Graphtec

The Brand

The corporate philosophy at Graphtec emphasises the pride every member takes in the company’s products. The pride comes through at all stages. From preliminary planning and design to final delivery. This commitment to quality does not stop at the factory door. It extends to services and customer-support personnel around the world. Graphtec never forgets what is at stake every time you choose one of its products. Every single time, Graphtec’s standing as an innovator, pace-setter, and market leader.

They proudly acknowledge their standing as a world leader in technology. Through four subsidiaries and a global network of distributors, all products are exported to over 40 countries worldwide. All this has been built on Graphtec’s many competitive strengths–product features, performance, compatibility and price. It’s hard to find a value that’s even comparable.

Brand History

Graphtec Corporation was established (as Watanabe Instruments) in Tokyo in 1949. The company was formed to specialize in the design and manufacture of analog recording instruments, and released its first product, an EO type pen oscillograph, in 1952. They rapidly became an industry leader, both in Japan and around the world.The company was quick to venture into new fields, and introduced its first plotter in 1961. With the growth of computing in the 1960’s, They branched out into computer aided design (CAD). Today they offer a wide range of computer input devices, such as:

Digitizers

Scanners

Pen plotters

Direct imaging plotters

Cutting plotters for the sign and apparel industries

Thermal printers

Thermal-transfer printers

Inkjet printers

The comprehensive line of recording and measuring instruments includes high-speed X-Y recorders, pen oscillographs, multi-channel strip chart recorders, and sophisticated thermal array recorders with large-format display screens, used for monitoring and analyzing up to 16 independent channels. Outstandingly accurate and reliable, all equipment comes to you with ergonomic design and intelligent features to boost your productivity even as they enhance the precision of your work.

CORPARATION TIMELINE

1949 We are established
1952 Develops EO-type pen oscillograph
1958 Develops Japan’s first X-Y recorder
1961 Develops Japan’s first X-Y plotter
1967 Develops the Linearcorder and Multicorder
1968 Fujisawa plant #1 opens
1970 Develops the Servocorder
1971 Acquires a patent for the electrostatic adhesion method in Japan, U.S.A., UK, and Germany
1974 Launches the new Recorder and Plotter Divisions
1977 Develops the new NiS (Neo-inkless System) for thermal-transfer recording
1978 Develops the first “intelligent” plotter
1979 Establishes first overseas subsidiary (Western Graphtec)
1980 Develops the multi-pen plotter
1981 Launches the Digitizer Division, establishes Graphtec Laboratories, and opens Fujisawa plant #2
1983 Headquarters move to the Mita District of Tokyo
1984 Graphtec Europe subsidiary is established in Germany
1985 Graphtec stock listed in Section 2 of the Tokyo Stock Exchange
1987 The listing of Graphtec stock is changed to Section 1, the Penless Plotter Division is established, and the Graphtec (UK) subsidiary is founded
1989 The Kobe and Totsuka plants are opened, the Southern Graphtec Systems subsidiary is established in Australia, and we celebrate our 40th anniversary
1991 Cutting machine division is established, and headquarters moves again to our newly constructed building in Higashi-Totsuka, Yokohama.
1995 Graphtec Technology Inc. (GTI) is established as the US Technological Center to design and manufacture certain product lines.
1997 Awarded ISO9001 Quality Management System Approval Certificate. Corporate website goes on-line!
2001 Develops large format scanner
2004 Launches new consumer products “CraftROBO”
2007 Establishes a holding company, AI Holdings Co.,Ltd. by business integration with Doddwell B.M.S.Co.,Ltd.
Establishes subsidiary “Graphtec Europe B.V.” in Netherlands