan technology, succeeded in developing small axial-flow fans used for internal ventilation cooling and heat source cooling of computers, electronic equipment, and office equipment. The company began selling these products in Japan, marking Nidec’s entry into the fan market.

Mineyama Plant Is Established; The Production of HDD Spindle Motors, AC Motors, and Fans Starts.

In 1980, Nidec succeeded in developing the world’s first spindle motor for 8-inch HDDs. Compared to conventional brushless DC motors, spindle motors can achieve higher precision. Thus, spindle motors became the mainstream for use in HDDs and eventually became the driving force of Nidec’s business. One of the plants that supported this improvement in business performance was the Mineyama Plant, which had a fully automated production line for spindle motors for HDDs.

Among many candidate sites, Mineyama-cho (now Kyotango) in Kyoto Prefecture was selected because Nagamori had visited people living in this depopulated area and got a firsthand sense of how many in the community were keen to have Nidec establish a plant there. He also found a curious similarity in the fact that the center of precision factories in Japan had developed from a yarn production region. Construction of the Mineyama Plant continued through the fourth phase, eventually becoming a large plant employing more than 600 people.

Shiga Plant (Now Shiga Technical Center) Is Established; The Production of AC Motors Starts.

The Shiga Plant, the company’s third production base after Kameyama and Mineyama, was built to mass-produce AC motors and fans. Construction began in May 1984 on an approximately 60,000 m² site in Echigawa-cho, Echi-gun, Shiga Prefecture, and the first phase was completed in October 1984. The second phase was completed in July 1986, and the third phase in March 1988.

The AC motor development division from the Kameoka Plant and the production line from the Mineyama Plant were transferred to the first phase building. The general-purpose brushless DC motor production division from the Kameoka Plant and the fan technology development and production divisions from the Mineyama Plant were transferred to the second phase building. The third building became a dedicated plant for spindle motors for HDDs.

In 1994, Shiga Plant was renamed Shiga Technical Center, and it became the technical development base for spindle motors for HDDs and general brushless DC motors.

Nidec Launches 3Q6S Campaign.

In June 1986, when the company was preparing to go public, it launched the 3Q6S Campaign to ensure that each and every employee knew the rules and manners to be observed in the workplace and put them into action.

The campaign is the basis of management, the importance of which Nagamori has continued to emphasize to employees since the company’s founding. 3Q means Quality Worker, Quality Company, and Quality Products, and 6S means Seiri (Organizing), Seiton (Tidiness), Seiketsu (Cleanliness), Seiso (Cleaning), Saho (Manners), and Shitsuke (Training). The company had by this point grown in size, and the intent behind this campaign was to reiterate the importance of employees abiding by these principles.

In order to implement the 3Q6S, a 3Q6S promotion committee and secretariat were set up at each plant and business site, and posters and other materials were displayed to ensure company-wide implementation. The concept of 3Q6S as the foundation upon which Nidec is built has become deeply ingrained in the company’s corporate culture, continuing to resonate with all employees to this day.

Nidec Is Listed on the Second Section of the Osaka Securities Exchange and the Kyoto Stock Exchange.

In November 1988, the company was listed on the Second Section of the Osaka Securities Exchange and the Kyoto Stock Exchange. Upon listing, the company issued 2.36 million new shares and increased its capital to 7,648.23 million yen.

Preparation for listing began in January 1987 and in April of the same year, the company formed the X Project, an internal organization to promote the listing, and proceeded with the reorganization and consolidation of affiliated companies and internal organizational reforms.

Nidec’s listing 15 years after its foundation was unusually fast for a manufacturing company, and attracted attention from all quarters. However, Nagamori told employees that the real start is yet to come, and added, “As a public company, we have many important responsibilities. I hope all of our employees fully understand this,” setting his sights on his next goals, which include listing on the Tokyo Stock Exchange and promotion to the First Section of the Osaka Securities Exchange.

Becoming the World’s Leading Manufacturer of HDD Spindle Motors

1978

1979

1980

1981

1982

1983

1984

1985

1986

1987

1988

Nidec Torin Corporation Is Established Jointly by Nidec and Torin Corporation of the U.S. in Order to Enter the Fan and Blower Market.

Mineyama Plant Is Established; The Production of HDD Spindle Motors, AC Motors, and Fans Starts.

Shiga Plant (Now Shiga Technical Center) Is Established; The Production of AC Motors Starts.

Nidec Launches 3Q6S Campaign.

Nidec Is Listed on the Second Section of the Osaka Securities Exchange and the Kyoto Stock Exchange.

Becoming the World’s
Leading Manufacturer of
HDD Spindle Motors