The Company History of TCM Corporation

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• ~1950s
• 1960s
• 1970s
• 1980s
• 1990s
• 2000s
• 2010s

1947	Mr. Noboru Niwa founded a Niwa Maintenance Operation Co., Ltd.
1949	Toyo Carrier Manufacturing Co., Ltd. was founded. The 1st Japan-made forklift was manufactured.
1950	The 1st export was done to Taiwan. The 1st Electric Forklift, FE-T-275 was manufactured in Sekime Factory.
1952	Tou-un Kougyou Co., Ltd.(the present Ryugasaki Plant) was established.
1954	Company name changed to Toyo Umpanki Co., Ltd.
1956	3000 pounds Forklift was delivered to Antarctica to assist the obveration activity.
1957	Technical collaboration agreement was concluded with Clark. The 1st 10t Forklift was developed for a national steel mill.
1958	Japan's 1st Torque Converter Type Forklift was launched.

 

1960	The 1st Japan-made wheel loader(85A) was launched.
1963	The 1st Distributor Agreement was concluded with Westco in Australia. The 1st Overseas Representative Office was set up in Bangkok, Thailand.
1964	The 1st European export was made to Havelange in Belgium.
1965	Hitachi Zosen Corporation became a major shareholder. New Osaka Office was constructed.
1967	European Representative Office was established in Dusseldorf, Germany.
1968	Shiga Toyo Umpanki Co., Ltd.(the present Shiga Plant) was founded.

 

1972	Knock-down export agreement was concluded with Criterion Equipment Co. in South Africa.
1973	Distributorship agreement for Pingon Excavator was concluded.
1975	Skid Steer Loader was launched.
1976	STD30 manufacturered under TCM original technology was launched. TCM America (MBK), Inc. was founded.
1977	TCM invited 10 dealers under Mitsui Maschinen GmbH in West Germany to Japan.
1979	Wide view 2 stage mast was developed. The production of 5,000 units of Skid Steer Loader was achieved.

 

1980	Ryugasaki Plant completed 7.2 million man-hours without an accident, a first in the industry.
1983	1000 units were ordered from Pentagon, USA.
1984	Mutual cooperation agreement was signed with Melroe Manufacturing Co. in USA. Shiga plant achieved 5 million man-hours without accident. Self-developed 800 Series wheel loader was placed on the market.
1986	Technical collaboration agreement with Clark expired. Technical collaboration agreement as the first Japanese company with Chinese forklift companies was concluded.
1988	TCM Manufacturing USA Inc., was established in South Carolina, USA.
1989	Tokyo office was reconstructed.

 

1990	TCM Europe S.A. in Belgium was founded. European production in BN SPOORWEGMATERIEEL EN METAAL CONSTRUCTIES N.V. was inaugurated.
1991	Anhui Andong Foundry Co., Ltd. was founded in China.
1992	A jont company, Mitsui Industrial Machinery GmbH was launched as a distributor in West Germany.
1993	Anhui TCM Forklift Co., Ltd., the 1st forklift plant in China operated by a Japanese firm was founded.
1994	Licensing agreement with FHE (Fiat-Hitachi Excavators S.p.A.) concluded.
1996	TCM logo was redesinged.
1997	Shiga and Ryugasaki Plant gained ISO 9001 Certification.
1998	The 1st export of RTG (Rubber Tyred Gantry Crane) was made to port of Shenzhen in China.
1999	Shiga and Ryugasaki Plant gained ISO 14001 Certification. Company renamed TCM Corporation on its 50th anniversary.

 

2000	ACROBA (side moving forklift) was launched.
2001	TCM Asia Distribution Co., Ltd. was founded in Thailand.
2003	Shanghai TCM Forklift Trading Co., Ltd. was founded in China. TCM Distribution USA Inc. in New Jersey, USA was founded.
2006	Mibu Plant was launched. TCM Anhui Machinery Co., Ltd. with full ownership by Japanese campanies was founded. Parts center opened in Thailand. TCM 1st World Conference was held in Thailand. TCM Forklift Trucks, in Texas, USA was founded.
2008	TCM France S.A.S. was founded in Lyon, France.
2009	Three US affiliates merged to form TCM America, Inc. Hitachi Construction Machinery Co. became a sole shareholder.

 

2010	Construction machinery division was transferred to Hitachi Construction Machinery Co.