Chronology

1896

1896
Founder Kamataro Kobayashi opened "Kobayashi's Ink Shop (Kobayashi Inki-ten)" as sole proprietorship for custom mixing of inks at Honshirokane-cho, Nihonbashi-ku, Tokyo (presently Hongoku-cho, Nihonbashi, Chuo-ku, Tokyo).

1899
Relocated the shop to Kawasekoku-cho, Nihonbashi-ku, Tokyo (presently Nihonbashi, Chuo-ku, Tokyo), renamed it to "Kobayashi & Co. (Kobayashi Shoten)" and started sales of printing inks and related materials.

1900

1901
Set up an ink production plant in Honzaimoku-cho, Nihonbashi-ku, Tokyo (presently Nihonbashi, Chuo-ku, Tokyo).
Started production of lithographic printing inks.

1902
Registered the winged lion mark as a trademark of the Company.

1905
Built the Tomihisa-cho Plant in Ichigaya Tomihisa-cho, Ushigome-ku, Tokyo (presently Tomihisa-cho, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo).
Organized Kobayashi & Co. as a limited partnership company.

1906
Established the pigment section in the Tomihisa-cho Plant and started production of chrome yellow, alumina white and lake pigments.

1907
Reorganized as a joint-stock company (capitalized at 300,000 yen; 6,000 shares issued) and renamed "Toyo Ink Manufacturing Co., Ltd." with 33 shareholders and 32 employees. Lines of business as recorded in the articles of incorporation: "The production and sales of printing inks, sales of accessories for printing and incidental operations."
Kamataro Hosoya became the first president; and the founder Kamataro Kobayashi became a general manager of the sales department.
Relocated the head office to Minami Kaji-cho, Kyobashi-ku, Tokyo (presently Kyobashi, Chuo-ku, Tokyo).
Started production of varnishes.

1908
Produced the first ink sample book in industry as an advertising tool for the development of the Kansai market, etc.
Suekichi Tanaka became the second president.

1909
Ryoshichi Matsumoto became the third president.

1910

1910
Masaaki Hashimoto became the fourth president.
Integrated the sales functions of the Kawasekoku-cho Shop to the head office.
Started production and sales of paints.
Launched initiatives for the expansion of sales channels abroad (Qing, Korea and Thailand).
Delivered inks to the Fushimi Plant of the Ministry of Finance's Monopoly Bureau, which oversaw the printing of packaging materials for cigarettes.

1911
Delivered inks to the Printing Bureau of the Ministry of Finance (presently National Printing Bureau), the Printing Bureau of Governor-General of Korea and other major printing plants of governmental agencies.

1912
Expanded the Tomihisa-cho Plant and improved plant facilities to raise production capacity.

1914
Attended the exhibition in Semarang City in the Dutch East Indies (presently Indonesia).

1916
Established "Regulations for Employment of Workers" in accordance with the Factory Act.

1917
The 10th anniversary since the Company's establishment.
Succeeded in in-house production of barium chloride used as a raw material of lake pigments and vermilion (mercury sulfide) for the printing of securities.
Built the Kashiwagi Plant in Kashiwagi, Yodobashi-cho, Toyotama-gun, Tokyo (presently Nishi-shinjuku, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo).

1919
Built the Shoichii Toyo Inari Shrine to the Tomihisa-cho Plant, and ceremonially transferred a deity from the Fushimi Inari Taisha Shrine.
Started in-house production of chrome yellow, eosin and Milori blue (Prussian blue).

1920

1920
Eiji Koshiba became the fifth president.
Succeeded in in-house production of red-color organic pigments, Brilliant Carmine 3B and Lake Red D, and started mass production.
Released "Quick Dryer," an oxidation polymerization accelerating agent for printing inks (later renamed "Oriental Dryer" and supplied as a long-selling product until the 1970s).

1921
Roughly half of the Tomihisa-cho Plant destroyed due to the spread of a fire (completely recovered in 1923).
The National Federation of Printing Ink Materials Trade Association was established.

1922
President Eiji Koshiba passed away. Senior managing director Kamataro Kobayashi took over the helm.

1923
The head office and warehouse were lost to the Great Kanto Earthquake.
Provided the Printing Bureau of the Ministry of Finance (presently National Printing Bureau), whose building and plant were lost to the earthquake, with ink production facilities at the Tomihisa-cho Plant to contribute to earthquake recovery.

1924
Increased capital to 600,000 yen.

1926
Established the first overseas branch office, "Toyo Ink Manufacturing Co.", in Shanghai, China.
Opened a branch office in Kita-ku, Osaka-shi, Osaka.

1929
Started exclusive domestic sales of gravure inks made by Ault & Wilborg Co. (presently BASF SE) of the United States of America.

1930

1931
Launched "Toyo", the promotional magazine for customers.

1932
Started sales of printing inks for food packaging paper.
Released the tubed mimeograph ink.

1934
Kamataro Kobayashi became the sixth president.
Started production of Lake Red C, an azo pigment.

1935
Opened a branch office in Hiroshima-shi, Hiroshima.

1936
Opened a branch office in Keijo (presently Seoul, South Korea).
Started production of Brilliant Carmine 6B, an azo pigment.

1937
The 30th anniversary since the Company's establishment.
Built the Aoto Plant at Aoto-cho, Katsushika-ku, Tokyo (presently Aoto, Katsushika-ku, Tokyo) and started partial operation.
Opened a branch office in Naka-ku, Nagoya-shi, Aichi.
Started production of Phthalocyanine Blue pigment.
Ceremonially transferred the Toyo Inari Shrine to the Aoto Plant.

1938
President Kamataro Kobayashi passed away.
Teishiro Kawamura became the seventh president.
Increased capital to 1,500,000 yen (Toppan Printing Co, Ltd. subscribes 2,000 shares).
Completed construction of the Aoto Plant. Transferred to it all functions of the Tomihisa-cho Plant and the Kashiwagi Plant.
Released a 'non-hazardous' ink that contains no metallic components, for food packaging applications.

1939
Opened branch offices in Mukden (presently Shenyang, China) and Taihoku (presently Taipei, Taiwan).

1940

1941
President Teishiro Kawamura resigned; senior managing director Kenzo Banno became the representative director.

1943
Managing director Masaya Kurose became the representative director.
Set up the Fuji Branch Plant on the site of Toppan Printing's Fuji Plant to supply inks for securities.
Closed branch offices in Osaka and Nagoya.

1944
General manager of the sales department Toyojiro Nagashima became the general manager of the Company.
Closed the branch office in Hiroshima.

1945
During the Great Tokyo Air Raids, the head office completely burned down. Transferred head office functions to the Aoto Plant and established a temporary office on the remains of the former site.
At the end of WWII, branch offices in Shanghai, Keijo, Mukden and Taihoku assumed by victorious countries.
Toyo Ink's water-based gravure ink was adopted in the carton paper of the cigarette brand "Kinshi" (presently "Golden Bat").
Yoshihide Ohta became the eighth president.

1946
Organized the Toyo Ink Labor Union.
Established the Osaka Branch and Plant (presently the Kansai Branch Office of Toyo Ink Co., Ltd.).

1947
Started production and sales of organic solvent-type gravure inks.
Started research on synthetic resin-type inks.
Started production and sales of ink for ballpoint pens.

1948
Increased capital to 5,000,000 yen.

1949
Increased capital to 10,000,000 yen.
The alcohol-based aniline ink (flexographic ink) was adopted in the carton paper of the cigarette brand "Golden Bat."
Started production of various gravure inks for non-absorbing sheets such as the "Cellocolor Ink 7600" series for cellophane and the "VC Ink" series for vinyl.
Released the "TV Color" plastic colorant in paste form (paste color) for vinyl chloride.

1950

1950
Started research on flushing technology at the Aoto Plant.

1951
Opened the Research Laboratory in Honjo, Sumida-ku, Tokyo.
Concluded a technical support agreement with Interchemical Corporation (presently BASF SE) of the United States of America.
Constructed the head office building and warehouse.
Saburota Yamada became the ninth president.
Started production of yellow-color organic pigments, Monoazo Yellow (hansa yellow) and Disazo Yellow (benzidine yellow), and the green-color organic pigment, Phthalocyanine Green.

1952
Started production of resin-type offset inks using a synthetic resin vehicle. Released "GemTone" process ink for relief-printing, "QuickSet Ink" for sheetfed offset printing and "HeatSet Ink" for web offset printing.
Developed water-based aniline inks and alcohol-based aniline inks.
Increased capital to 12,500,000 yen.

1953
Closed the Fuji Branch Plant and integrated its functions into the Aoto Plant.
Started full-scale production of β-type Phthalocyanine Blue and Disazo Yellow.
Developed the "TP600" series of metal decorative inks for tin cans.

1954
Concluded a technical cooperation agreement with Interchemical Corporation (presently BASF SE) concerning "Aridye" pigment textile printing agent and "Finishes" metal coating agent.
Completed construction of the Aoto Branch Plant (renamed Jujo Plant the next year) in Itabashi-ku, Tokyo and started production of gravure inks.
Started sales of "TVE Color," a plastic colorant for vinyl chloride wire-coating.
Increased capital to 50,000,000 yen.

1955
Started domestic production of "Aridye," a pigment textile printing agent.
Opened the Aridye Osaka Sales Office (later renamed Kitahama Sales Office) in Higashi-ku, Osaka-shi, Osaka (presently Chuo-ku, Osaka-shi, Osaka).

1956
Released "TR Color," a paste color for unsaturated polyester resins.
Developed and started sales of "TET Color," a plastic colorant for polyethylene in pellet form (masterbatch).
Started domestic production of pigment chips for gravure inks.
Increased capital to 100,000,000 yen.

1957
The 50th anniversary since the Company's establishment.
Released "Speed King," a resin-type offset ink for general-purpose applications.
Introduced quality control (QC) centered on the Aoto Plant.
Launched the technology development of adhesives with the introduction of technology from Interchemical Corporation (presently BASF SE).
Shifted to lead-free inks by stopping use of chrome yellow and lead dryer.

1958
Increased capital to 200,000,000 yen.
Opened the Kyushu Branch Office in Fukuoka-shi, Fukuoka.

1959
Completed construction of the Kawagoe Plant (presently Kawagoe Factory of Toyochem Co., Ltd.).
Started domestic production of "Finishes," a metal coating agent.
Closed the Honjo Research Laboratory and transferred its functions to the Jujo Plant.

1960

1960
Opened the Nagoya Sales Office (renamed Nagoya Branch Office the next year) in Higashi-ku, Nagoya-shi, Aichi.
Opened the Kyoto Sales Office in Shimogyo-ku, Kyoto-shi, Kyoto.
Completed construction of a new head office building.
Established Hanejishi Real Estate Co., Ltd. (presently Toyo B-Net Co., Ltd.).
Established Oriental Kasei Co., Ltd. (presently Toyocolor Co., Ltd.).
Opened the Otaru Branch Office in Otaru-shi, Hokkaido.
Completed construction of the Suita Plant in Suita-shi, Osaka.
Increased capital to 500,000,000 yen and started over-the-counter trading on the Tokyo Stock Exchange.

1961
Established Toyo Plastic Kogyo Co., Ltd. in Itabashi-ku, Tokyo.
Established Toyo Ink Chugoku Hanbai Co., Ltd. in Okayama-shi, Okayama.
Stocks listed in the Second Section of the Tokyo Stock Exchange.
Established Toyo Ink Shizuoka Hanbai Co., Ltd. in Shizuoka-shi, Shizuoka.
Established the first overseas representative office in Hong Kong after WWII.
Started imports and sales of "Double Face," a double-coated adhesive tape for industrial use from Interchemical Corporation (presently BASF SE).

1962
Released the "TOCRYL" acrylic resin emulsion.
Released the "Oribain" pressure-sensitive adhesive.
Developed "NF POLY" flame-retardant compounds for polyethylene.
Equity participation in Fukuju Sangyo Co., Ltd. (presently Toyo FPP Co., Ltd.).

1963
Established Toyo Ink Shikoku Hanbai Co., Ltd. in Takamatsu-shi, Kagawa.
Toyojiro Nagashima became the 10th president.
Completed construction (phase I) of the Fuji Plant (presently Fuji Factory of Toyocolor Co., Ltd.) in Fuji-shi, Shizuoka.
Established Interchem Toyo (Southeast Asia) Co., a joint venture company in Hong Kong with Interchemical Corporation (presently BASF SE).

1964
Dissolved Toyo Ink Chugoku Hanbai Co., Ltd.
Started exclusive imports and sales of micro-crystalline wax produced by Petrolite Co. (presently Baker Hughes Incorporated) of the United States of America.
Started domestic production of "Double Face."
Developed nationwide direct sales networks (Sapporo, Sendai, Toyama, Maebashi, Nagoya, Kobe, Hiroshima, Okayama, Kokura and Kumamoto).
Completed construction of the Neyagawa Plant in Neyagawa-shi, Osaka. Started production of gravure inks from June the next year.

1965
Set up the Technology Center (presently Group Technology Center of Toyo Ink SC Holdings Co., Ltd.).
Dissolved Toyo Ink Shizuoka Hanbai Co., Ltd.
Opened a representative office in Bangkok, Thailand.
Set up a gravure cylinder plant in the Jujo Plant.
Opened the Chemical Products Research Laboratory.

1966
Adopted the corporate motto: "Contribute to improve life and culture by striving to do our best in development of better colors and packaging."
Dissolved Toyo Ink Shikoku Hanbai Co., Ltd.
Developed a semi-conductive compound for power cables and antistatic films.

1967
Adopted the "Ten Articles of Corporate Policy."
Stocks listed in the First Section of the Tokyo Stock Exchange.
Opened the Printing & Prepress Training Center (later renamed Offset Prepress Research Laboratory) in Hiratsuka-shi, Kanagawa.

1968
Opened the Packaging & Processing Research Laboratory and the Gravure Prepress Research Laboratory.
Established Toyo Ink Real Estate Co., Ltd. (presently Toyo B-Net Co., Ltd.and absorbed Hanejishi Real Estate Co., Ltd
Completed construction of the new Aoto Plant
Opened a representative office in Taipei, Taiwan.
Released the multi-purpose offset ink "TOYO KING."

1969
Opened a representative office in New York, United States of America.
Dissolved Toyo Plastic Kogyo Co., Ltd. and transferred its production function of plastic colorants to the Kawagoe Daini Plant.
Integrated the Chemical Products Research Laboratory with the Packaging & Processing Research Laboratory and opened the Technology Research Laboratory.
Equity participation in Daewoo Chemical Co., Ltd. of Taipei, Taiwan.

1970

1971
Established Sam Yang Ink Manufacturing Co., Ltd. (presently Sam Young Ink & Paint Mfg. Co., Ltd.) as a joint venture company in South Korea (production and sales of gravure inks).
Stopped use of materials containing heavy metals in ink products.
Started operations of the Moriyama Plant (presently Moriyama Factory of Toyo Visual Solutions Co., Ltd.).
Established Toyo Kasei Chemical Ltd., a joint venture company with Kawasaki Kasei Chemical Ltd.
Established Toyo Ink (Thailand) Co., Ltd. in Bangkok, Thailand.
Established Nippon Polymer Ind. Co., Ltd., a joint venture company with Nippon Shokubai Kagaku Kogyo Co., Ltd. (presently Nippon Shokubai Co., Ltd.).
Established Toyo Seihan Co., Ltd. (presently Toyo FPP Co., Ltd.).
Released the "Flash Dry" series of UV (ultraviolet)-curable inks.
Developed a hot-melt adhesive for perfect binding in bookbinding.

1972
Established PETY Co., Ltd., a joint venture company with Fujitsu Limited (development and sales of a computerized typesetting system).
Released a resist ink for printed circuit boards.
Developed "SS-FD," a UV-curable screen ink.
Developed a metal-free phthalocyanine, ε-type phthalocyanine, etc.
Established Toyo Ink Joto Hanbai Co., Ltd. (presently Toyo Ink Graphics Co., Ltd.) as a joint venture company.
Commercialized "Liopol," an acryl polyol urethane paint.

1973
Launched the Headquarters for Environment Improvement and set up an Environment Improvement Office in each plant.
Established Toyo Ink Josai Hanbai Co., Ltd.
Started a business alliance with Morton Chemical Co. (presently Dow Chemical Co.) of the United States of America (sales of laminating adhesives, coating agents etc.)
Started imports and sales of "ADCOTE®," a laminating adhesive produced by Morton Chemical Co. (presently Dow Chemical Co.).

ADCOTE is the registered trademark of The Dow Chemical Company.

Developed an acrylic emulsion-type adhesive for general-purpose applications.
The first oil crisis emerged.
Launched research and development of the organic semiconductor based on phthalocyanine pigments.

1974
Developed an electrostatic toner for copiers.

1975
Established Toyo Petrolite Co., Ltd. (presently Toyochem Co., Ltd.), a joint venture company with Petrolite Co. (presently Baker Hughes Incorporated).
Established Toyo Ink Osaka Hanbai Co., Ltd. (presently Toyo Ink Graphics Nishinihon Co., Ltd.).
Established Toyo-Morton, Ltd., a joint venture company with Morton-Norwich Products, Inc. (the parent company of Morton Chemical Co. and presently Dow Chemical Co.).
Released the "LS" series of low-shrinkage plastic colorants for polyethylene.
Established Toyo Ink Europe S.A. (presently Brussels Office of Toyo Ink Europe S.A.S.) in Brussels, Belgium.
Released "Liofine," a urethane paint for floors.
Developed a computer color matching (CCM) system for plastic colorants.

1976
Established Toyo Ink America, LLC in New Jersey, United States of America.
Reorganized the Gravure Prepress Research Laboratory into Toyo Gravure Seihan Center Co., Ltd. (later renamed Toyo Prepress Co., Ltd. and presently Toyo FPP Co., Ltd.).
Established Kyushu Toyo Seihan Co., Ltd. (presently Toyo FPP Co., Ltd.).
Developed the extracting and purifying method and applications of natural colorants and specialty ingredients (red beet and stevia).
Released "Liotone," a screen ink for pseudo-etching designing.
Jointly developed "Erhitzen," a warm temperature cataplasm for medical use, with Hisamitsu Pharmaceutical Co., Inc.

1977
Established Toyo Yakuhin Kogyo Co., Ltd., a joint venture company with Hisamitsu Pharmaceutical Co., Inc.
Started sales of "DF3400," a double-coated adhesive tape for sanitary napkins.

1979
Adopted the new corporate motto: "Reliable company, Reliable products, Reliable mind and efforts."

1980

1980
Completed construction of the Saitama Plant (presently Saitama Factory of Toyo Ink Co., Ltd.).
Renamed Sam Yang Ink Manufacturing Co., Ltd. to Sam Young Ink & Paint Mfg. Co., Ltd.
Introduced the mutagenicity test method (Ames test method).
Launched the development of the electron beam curing system.
Developed the "WKNU" series of newspaper inks to handle computerized plate-making of The Asahi Shimbun.
Started production of a photoresist agent for printed circuit boards.

1981
Introduced "Response 300 System," a digital image processing workstation produced by Scitex Corporation Ltd. (presently Eastman Kodak Co.) of Israel to the Japan market.
Started domestic production of "Polyset," an integrated circuit encapsulant of Morton Chemical Co. (presently Dow Chemical Co.), at Toyo-Morton, Ltd.

1982
Dissolved Toyo Yakuhin Kogyo Co., Ltd.
Established Toyo Ink Gravure Hanbai Co., Ltd.
Developed a CCM system for offset inks, gravure inks and metal decorative inks.
Released "REXBOND," an electric conductive adhesive for electronics.

1983
Mutsuo Nagashima became the 11th president.
Formulated a VI (Visual Identity) Manual by collecting visual expressions of Toyo Ink's corporate brand images in the past.
Developed "IP-038," an EMI shielding coating agent.
Started sales of inkjet inks, coatings for magnetic recording and phthalocyanine photoreceptor for copiers.

1984
Established Toyo Ink Australia Pty. Ltd. as a joint venture company in Melbourne, Australia.

1985
Established Tomei Engineering Co., Ltd. (presently Toyo Ink Engineering Co., Ltd.) as a joint venture company.
Established Nihon Scitex Co., Ltd. (later renamed Nihon Creo Scitex Co., Ltd.), a joint venture company with Scitex Corporation Ltd. (presently Eastman Kodak Co.).
Established Toyo FCC Co., Ltd. (production and sale of edible natural coloring matters and other food additives and related materials, and research and development of technology using microbial enzymes).
Released "TOYORESIST," a UV curable ink for printed circuit boards.
Developed the "Lioconduct EMI" series of electromagnetic wave shield compounds.

1986
Adopted "i&i (image & interface)" as the corporate concept.
Established Color & Composite Technologies, Inc. as a joint venture company in Ohio, United States of America.
Renamed the Technology Research Laboratory and the Offset Prepress Research Laboratory to the Development Research Laboratory and the Imaging System Research Laboratory, respectively.
Released "TOYO KING mark V," a highly productive sheetfed offset ink.
Developed "LPN," a rotary letterpress emulsion ink for newspaper.
Developed an EB (electron beam) curable binder resin for floppy disks.

1987
The 80th anniversary since the Company's establishment.
Established Aichi Toyo Ink Co., Ltd. (presently Toyocolor Co., Ltd.).
Opened the Shanghai Office in Shanghai, China.
Established Jin Seong Chemical Co., Ltd. (presently Han Il Toyo Co., Ltd.) in Seoul, South Korea.
Established CCS/Toyo, Ltd. in California, United States of America.

1988
Established LioChem, Inc. in Georgia, United States of America.
Opened the Tsukuba Research Laboratory in the Tsukuba Science Park.
Dissolved the joint venture Interchem-Toyo Sdn. Bhd. with Inmont Co. (formerly Interchemical Corporation and presently BASF SE).
Established Toyo Ink Asia Ltd. in Hong Kong, China.
Established Toyochem Ink Pte. Ltd. (presently TIPPS Pte. Ltd.) in Singapore.
Established Toyochem Sdn. Bhd. and Toyochem Graphics Sdn. Bhd. (presently integrated as Toyochem Specialty Chemical Sdn. Bhd.) in Selangor, Malaysia.
Completed construction of the Seishin Plant.
Established Toyo Toa Coating Co., Ltd. (presently Toyo Ink (Thailand) Co., Ltd.) as a joint venture company in Bangkok, Thailand.
Established Jiangmen Toyo Ink Co., Ltd. as a joint venture company in Jiangmen, Guangdong, China.
Established Toyo Digital Imaging Co., Ltd.
Established Chinese Ink Factory Enterprise Co., Ltd. as a joint venture company in Taipei, Taiwan.
Established Toyo Ink Chuo Hanbai Co., Ltd.
Established Dalian Toyo Gravure Cylinder Mfg. Co., Ltd. in Dalian, China.

1989
Released the "DYNACAL" marking film.
Established Toyo DuPont International Ink Ltd., a joint venture company with DuPont of the United States of America.
Launched Johnson Polymer, Inc., a joint venture company with S.C. Johnson & Son, Inc. of the United States of America.
Equity participation in COM System Co., Ltd. (presently Toyo Ink Engineering Co., Ltd.).
Released "NEWSKING," a newspaper ink for improving workability.
Established Toyo Ink International Corp. in New Jersey, United States of America.
Established Toyo Ink (Philippines) Co. Inc. in Laguna, Philippines.
Renamed Jin Seong Chemical Co., Ltd. to Han Il Toyo Co., Ltd.

1990

1990
Released a recordable optical disk using organic color materials.
Released the "LIOELM" series of adhesive tapes for electronics.
Developed the "Tightsilane" concrete permeable water absorption inhibitor.

1991
Released "Electronic ColorFinder," a digital color sample data collection.
Developed a biological test reagent applying biochemical reactions of ATP (adenosine tri-phosphate).
Established i&i Co., Ltd. (presently Toyo FPP Co., Ltd.).

1992
Established Toyo Ink Taiwan Co., Ltd. in Taipei, Taiwan.
Acquired Francolor Pigments S.A. (presently Toyo Ink Europe Specialty Chemicals S.A.S.) in France.
Released "TOYO KING mark V SOY," a soy ink authorized by the American Soybean Association (ASA).
Established Doumen Daewoo Chemical Co., Ltd. (presently Zhuhai Toyocolor Co., Ltd.) in Zhuhai, Guangdong, China.
Released "Exceflow," an extrusion molding polymer processing aid.
Developed resist inks for LCD color filters.
Developed masterbatch for PET beverage bottles.
Developed "NANOCRYL," a dispersing element of water-based ultrafine particle acrylic resins.
Established Toyo Ink Manufacturing Corp. in the Philippines.

1993
Established Toyo Powerful Partner Co., Ltd. (later renamed Toyo Human Asset Co., Ltd.).
Adopted "Take Off 2007" as the long-term vision.
Adopted the Group Corporate Policy: "We, the Toyo Ink Group, endeavor to be a company that contributes to the enrichment of life and culture throughout the world."
Established Jiangmen Toyo Gravure Ink Co., Ltd. as a joint venture company.
Established Toyo Techno Research Co., Ltd.
Acquired shares of Matsui Chemical Co., Ltd.
Constructed the Okayama Plant in Ibara-shi, Okayama.
Established industrial extraction and stabilization methods for a safflower red colorant and began selling it as an edible colorant.

1994
Established Tianjin Toyo Ink Co., Ltd. as a joint venture company in Tianjin, China.
Renamed Toyo Ink Real Estate Co., Ltd. to Toyo B-Net Co., Ltd.
Released the "Aquaecol" water-based laminating ink.
Established PT. Toyo Ink Indonesia in Jakarta, Indonesia.
Renamed PETY Co., Ltd. to Hasso Co., Ltd.
Opened the Kansai Polymer Research Laboratory.
Introduced a nursing care leave system.
Established Cosmos Colorants Co., Ltd. in Taipei, Taiwan.
Established ODIS (Australia) Pty. Ltd. in Sydney, Australia.
Established Toyo Ink Pan Pacific Pte. Ltd. (presently TIPPS Pte. Ltd.) in Singapore.
Dissolved the joint venture Toyo DuPont International Ink Ltd. with DuPont.

1995
Established Toyo Ink North America Inc. (presently Toyo Ink America, LLC) in Chicago, United States of America.
Started exclusive domestic sales of "E-Print 1000," a full-color on-demand printer of Indigo Digital Printing in Israel.
Renamed Tomei Engineering Co., Ltd. to Toyo Ink Engineering Co., Ltd.
Launched a companywide e-mail system.
Established Shanghai Toyo Plastic Colorant Co., Ltd. (presently Shanghai Toyo Ink Mfg. Co., Ltd.) as a joint venture company in Shanghai, China.
Established ODIS Asia Pte. Ltd. in Singapore.

1996
Established Toyo Logitec Co., Ltd. (presently Logi Co-Net Corp.).
Established the Expression Technology Research Laboratory.
Adopted the Environmental & Safety Basic Principles and Action Policies.
Renamed Doumen Daewoo Chemical Co., Ltd. to Doumen Toyo Chemical Co., Ltd. (presently Zhuhai Toyocolor Co., Ltd.).
Established T.I.P.P. Malaysia Sdn. Bhd. (presently Toyochem Specialty Chemical Sdn. Bhd.) in Seremban, Malaysia.
Merged Toyo Gravure Seihan Center Co., Ltd. and Kyushu Toyo Seihan Co., Ltd. to launch Toyo Prepress Co., Ltd. (presently Toyo FPP Co., Ltd.).

1997
Established Ftalmex, S.A. de C.V. in Monterrey, Mexico.
Commercialized "T-Color," a neural network-applied image color conversion technology.
The Kawagoe Plant and the Fuji Plant obtained ISO14001 certification.
Acquired Web Inks, Ltd. in the United States of America.
Established Toyo-Ink Compounds Corporation (presently Toyo Ink Compounds Corporation) in Laguna, Philippines.
Established Toyo Europe Network S.A.S. in Paris, France.
Established Toyochem Corporation Sdn. Bhd. (presently Toyochem Specialty Chemical Sdn. Bhd.) in Malaysia and listed the company in the Second Section of the Malaysia Stock Exchange.
Released "NEWSKING Echo" and "Vantean Eco," the first newspaper inks using aroma-free solvents in Japan (the first newspaper inks authorized with the Eco Mark).
Released the "Liocure System" of ultra-compact EB (electron beam) curing equipment.
Established Toyo Ink Nagoya Hanbai Co., Ltd.
Established Toyo-SCI LLC as a joint venture company in New Jersey, United States of America.
Toyo Ink America, LLC absorbed Toyo Ink North America Inc.

1998
Web Inks, Ltd. merged with Prestige Color Inc. of the United States of America and launched the new company as Web-Prestige Inks Ltd.
Started information disclosure on the corporate website.
Established Toyo Ink Chushikoku Hanbai Co., Ltd.
Absorbed COM System Co, Ltd. and established Toyo Inspections Co., Ltd. (presently Toyo Ink Engineering Co., Ltd.).
Established Toyo Ink System Service Co., Ltd. (presently Toyo Management Service Co., Ltd.).
Established Toyo Colortech Co., Ltd.
Acquired Budacolor Kft. in Budapest, Hungary.
Established Toyo Ink Customer Service Co., Ltd.
Released the "LABELMELT" water-peeling-type hot-melt adhesive.

1999
Launched the Ecology Center (presently Environmental Safety Promotion Department and Chemicals Management Department of Toyo Ink SC Holdings Co., Ltd.).
Integrated Toyo Ink Chuo Hanbai Co., Ltd. with Toyo Ink Josai Hanbai Co., Ltd. and set up a new company Toyo Ink Tokyo Hanbai Co., Ltd. (presently Toyo Ink Graphics Co., Ltd.).
Released "Tamago Jet Printer," an inkjet printing system to print consume-by freshness date of eggs.
Enhanced the domestic office network and established Toyo Ink Hokkaido Co., Ltd., Toyo Ink Tohoku Co., Ltd., Toyo Ink Chushikoku Co., Ltd. and Toyo Ink Kyushu Co., Ltd. as regional branches.
Issued the Environmental Report (presently Social & Environmental Report).

2000

2000
Established Logi Co-Net Corp. as a joint venture company with Sakata Inx Corporation.
Formed a capital alliance with Sakata Inx Corporation.
Dissolved the joint venture Nihon Creo Scitex Co., Ltd. (formerly Nihon Scitex Co., Ltd.) with Creo Scitex Corporation Ltd. (formerly Scitex Corporation Ltd. and presently Eastman Kodak Co.).
Kunio Sakuma became the 12th president.
Established Toyo Ink (Middle East) Fze. in Dubai, United Arab Emirates.
Developed "CI Agent," the soil purification agent that applies reductive reaction of colloidal iron.
Developed an organic electroluminescence (EL) material for flat panel displays.
Established ga city Corp. as a joint venture company with Sakata Inx Corporation.

2001
Toyo Ink America, LLC absorbed Web-Prestige Inks, Ltd.
Established Toyo Color America, LLC (presently Toyo Ink America, LLC) in New Jersey, United States of America.
Dissolved the joint venture Toyo-Toa Coating Co., Ltd. with Toa Paint Co., Ltd. and launched Toyo Ink Coating (Thailand) Co., Ltd. (presently Toyo Ink (Thailand) Co., Ltd.).
Terminated the joint venture agreement with Kawasaki Kasei Chemical Ltd. and dissolved the joint venture Toyo Kasei Chemical Co., Ltd.
Renamed Toyo Powerful Partner Co., Ltd. to Toyo Human Assets Co., Ltd.
Released "Flash Dry Hybrid Echo," a UV hybrid ink equipped with both drying functions of UV curing and oxidation polymerization.
Renamed Doumen Toyo Chemical Co., Ltd. to Zhuhai Toyo Ink Co., Ltd. (presently Zhuhai Toyocolor Co., Ltd.).
Established Toyo Ink Chemicals Taiwan Co., Ltd. in Tainan, Taiwan.
Released "DYNACAL ECOSIGN," an environment-harmonized marking film applicable to non-vinyl chloride.
Released "PlateFront," a printing plate imposition system.

2002
Constructed a plant for a resist ink for LCD color filters in the Moriyama Factory.
Started production of a resist ink for LCD color filters at Toyo Ink Chemicals Taiwan Co., Ltd.
Developed "Liosphere," functional particulates for LCD light-scattering films.

2003
Released the environment-harmonized gravure inks "FINESTAR," etc.
Established Shanghai Toyo Ink Mfg. Co., Ltd. in Shanghai, China.
Established Toyo-Morton Korea, Ltd. in Seoul, South Korea.
Developed "Sasa Extract," a natural antibacterial agent based on Sasa veitchii (bamboo grass) extract.
Opened the Compliance Office.
Established Toyo Ink Vietnam Co., Ltd. in Bien Hoa City, Vietnam.
Adopted the business concept: "Value You Can See."

2004
Released "SasaMask," an antibacterial and antivirus functional mask based on Sasa Extract.
Jointly developed an automatic color correction technology for color universal design with Toyohashi University of Technology.
Released "UDing," the unique universal design concept.
Established Toyo Ink (Shanghai) RHQ Co., Ltd. in Shanghai, China.
Established Zhuhai Toyo Plastic Colorants Co., Ltd. (presently Zhuhai Toyocolor Co., Ltd.) in Zhuhai, Guangdong, China.
Transferred all functions of the Aoto Plant to the Saitama Factory and other sites and terminated its production operations.
First independent exhibition at drupa 2004, International Graphic Arts Show (Düsseldorf, Germany).
Released the "REXALPHA" conductive silver paste ink.
Developed dye sensitized solar cells.
Introduced the operating officer system.
Ceremonially transferred the Toyo Inari Shrine to the site of the Saitama Factory.
Dissolved i&i Inc. and partially transferred its operations to Fukuju Sangyo Co., Ltd. (presently Toyo FPP Co., Ltd.).
Dissolved Toyo Ink Nagoya Hanbai Co., Ltd.
Dissolved Toyo FCC Co., Ltd. and absorbed its functions into Toyo Ink Mfg. Co., Ltd.
Released "TK HighUnity SOY Kaleido" (Kaleido series), a sheetfed offset process ink capable of reproducing a wide-range of colors.

2005
Started the Group CSR promotion system and adopted the CSR Charter and Action Guidelines.
Established Zhuhai Sumika Polymer Compounds Co., Ltd. as a joint venture company with Sumitomo Chemical Company, Limited.
Formed a business alliance involving on-demand printers with Hewlett-Packard Japan, Ltd.

2006
Established Toyo Ink Compounds Vietnam Co., Ltd. in Hanoi, Vietnam.
Reorganized the R&D system and opened the Business Development Research Laboratory, the Colorants & Media Materials Research Laboratory, the Polymer Materials Research Laboratory and the Optoelectronics Material Research Laboratory.
Established Toyo Ink Korea Co., Ltd. in Seoul, South Korea.
Took on the functions of the formerly Toyo FCC Co., Ltd. and established Toyonex Co., Ltd. (presently Toyochem Co., Ltd.).
Renamed Toyo Europe Network S.A.S. to Toyo Ink Europe Holding S.A.S.
Established Toyo Ink Europe (Paris) S.A.S. (presently Toyo Ink Europe Specialty Chemicals S.A.S.) in Paris, France.

2007
The 100th anniversary since the Company's establishment.
Opened the "Toyo Ink Academy" as the human resource development organization for employees of the Toyo Ink Group.
Toyo Petrolite Co., Ltd.(presently Toyochem Co., Ltd.), the joint venture with Baker Hughes Incorporated (formerly Petrolite Co.) of the United States of America, was dissolved and become a wholly-owned subsidiary.
Established Toyo Ink India Pvt. Ltd. in Delhi, India.
Established Technova Toyo Ink Pvt. Ltd. as a joint venture company in Delhi, India.
Introduced the defined contribution pension plan system.
Released "Elbima," a laser marking system for food packaging.
Established Sumika Polymer Compounds Europe Ltd. as a joint venture with Sumitomo Chemical Company, Limited and ITOCHU Corporation.
Renamed Francolor Pigments S.A. to Toyo Ink Europe Specialty Chemicals S.A.S.
Developed "TSS," an electromagnetic wave shield film for flexible printed circuits (FPC).

2008
Released "Aqua Pure," a highly transparent marking film.
Released "Flash Dry LED," a UV-curable offset ink using LED lamps.
Adopted the "SCC2017" long-term vision.
Renamed Toyo Petrolite Co., Ltd. to Toyo ADL Corporation (presently Toyochem Co., Ltd.).
Established Toyo Ink Europe Plastic Colorants S.A.S. (presently Toyo Ink Europe Specialty Chemicals S.A.S.) in Villers-Saint-Paul, France.
Introduced measures against large-scale buying of shares (takeover defense measures).
Dissolved Toyo Ink Europe Holding S.A.S.
Toyo Ink Joto Hanbai Co., Ltd. absorbed Toyo Ink Tokyo Hanbai Co., Ltd. and launched the new company as Toyo Ink Graphics Co., Ltd.
Renamed Toyo Color America, LLC to Toyo Ink Mfg. America, LLC (presently Toyo Ink America, LLC).
Released a line of teas and beauty soap from the Sasa veitchii extract-related product brand "Lionature".
Released "EcoVALUE," the collecting and cyclically reuse system for gravure solvents.
Developed the "Rice Ink" series, a CFP (Carbon Footprint)-conscious offset ink using rice bran oil.
Developed "Palm Eco," a sheetfed offset ink using palm oil in Malaysia.

2009
Toyo Prepress Co., Ltd. (presently Toyo FPP Co., Ltd.) absorbed Toyo Seihan Co., Ltd.
Developed a laser ablation-applied digital plate making workflow for screen printing.
Started sales of "Lioduras EFC200" series a UV-curable, anti-fingerprint hard coat agent.

2010

2010
Established Toyo Ink Brasil LTDA. in São Paulo, Brazil.
Dissolved Toyo Ink (Shanghai) RHQ Co., Ltd.
Acquired Fluid Ink Technologies Inc. of the United States of America and established Toyo Ink Technologies, LLC.
Toyo Prepress Co., Ltd. absorbed Fukuju Sangyo Co., Ltd. and launched the new company as Toyo FPP Co., Ltd.
Toyo Ink Engineering Co., Ltd. absorbed Toyo Inspections Co., Ltd.
Toyo-Morton, Ltd., the joint venture with Rohm and Haas Co. (formerly Morton-Norwich Products, Inc. and presently Dow Chemical Co.) of the United States of America, was dissolved and become a wholly-owned subsidiary.
Toyo Ink America, LLC absorbed Toyo Ink Technologies, LLC.

2011
Released "Vantean Eco Lio," the highly concentrated newspaper process ink.
Toyo ADL Corporation (presently Toyochem Co., Ltd.) absorbed Toyonex Co., Ltd.
Katsumi Kitagawa became the 13th president.
The Toyo Ink Group adopted a holding company system.
Toyo Ink Mfg. Co., Ltd. was renamed to Toyo Ink SC Holdings Co., Ltd. and executed a corporate split to establish Toyo Ink Co., Ltd. and Toyochem Co., Ltd. as the core operating companies.
Implemented a corporate identity revamp and adopted the tagline "Visible Science for Life."
Renamed Aichi Toyo Ink Co., Ltd. to Toyo Plax Co., Ltd. (presently Toyocolor Co., Ltd.).
Toyo Ink Korea Co., Ltd. absorbed Toyo-Morton Korea Co., Ltd.
Established Toyo SC Trading Co., Ltd.

2012
"TOYO KING NEX NV100 Rice," a sheetfed offset ink using rice bran oil, received three awards: Special Award of Good Design Awards 2011, Excellence Award of 8th Eco-Products Awards and METI Minister Award of 21st Global Environment Awards.
Released "LIOACCUM," a slurry electrode material for secondary batteries.
Started distribution of two application software for smartphone: "TUBUCOLOR" color communicating tool and "UDing tool," a color universal designing support tool.
Merged Oriental Kasei Co., Ltd., Toyo Plax Co., Ltd. and the Colorants & Functional Materials related business division of Toyochem Co., Ltd. and launched the new company as Toyocolor Co., Ltd.
Established Jiangsu Toyo Yabang Pigment Co., Ltd. (presently Jiangsu Toyo Renxin Pigment Co., Ltd.) as a joint venture company in Changzhou, Jiangsu, China.
Toyo Ink America, LLC absorbed Toyo Ink Mfg. America, LLC.

2013
Develops multi-walled carbon nanotubes material and its dispersing element.
Established Heubach Toyo Colour Pvt. Ltd. as a joint venture company with Heubach Colour Pvt. Ltd. in Gujarat, India.
Acquired Arets International NV of Belgium and renamed it to Toyo-Arets International NV.

2014
Reorganized Japan's R&D system and set up the Innovation Laboratory, the Polymer Design Laboratory, the Material Science Laboratory and the Analysis Technology Laboratory.
Toyo Ink America released "REXTA," a solvent-based flexo lamination ink for retort packaging.

2015
Established a sales office Toyo Ink Turkey Kimya Sanayi A.Ş. (presently Toyo Printing Inks) in Istanbul, Turkey.
Toyochem began sales of a one-component acrylic adhesive for industrial use, under the "Oribain" brand.

2016
The 120th anniversary since the Company's establishment.
Acquired shares of Turkey-based DYO Printing Inks and renamed it Toyo Printing Inks Inc.
Turned Jiangsu Toyo Yabang Pigment Co., Ltd. into a consolidated subsidiary and renamed it Jiangsu Toyo Renxin Pigment Co., Ltd.
Established Toyo Ink Mexico, S.A. de C.V. in Jalisco, Mexico.
Acquired the transdermal medical patch business from Sekisui Medical Co., Ltd..
Began the cultivation of premium fruits under the Amamigoe brand.
Toyo Ink Europe Specialty Chemicals S.A.S. absorbed two other consolidated subsidiaries of the Group, Toyo Ink Europe and Toyo Ink Europe Plastic Colorant.

2017
Developsed completely VOC-free EB-curable flexo inks.
Renamed Zhuhai Toyochem Co., Ltd. to Zhuhai Toyocolor Co., Ltd.

2018
Adopted the "SIC-27" long-term vision.
Adopted the tagline "For a Vibrant World."
Established Toyo Visual Solutions Co., Ltd., which then absorbed the Display Materials Related Business of Toyocolor Co., Ltd.
Developed the new "Web Dry LEO-X EZ" series of web offset inks.

   

2019
Introduced a shareholder special benefit plan.
Established Toyo Ink North Africa S.A.R.L. in Casablanca, Morocco.

2020

2020
Satoru Takashima became the 14th president.
Toyochem Co., Ltd. absorbed Toyo ADL Corporation.
Capital participation in R Plus Japan, Ltd., a new company devoted to the recycling of used plastics.
Declared support for recommendations of the Task Force on Climate-related Financial Disclosures (TCFD).

2021
Introduced a "corporate fellow system" for technical research positions.
Held the online event "Value Showcase."
Released the Toyo Ink Group Integrated Report 2021.

2022
Transition to the Prime Market of Tokyo Stock Exchange.
Dissolved capital alliance with Sakata Inx Corporation (business alliance continues)

2023
Merged 4 branches (Hokkaido, Tohoku, Chushikoku, Kyushu) and two sales companies (TIGS, TIGN) into Toyo Ink Co.,ltd.