TDK

Infobox_Company
company_name = TDK PGM (TDK)
company_
company_type = Public (tyo|6762, nyse|TDK, lse|TDK)
foundation = December 1935
location = Nihombashi, Chuo, Tokyo, Japan
key_people = President: Takehiro Kamigama
industry = Data storage media
products = CD, DVD, Blu-ray, Electrical Components, Power Supplies
revenue = profit 6.8 billion USD
operating_income =
net_income =
num_employees = 53,923 [ [http://www.google.com/finance?q=TYO%3A6762 6762 - TDK CORPORATION - Google Finance ] ]
parent =
subsid =
homepage = [http://www.tdk.com/ www.tdk.com] , [http://www.tdk.co.jp/ www.tdk.co.jp] Nihongo|TDK Corporation|TDK株式会社|TDK Kabushiki-kaisha, formerly Nihongo|TDK Electronics Co., Ltd|東京電気化学工業株式会社|extra=tyo|6762, nyse|TDK, lse|TDK, is a Japanese company that manufactures electronic materials, electronic components, and recording and data-storage media, and markets them globally. Their motto is "Contribute to culture and industry through creativity". [cite web|title=TDK Japan site: motto and principles.|url=http://www.tdk.co.jp/teaaa01/aaa04000.htm] . The initials TDK come from the original Japanese name of the company: Tokyo Denki Kagaku (Tokyo Electronics and Chemicals).

History

TDK was founded in Japan on 7 December 1935 to manufacture iron-based magnetic material ferrite, which had been recently invented by Yogoro Kato and Takeshi Takei [cite web|title=TDK Hong Kong site|url=http://www.tdk.com.hk/english/profile/profile.htm] . In 1952 they began production of magnetic tapes, with compact cassette tapes following in 1966; it is for these that the company is most widely noted. TDK also manufactures an extensive portfolio of magnetic and optical media, including several formats of videotape and blank CD-R and recordable DVD discs. TDK has also recently started manufacturing USB flash drives.

Industry trends see the company moving into new forms of media; in 2004 TDK was the first media-manufacturer to join the companies developing BD post-DVD technology. [cite web|title=TDK Japan site: corporate history|url=http://www.tdk.co.jp/teaae01/aae10000.htm]

Operations in the USA began in 1965 with a New York office [cite web|title=TDK Japan site: corporate history|url=http://www.tdk.co.jp/teaae01/aae10000.htm] , and European operations began in 1970 with an office in Frankfurt, West Germany [cite web|title=TDK Europe site: corporate history|url=http://www.tdk-europe.com/en/corporate/history.php] .

TDK operated a semiconductor division in California for about a decade, but divested it in 2005.

The company operates a museum dedicated to the technologies with which it is involved, at its Hirasawa plant in Japan.

Since June 2006, Takehiro Kamigama has been president, having been nominated by his predecessor, Hajime Sawabe, who currently serves as chairman.

In the fall of 2007, Imation bought TDK's recording business. The deal, which covers media properties such as flash media, optical media, magnetic tape, and accessories, was for $300 million. TDK remains in existence as a separate company, with its research and development, manufacturing and OEM portions.

ponsorship

From 1993 to 1998, TDK were the sponsors of the English football team Crystal Palace, who were promoted to the Premier League twice during this era, though lasting for just one season before being relegated on both occasions. It's a current sponsor of the IAAF World Championships in Athletics. In the eighties TDK also sponsored Dutch giants Ajax for several years. It also sponsors activities and events such as those at The Cross nightclub in Central London

References and notes

External links

* [http://www.tdk.com/ Official website]
* [http://www.global.tdk.co.jp/ Global website] (in English, with links to other language editions)
* [http://www.tdk.co.jp/museum/e/index.htm The TDK history museum]
* [http://www.btgallery.com/tdk/index.html The Blank Tape Gallery's TDK page]