The is a
Japanis an island country in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, People's Republic of China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
ese group of manufacturing companies. As the world's largest
zipperA zipper is a popular device for temporarily joining two edges of fabric. It is used in clothing A zipper (British English: zip or (rarely) zip fastener) is a popular device for temporarily joining two edges of fabric. It is used in clothing A zipper (British English: zip or (rarely) zip fastener)...
manufacturer, YKK Group is most famous for making zippers. However it also manufactures other fastening products, architectural products, and industrial machinery.
The initials YKK stand for .
YKK claims to be the first zipper company to promote environmental protection measures. YKK developed a line of environmentally friendly zippers, following the company's philosophy "The Cycle of Goodness" which means that one prospers when the person renders benefit to others.
Pre World War II
In 1932, a 24 year old Tadao Yoshida was working for a company producing zippers. While he was impressed by the product, his employer went bankrupt. In 1934 Yoshida founded the company that is today YKK in
Nihonbashi, or Nihombashi, is a business district of Chūō, Tokyo, Japan which grew up around the bridge of the same name which has linked two sides of the Nihonbashi River at this site since the 17th century. The first wooden bridge was completed in 1603, and the current bridge made of stone dates from 1911...
,
Tokyo, officially , is one of the 47 prefectures of Japan and is located on the eastern side of the main island Honshū. The twenty-three special wards of Tokyo, each governed as a city, cover the area that was once the city of Tokyo in the eastern part of the prefecture, totaling over 8 million people....
. Originally known as , it was renamed in February 1938, and became a
LimitedA private company limited by shares is a type of company incorporated under the laws of England and Wales, Scotland, that of certain Commonwealth countries and the Republic of Ireland...
company in February 1942. The company received a setback in May 1945, when their Komatsugawa plant burned down. Nevertheless, the company prospered, and in August 1945 it acquired another company, Uozu Tekkousho K.K., and renamed itself to .
After World War II
In January 1946 the company registered the now famous YKK
trademarkA trademark or trade mark is a distinctive sign or indicator used by an individual, business organization, or other legal entity to identify that the products or services to consumers with which the trademark appears originate from a unique source, and to distinguish its products or services from...
. A major technological change came in 1950, when the company purchased a chain machine from the
U.S.The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
that allowed the automation of the zipper making process. Previously, YKK zippers were made by hand, and hence had an inferior quality compared to automated zippers from abroad.
In March 1951, YKK relocated its headquarters to
Chūō, Tokyois one of the 23 special wards that form the heart of Tokyo, Japan. The ward refers to itself as Chūō City in English.Its Japanese name literally means "Central Ward," and it is historically the main commercial center of Tokyo, although Shinjuku has risen to challenge it since the end of World War II...
. In May 1955, a new plant was opened in
Kurobe, Toyamais a city located in Toyama, Japan.As of 2008, the city has an estimated population of 42,612 and the density of 426.34 persons per km². The total area is 99.9 km².The city was founded on April 1, 1954.-Mergers:...
. In August 1958, the headquarters was again relocated to
Taitō, Tokyois one of the 23 special wards of Tokyo, Japan. In English, it calls itself Taito City .As of 2008, the ward has an estimated population of 175,346 and a density of 15,890 persons per km²...
. In this year, the company also introduced its new
Conceal brand that does not show the teeth of the zippers. Another major step came in November 1959, with the opening of its first overseas location, producing YKK zippers in
New ZealandNew Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses , and numerous smaller islands, most notably Stewart Island/Rakiura and the Chatham Islands. The indigenous Māori named New Zealand Aotearoa, commonly translated as The Land of the Long White Cloud...
. YKK's first US office opened in
New York CityNew York is the most populous city in the United States, and the center of the New York metropolitan area, which is among the most populous urban areas in the world. A leading global city, New York exerts a powerful influence over worldwide commerce, finance, culture, fashion and entertainment...
in 1960 and now is the country's top supplier of zippers and other fastening devices such as snaps and buttons.
Diversification
In November 1961 the product line was diversified to include aluminum products for buildings. In June 1963, the company relocated its headquarters again to
Chiyoda, Tokyois one of the 23 special wards in central Tokyo, Japan. In English, it calls itself Chiyoda City. As of October 2007, the ward has an estimated population of 45,543 and a density of 3,912 persons per km², making it by far the least populated of the special wards...
, the current location of the company. In 1966, a new product
YZip was introduced, an extra strong and durable zipper for
jeansJeans are pants, or trousers, made from denim. Mainly designed for work, they became popular among teenagers starting in the 1950s. Historic brands include Levi's and Wrangler....
. The development of a machine that automatically included the
YZip zipper into the stitching process of jeans further increased sales, especially in the USA. In 1968 YKK opened its first branch in Canada. Its Canadian headquarters are currently in
MontrealMontreal is the second-largest city in Canada and the largest city in the province of Quebec. Originally called Ville-Marie , the city takes its present name from Mont-Royal, the triple-peaked hill located in the heart of the city, whose name was also initially given to the island on which the...
, QC. The 70s saw further expansion, with the opening of three new plants in
Utazu, Kagawais a town located in Ayauta District, Kagawa, Japan.As of 2003, the town has an estimated population of 16,821 and a density of 2,084.39 persons per km². The total area is 8.07 km².-External links:* in Japanese...
in April 1972, in
Sanbongi, MiyagiSanbongi was a town located in Shida District, Miyagi, Japan.On March 31, 2006 Sanbongi was merged with the towns of Iwadeyama and Naruko, both from Tamatsukuri District, the towns of Kashimadai and Matsuyama, all from Shida District, the town of Tajiri, from Tōda District, and the city of...
in June 1974, and in
Yatsushiro, Kumamotois a city located in Kumamoto, Japan.On August 1, 2005, the city merged with the municipalities of Izumi, Kagami, Sakamoto, Senchō and Tōyō to form the new expanded city of Yashushiro....
in February 1975, despite the material shortages due to the
1973 oil crisisThe 1973 oil crisis started in October 1973, when the members of Organization of Arab Petroleum Exporting Countries or the OAPEC proclaimed an oil embargo" in response to the U.S. decision to re-supply the Israeli military" during the Yom Kippur war; it lasted until March 1974...
. YKK also opened a fastener making factory in the Kingdom of Swaziland nestled between South Africa and Mozambique, which has grown to supply the entire sub-saharan including Madagascar and Mauritius.
More product lines became available with the
Quicklon (sometimes called
Cosmolon) fasteners in December 1981. The 80s also saw further international and product expansion, with a
real estateReal estate is a legal term that encompasses land along with anything permanently affixed to the land, such as buildings, specifically property that is fixed in location.
"Real estate" The American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition. Houghton Mifflin...
business in
SingaporeSingapore , officially the Republic of Singapore, is an island city-state located at the southern tip of the Malay Peninsula, lying north of the equator, south of the Malaysian state of Johor and north of Indonesia's Riau Islands. At , Singapore is a microstate and the smallest nation in Southeast...
in December 1984, an agricultural business in
BrazilBrazil , officially the Federative Republic of Brazil , is a country in South America. It is the fifth largest country by geographical area, occupying nearly half of South America, the fifth most populous country, and the fourth most populous democracy in the world. Bounded by the Atlantic Ocean...
in January 1985, and a plant in
IndonesiaThe Republic of Indonesia is a country in Southeast Asia and Oceania. Indonesia comprises 17,508 islands. With an estimated population of around 237 million people, it is the world's fourth most populous country, with the world's largest population of Muslims.Indonesia is a republic, with an...
in September 1986 producing zippers and aluminum parts for buildings. The company was finally renamed
YKK in August 1994.
The new Millennium
In July 2000, the company established
YKK Newmax Co., Ltd, specializing in the production of snaps and buttons. In December 2002, a machine company was established in
SuzhouSuzhou is a city on the lower reaches of the Yangtze River and on the shores of Lake Taihu in the province of Jiangsu, China. The city is renowned for its beautiful stone bridges, pagodas, and meticulously designed gardens which have contributed to its status as a great tourist attraction...
,
ChinaChina is a cultural region, an ancient civilization, and, depending on perspective, a national or multinational entity extending over a large area in East Asia....
. A company specializing in sales,
YKK Fastening Products Sales Inc. was established in February 2003.
YKK AP Inc. was founded in October 2003, specializing in architectural products.
Overall, the organization operates more than 123 affiliated companies in more than 70 countries representing some 270 plants and offices with some 37,000 employees.
Price fixing
On September 19, 2007 YKK was fined 150.3 million euros by the
European CommissionThe European Commission acts as an executive of the European Union. The body is responsible for proposing legislation, implementing decisions, upholding the Union's treaties and the general day-to-day running of the Union.The Commission operates in the method of cabinet government, with 27...
for running worldwide price-fixing cartels and sharing markets with zip-makers Prym and Coats. Coats of Britain and Prym of Germany were fined 122.4 million and 40.5 million euros respectively for their participation in cartel behaviour.
Fastening products
Fastening products are the first and still the most important product of YKK. Within YKK they distinguish between the Slide Fastener Division, the Textile and Plastic Products Division, and the Snap Fastener and Button Division.
- Zippers
- YZip: Metal zipper, extra durable for jeans
- Ever Bright: Metal zipper, polished for visual appeal and corrosion resistance
- Excella: Metal zipper, polished and plated for visual appeal, also in different colors
- Conceal: Plastic coil zipper with no visible teeth
- Vislon: Rugged plastic zipper
- Hook and loop products, more commonly known under the Velcro
Velcro is a brand name of fabric hook-and-loop fasteners. It consists of two layers: a "hook" side, which is a piece of fabric covered with tiny hooks, and a "loop" side, which is covered with even smaller and "hairier" loops. When the two sides are pressed together, the hooks catch in the loops...
brand name of a competitor.
- Plastic parts, including various types of clips and buckle
A buckle is a clasp used for fastening two things together, such as the ends of a belt, or for retaining the end of a strap...
s
- Snaps and buttons, including snap fastener
A snap fastener is a pair of interlocking discs commonly used in place of buttons to fasten clothing. A circular lip under one disc fits into a groove on the top of the other, holding them fast until a certain amount of force is applied...
s and jeans buttons
Architectural products
Architectural aluminum products include fenestration systems for glass exteriors; entrances for commercial and institutional structures; aluminum sunshades; and residential windows.
YKK AP America Inc., based in Austell, Ga., manufactures entrances, storefronts, curtain wall, window wall, sunshades, windows and sliding doors for office buildings, residential high-rises, schools, stadiums, shopping centers and institutional structures.
Machinery and Engineering
The Machinery and Engineering Group focuses on the development and production of machines, equipment, and dies, serving YKK Group with the Exclusive Machinery Division, Industrial Machinery Division, and Die Division. The Group plays a key role in technology development, and helps us minimize costs while maximizing efficiency to meet the changing, diversifying needs of the Fastening Products and Architectural Products Business Groups. The Group also demonstrates its capabilities in combining mechatronics and electronics technologies, with total engineering that takes full advantage of IT and system control technology.
Miscellaneous
YKK aims for
vertical integrationIn microeconomics and management, the term vertical integration describes a style of management control. Vertically integrated companies are united through a hierarchy with a common owner. Usually each member of the hierarchy produces a different product or service, and the products combine to...
, and also produces the dyed cloth and the
brassBrass is any alloy of copper and zinc; the proportions of zinc and copper can be varied to create a range of brasses with varying properties. In comparison, bronze is principally an alloy of copper and tin. Despite this distinction, some types of brasses are called bronzes. Brass is a...
for its zippers.
YKK gets a mention in U.S Rap/R&B Group
OutkastOutKast is an American hip hop duo based in East Point, Georgia, a city south of Atlanta, Georgia. They were originally known as The OKB but later changed the group's name to OutKast. The group's original musical style was a mixture of Dirty South and G-Funk...
's song, "So Fresh So Clean".
Facilities
YKK has manufacturing facilities in 68 countries. YKK also has the world’s largest zipper manufacturing center located in Macon, Georgia, where they have 900 employees.
External links
YKK Corporation homepage