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Stanley's 100th Anniversary Site
Towards Becoming an Optoelectronics Enterprise
After building steady domestic foundations, Stanley Electric began to develop light-emitting diodes (LED) in 1969. LED's applications were drastically expanded by the improvements of luminous efficiency as well as development of a continuous manufacturing technology. As the automotive industry was shifting towards overseas production, the Stanley Electric was also expanding its overseas production bases. At that time, the company also developed innovative automotive equipment. These included multi-reflector headlamps whose reflectors had a photometric control function whereas conventional reflectors (reflective surfaces) only had a light collection function. That was an evolution of headlights from conventional functional parts into design parts. From the 1970s to 1980s, the company created groundbreaking products one after another to grow into an optoelectronics enterprise based on its prominent technologies.
Download the Chapter 4 PDFCHRONOLOGY
Launched light-emitting diodes (red LEDs)
Launched miniature strobe for photographs
Increased capital stock to 2,035,000,000 JPY
Launched green LEDs
Opened the Hiroshima Factory
Started to manufacture all-glass sealed beams
Launched yellow LEDs
Opened the Kumamoto Factory
Established the Kitano Foundation of Lifelong Integrated Education
Four-lamp rectangular metal-back sealed beams on GM cars
The Establishment of the Kitano Foundation of Lifelong Integrated Education
On June 23, 1975, the Kitano Foundation of Lifelong Integrated Education was established. This foundation was made possible through the monetary donation from Chairman Takaharu Kitano. In his youth, Takaharu had to give up his studies due to an illness, so this foundation is designed to provide opportunities for "anyone to study anytime and anywhere" and to promote "lifelong" education fit for the 21st century. Its operations consisted of three pillars: fostering lifelong education, aiding learners in tuition fees, and providing lectures and training workshops.
Relief at the entrance hall of the foundation
Takaharu Kitano, founder
Continuous manufacturing technology of LEDs was recognized as a success by the Research Development Corporation of Japan
Increased capital stock to 3,249,000,000 JPY
The Development of Continuous Manufacturing Technology for High-brightness Red LEDs
In 1969, Stanley Electric started to develop light-emitting diodes (LEDs). That was one year after the U.S. Apollo spacecraft used LEDs for the first time in the world. Three years later in October 1972, the company was commissioned by the Research Development Corporation of Japan (currently the Japan Science and Technology Agency) to develop continuous manufacturing technology for LEDs into practical use. The technology was an ingenious invention by Dr. Junichi Nishizawa, a Professor at Tohoku University. Being commissioned was an honor, developing this technology into practical use was an extremely difficult task. As a result of hard work, in July 1976, the company successfully developed continuous manufacturing technology for high-brightness red LEDs with the world's highest brightness of 60 mcd (millicandela). In 1977, the company started to mass-produce high-brightness red LEDs.
The development of continuous manufacturing technology for high-brightness LEDs won an Okochi Memorial Technology Prize in 1979, as well as an Inoue Harushige Prize in July 1982.
In January 1979, Stanley Electric developed high-brightness pure-green gallium-phosphide (GaP) LEDs, which became a hot seller. Then, in 1984, the company developed 5000-mcd red, 200-mcd green, and 500-mcd yellow LEDs as a milestone achievement in the company's LED development. These LEDs were revolutionary products that offered about twice the brightness of conventional products, so they attracted a lot of attention from domestic and foreign industries. The high-brightness LEDs were originally available in red only, but the addition of green made it possible to use a pair of red and green. This had a great significance and then led to the dramatic expansion of LED's application.
The company rapidly expanded their application to audio equipment, home appliances, cameras, measuring instruments, terminal equipment, automatic vending machines, and toys by developing products one after another under the catchphrase of "department store for LEDs."
The world's brightest Light-emitting diode (red LED)
Launched LED numeric indicators
Launched the four-lamp rectangular sealed beam (metal-back) approved as the first type designation by Japan's Ministry of Transport
Launched the first orange high-brightness LEDs in Japan
Total number of all-glass sealed beams produced reached 10 million
Increased capital stock to 4,080,000,000 JPY
Developed pure green high-brightness LEDs
Started the production of liquid crystal displays
Established Stanley Electric U.S. Co., Inc. (SUS) in the U.S.A. (relocated to London, Ohio in April 1981)
Developed color LCDs
The development of continuous manufacturing technology for high-brightness LEDs won the 26th Okochi Memorial Technology Prize
Established Thai Stanley Electric Co., Ltd. (THS)
Developed flat fluorescent lamps for LCD backlight illuminations
Launched high-brightness numeric indicators series (four color LED)
Sponsored the First Stanley Ladies Pro Golf Tournament
Concluded a technical assistance agreement with Samlip Industrial Co., Ltd. of South Korea
Okochi Memorial Technology Prize
The development of continuous manufacturing technology for high-brightness LEDs won the 26th Okochi Memorial Technology Prize
Poster of the First Stanley Ladies Pro Golf Tournament
Nayoko Yoshikawa, winner of the First Tournament
Launched LED level meter with 5- and 10-aligned rectangular LEDs
Held a general exhibition celebrating the 60th anniversary
Takaharu Kitano, Founder and Chairman Emeritus, passed away
Concluded a technical assistance agreement with HELLA Australia
Opened the Okazaki Factory
Launched surface display LEDs in the colors of red, green, yellow, and orange
Gyro Sensors on the Honda Electro Gyrocator
Honda Electro Gyrocator
Launched high-sensitivity photodetector, silicon P type photo transistor
The development of continuous manufacturing technology for high-brightness LEDs won the 7th Inoue Harushige Prize
Developed large display panels using color LCDs
Developed 2000-mcd high-brightness red LEDs
Increased capital stock to 6,792,000,000 JPY
Tsukuba Research Consortium was established
Concluded a technical assistance agreement with LUMAX of India
Developed 5000-mcd high-brightness red LEDs
Opened the Tsukuba Research Laboratory
Launched Pure Green, a high-brightness pure green LED with a brightness twice that of conventional models
Appointed then-President Takaoki Kitano as Chairman and then-Vice President Toru Teshima President
Newly established Management Meeting
Developed and launched super high-power IR diodes
Developed MR (Multi Reflector) headlamps
The Development of MR Headlamps
In 1985, Stanley Electric successfully commercialized multi-reflector (MR) headlamps. MR headlamps did not have lens ridges on their front glass surface. Their reflectors (mirrors) had light diffusion and photometric functions, which conventionally were provided by lens ridges, and their front glasses simply functioned as a see-through cover. They were the world's first headlamps without lens ridges as well as the world's first to have reflectors that were created using CAD/CAM.
Later, this technology was also applied to the development of "freeform surface headlamps". It was a historic technology that allowed the evolution of headlamps from functional parts to design parts, and to this day still remains the mainstream in headlamp design.
Multi-Reflector (MR) headlamps without ridges for light distribution
The high power IR LEDs won an award at the Nikkei Superior Products and Services Awards
The development and mass-production of two-layer guest-host large color LCDs won the technology prize at the 32nd Okochi Memorial Technology Prize
Started the mass production of LED high mounted stop lamps
Opened the Utsunomiya Technical Center
Established II Stanley Co., Inc. (IIS)
Strobes on the Utsurun Desu, the first-generation film-with-lens camera of FUJIFILM Corporation (first in Japan)
Strobes on Utsurun Desu FLASH, a film-with-lens camera (1987 model)
The Development and Manufacturing of Color LCDs That Drew the World's Attention
Starting research on LCDs in 1975, Stanley Electric was a late starter in their development. Mainstream LCDs at that time were twisted nematic (TN) type, where the liquid crystals were sandwiched between two polarizers, and their display color was limited to one. With an aim of advancing to a leading position in the development race by developing a principle for producing a clear color, the company sought for a collaborative development with the person who first introduced liquid crystal display to Japan: Professor Masanobu Wada of Tohoku University.
Six years later, the company finally developed the world's first two-layer guest-host (GH) LCD that allowed color display, and then began its production and sales in full swing. This two-layer GH LCD was capable of multi-color display, so its potential for wider applications in the information industries was very high, with automotive displays being one of them. Immediately after it was unveiled, this color LCD attracted attention of automotive manufacturers from around the world and was selected for France's Renault R-11 compact sedan. Afterward, it was used as dashboard displays for the Toyota Corona and the Honda Accord to the limelight of various industries. In 1986, the company's development and mass-production of two-layer guest-host large color LCDs won a technology prize at the 32nd Okochi Memorial Prizes. This was the second honorable prize that the company's iconic optoelectronics product received, following the LEDs at the 26th edition of the Prizes.
Large color LCD panel on the Toyota Corona dashboards
Developed LED print heads
Amended the mandatory retirement system to extend the retirement age to 60
Fire broke out at the Semiconductor Plant 1 of Hatano Factory, and the Building 2 was completely destroyed
Issued bonds with subscription warrant in US dollars and listed on the London Stock Exchange
Established Asian Stanley International Co., Ltd. (ASI)
The Complete Destruction of the Hatano Factory's Building 2 by Fire
On September 11, 1987, a fire broke out at the Semiconductor Plant 1 in Building 2 of the Hatano Factory. Although there were no casualties, Building 2 was completely burned down. The fire was probably caused by the overheating of parts of photoconductor production facilities.
Immediately after the fire was extinguished, employees carried out restoration work for Building 2 under the slogan of "don't stop the customers' production lines," and as a result, automotive lighting equipment lines miraculously resumed production quickly within less than two months.
Hatano Factory Building 2 after the fire
Members of the Restoration Countermeasures Committee giving instructions on emergency measures in response to a fire
The newly completed Hatano Factory Building 2
Launched DN-6, an information system development 6-year plan
Acquired the management rights for IDESS S.A. of France and renamed it STANLEY-IDESS S.A.S. (SID)
Capital stock exceeded 10 billion JPY
MR headlamps on the Honda Accord and the Accord Inspire
MR headlamps on the Honda Accord Inspire, the first application
Launched rectangular halogen all-glass sealed beams
Launched light-emitting diodes (red LEDs)
Launched miniature strobe for photographs
Increased capital stock to 2,035,000,000 JPY
Launched green LEDs
Opened the Hiroshima Factory
Started to manufacture all-glass sealed beams
Launched yellow LEDs
Opened the Kumamoto Factory
Established the Kitano Foundation of Lifelong Integrated Education
The Establishment of the Kitano Foundation of Lifelong Integrated Education
On June 23, 1975, the Kitano Foundation of Lifelong Integrated Education was established. This foundation was made possible through the monetary donation from Chairman Takaharu Kitano. In his youth, Takaharu had to give up his studies due to an illness, so this foundation is designed to provide opportunities for "anyone to study anytime and anywhere" and to promote "lifelong" education fit for the 21st century. Its operations consisted of three pillars: fostering lifelong education, aiding learners in tuition fees, and providing lectures and training workshops.
Relief at the entrance hall of the foundation
Takaharu Kitano, founder
Four-lamp rectangular metal-back sealed beams on GM cars
Continuous manufacturing technology of LEDs was recognized as a success by the Research Development Corporation of Japan
The Development of Continuous Manufacturing Technology for High-brightness Red LEDs
In 1969, Stanley Electric started to develop light-emitting diodes (LEDs). That was one year after the U.S. Apollo spacecraft used LEDs for the first time in the world. Three years later in October 1972, the company was commissioned by the Research Development Corporation of Japan (currently the Japan Science and Technology Agency) to develop continuous manufacturing technology for LEDs into practical use. The technology was an ingenious invention by Dr. Junichi Nishizawa, a Professor at Tohoku University. Being commissioned was an honor, developing this technology into practical use was an extremely difficult task. As a result of hard work, in July 1976, the company successfully developed continuous manufacturing technology for high-brightness red LEDs with the world's highest brightness of 60 mcd (millicandela). In 1977, the company started to mass-produce high-brightness red LEDs.
The development of continuous manufacturing technology for high-brightness LEDs won an Okochi Memorial Technology Prize in 1979, as well as an Inoue Harushige Prize in July 1982.
In January 1979, Stanley Electric developed high-brightness pure-green gallium-phosphide (GaP) LEDs, which became a hot seller. Then, in 1984, the company developed 5000-mcd red, 200-mcd green, and 500-mcd yellow LEDs as a milestone achievement in the company's LED development. These LEDs were revolutionary products that offered about twice the brightness of conventional products, so they attracted a lot of attention from domestic and foreign industries. The high-brightness LEDs were originally available in red only, but the addition of green made it possible to use a pair of red and green. This had a great significance and then led to the dramatic expansion of LED's application.
The company rapidly expanded their application to audio equipment, home appliances, cameras, measuring instruments, terminal equipment, automatic vending machines, and toys by developing products one after another under the catchphrase of "department store for LEDs."
The world's brightest Light-emitting diode (red LED)
Increased capital stock to 3,249,000,000 JPY
Launched LED numeric indicators
Launched the four-lamp rectangular sealed beam (metal-back) approved as the first type designation by Japan's Ministry of Transport
Launched the first orange high-brightness LEDs in Japan
Total number of all-glass sealed beams produced reached 10 million
Increased capital stock to 4,080,000,000 JPY
Developed pure green high-brightness LEDs
Started the production of liquid crystal displays
Established Stanley Electric U.S. Co., Inc. (SUS) in the U.S.A. (relocated to London, Ohio in April 1981)
Developed color LCDs
The development of continuous manufacturing technology for high-brightness LEDs won the 26th Okochi Memorial Technology Prize
Okochi Memorial Technology Prize
The development of continuous manufacturing technology for high-brightness LEDs won the 26th Okochi Memorial Technology Prize
Established Thai Stanley Electric Co., Ltd. (THS)
Developed flat fluorescent lamps for LCD backlight illuminations
Launched high-brightness numeric indicators series (four color LED)
Sponsored the First Stanley Ladies Pro Golf Tournament
Poster of the First Stanley Ladies Pro Golf Tournament
Nayoko Yoshikawa, winner of the First Tournament
Concluded a technical assistance agreement with Samlip Industrial Co., Ltd. of South Korea
Launched LED level meter with 5- and 10-aligned rectangular LEDs
Held a general exhibition celebrating the 60th anniversary
Takaharu Kitano, Founder and Chairman Emeritus, passed away
Concluded a technical assistance agreement with HELLA Australia
Opened the Okazaki Factory
Launched surface display LEDs in the colors of red, green, yellow, and orange
Gyro Sensors on the Honda Electro Gyrocator
Honda Electro Gyrocator
Launched high-sensitivity photodetector, silicon P type photo transistor
The development of continuous manufacturing technology for high-brightness LEDs won the 7th Inoue Harushige Prize
Developed large display panels using color LCDs
Developed 2000-mcd high-brightness red LEDs
Increased capital stock to 6,792,000,000 JPY
Tsukuba Research Consortium was established
Concluded a technical assistance agreement with LUMAX of India
Developed 5000-mcd high-brightness red LEDs
Opened the Tsukuba Research Laboratory
Launched Pure Green, a high-brightness pure green LED with a brightness twice that of conventional models
Appointed then-President Takaoki Kitano as Chairman and then-Vice President Toru Teshima President
Newly established Management Meeting
Developed and launched super high-power IR diodes
Developed MR (Multi Reflector) headlamps
The Development of MR Headlamps
In 1985, Stanley Electric successfully commercialized multi-reflector (MR) headlamps. MR headlamps did not have lens ridges on their front glass surface. Their reflectors (mirrors) had light diffusion and photometric functions, which conventionally were provided by lens ridges, and their front glasses simply functioned as a see-through cover. They were the world's first headlamps without lens ridges as well as the world's first to have reflectors that were created using CAD/CAM.
Later, this technology was also applied to the development of "freeform surface headlamps". It was a historic technology that allowed the evolution of headlamps from functional parts to design parts, and to this day still remains the mainstream in headlamp design.
Multi-Reflector (MR) headlamps without ridges for light distribution
The high power IR LEDs won an award at the Nikkei Superior Products and Services Awards
The development and mass-production of two-layer guest-host large color LCDs won the technology prize at the 32nd Okochi Memorial Technology Prize
The Development and Manufacturing of Color LCDs That Drew the World's Attention
Starting research on LCDs in 1975, Stanley Electric was a late starter in their development. Mainstream LCDs at that time were twisted nematic (TN) type, where the liquid crystals were sandwiched between two polarizers, and their display color was limited to one. With an aim of advancing to a leading position in the development race by developing a principle for producing a clear color, the company sought for a collaborative development with the person who first introduced liquid crystal display to Japan: Professor Masanobu Wada of Tohoku University.
Six years later, the company finally developed the world's first two-layer guest-host (GH) LCD that allowed color display, and then began its production and sales in full swing. This two-layer GH LCD was capable of multi-color display, so its potential for wider applications in the information industries was very high, with automotive displays being one of them. Immediately after it was unveiled, this color LCD attracted attention of automotive manufacturers from around the world and was selected for France's Renault R-11 compact sedan. Afterward, it was used as dashboard displays for the Toyota Corona and the Honda Accord to the limelight of various industries. In 1986, the company's development and mass-production of two-layer guest-host large color LCDs won a technology prize at the 32nd Okochi Memorial Prizes. This was the second honorable prize that the company's iconic optoelectronics product received, following the LEDs at the 26th edition of the Prizes.
Large color LCD panel on the Toyota Corona dashboards
Started the mass production of LED high mounted stop lamps
Opened the Utsunomiya Technical Center
Established II Stanley Co., Inc. (IIS)
Strobes on the Utsurun Desu, the first-generation film-with-lens camera of FUJIFILM Corporation (first in Japan)
Strobes on Utsurun Desu FLASH, a film-with-lens camera (1987 model)
Developed LED print heads
Amended the mandatory retirement system to extend the retirement age to 60
Fire broke out at the Semiconductor Plant 1 of Hatano Factory, and the Building 2 was completely destroyed
The Complete Destruction of the Hatano Factory's Building 2 by Fire
On September 11, 1987, a fire broke out at the Semiconductor Plant 1 in Building 2 of the Hatano Factory. Although there were no casualties, Building 2 was completely burned down. The fire was probably caused by the overheating of parts of photoconductor production facilities.
Immediately after the fire was extinguished, employees carried out restoration work for Building 2 under the slogan of "don't stop the customers' production lines," and as a result, automotive lighting equipment lines miraculously resumed production quickly within less than two months.
Hatano Factory Building 2 after the fire
Members of the Restoration Countermeasures Committee giving instructions on emergency measures in response to a fire
The newly completed Hatano Factory Building 2
Issued bonds with subscription warrant in US dollars and listed on the London Stock Exchange
Established Asian Stanley International Co., Ltd. (ASI)
Launched DN-6, an information system development 6-year plan
Acquired the management rights for IDESS S.A. of France and renamed it STANLEY-IDESS S.A.S. (SID)
Capital stock exceeded 10 billion JPY
MR headlamps on the Honda Accord and the Accord Inspire
MR headlamps on the Honda Accord Inspire, the first application
Launched rectangular halogen all-glass sealed beams
