Timeline
1942-1979
Corporate History
Milestone Products
1942
May
Daiwa Kogyo Ltd. (the predecessor of Seiko Epson Corporation) is established.
1956
June
Seiko Marvel:
An originally-designed mechanical watch that became the basis for Epson's watch business.
1959
May
Daiwa Kogyo takes over the business of the Suwa Plant of Daini Seikosha Co., Ltd. (now Seiko Instruments, Inc.). The name is changed to Suwa Seikosha Co., Ltd.
1961
December
Shinshu Seiki Co., Ltd. (name changed to Epson Corporation in 1982), is established.
1963
September
Printing Timer:
The electronic recording system for sporting events, measurerable to 1/1000 seconds.
Seiko Crystal Chronometer QC-951:
The world's first portable, high-accuracy, battery-operated quartz timer.
1964
October
The Seiko is selected as the official timekeeper for the Olympic Games in Tokyo. Suwa Seikosha Co., Ltd., a member of the Seiko Group at the time, supported it.
1968
August
Tenryu (Singapore) Pte., Ltd. (now Singapore Epson Industrial Pte. Ltd.), the first overseas manufacturing affiliate is established.
September
EP-101:
The world's first miniature digital printer, from which the Epson brand was born.
1969
December
Seiko Quartz Astron 35SQ:
The world's first analog quartz watch that revolutionized horological history.
1970
SAM-D: The rare-earth bonded magnet that paved the way for Epson's magnet business.
1971
April
CMOS IC:
The watch chip that launched Epson's semiconductor business.
1973
October
Seiko Quartz LC V.F.A. 06LC:
The world's first digital quartz watch with a six-digit LCD.
1975
April
Epson America, Inc., the first overseas sales subsidiary, is established.
June
The Epson brand is established.
1977
June
Epson EX-1:
The first dedicated accounting computer to carry the Epson name.
1978
July
Melody IC SVM7910:
The world's first melody IC, taking full advantage of technology used in quartz watches.
1980-1989
Corporate History
Milestone Products
1980
October
MX-80:
Ahead of its time: A small, lightweight computer printer.
1981
August
Camera Auto-Dating Module for Photographs:
The camera date module that became the de facto standard in its class.
1982
October
Epson Electronics (Singapore）Pte. Ltd. Is established.（ now Epson Singapore Pte. Ltd.)
July
HX-20:
The world's first hand-held computer.
December
TV Watch:
The world's first television-watch, with an active-matrix LCD.
1983
May
Epson Sales Japan Co., Ltd. is established as a Japanese marketing company.
May
SSR-H Series:
A precision assembly robot - Epson's first commercialized factory automation product.
1984
August
ET-10:
The Televian - the world's first liquid crystal pocket color TV.
October
SQ-2000:
The first commercial Epson inkjet printer.
1985
January
Shonai Denshi Kogyo Co., Ltd. (now Tohoku Epson Co., Ltd.) is established as a domestic manufacturer.
November
Suwa Seikosha Co., Ltd. and Epson Corporation merge to establish Seiko Epson Corporation.
1987
April
SG-615:
The plastic SMD crystal oscillator that became a de facto standard.
1988
January
Seiko AGS Quartz Watch:
The world's first automatic power generating quartz watch.
August
EVF Liquid Crystal Panel Module:
The world's first color liquid crystal panel module for video cameras.
1989
January
VPJ-700:
One of the world's first compact, full-color liquid crystal video projectors.
1990-1999
Corporate History
Milestone Products
1990
January
Epson Europe B.V., Epson's European regional headquarters, is established in Amsterdam, the Netherlands.
TM-930:
A printer for PC-POS systems that created a new market.
1992
October
Complete elimination of CFCs from manufacturing processes is achieved at all factories and affiliates in Japan. Epson receives the 1992 Stratospheric Ozone Protection Award from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.
1993
March
Monsieur:
The ultraminiature robot that propelled itself into the Guinness Book of Records.
Epson Stylus 800:
The first inkjet printer equipped with Micro Piezo technology.
July
SED1560 Series:
An LCD driver with on-chip, energy-saving power supply logic scores a big hit.
August
ECM-A0662:
The monochrome STN panel module at the forefront of LCD modules for mobile phones.
1994
April
ISO 9000 series certification for quality management system is acquired by all Epson plants in Japan.
April
HM-3000:
A high-speed IC test handler that makes full use of Epson's robotics technologies.
May
Epson Stylus Color:
The world's first 720 dpi color inkjet printer.
December
ELP-3000:
A liquid crystal data projector offering high brightness and high resolution.
1996
April
Epson Stylus Photo:
A six-color photo inkjet printer.
1997
January
SG-8000 Series:
The world's first programmable quartz oscillators with on-chip P-ROM & PLL circuits.
April
Seiko Super P-1:
The world's first backside progressive addition lens.
1998
February
The Seiko Group is chosen as the official timekeeper for the Olympic Winter Games in Nagano.
April
Epson (China) Co., Ltd. is established in Beijing as Epson's regional headquarters in China.
September
TM-H5000:
Featuring fast, quiet printing and copy functionality: Epson's first hybrid printer.
1999
November
ECM-A1192:
The low-power consumption STN transflective color LCD panel module that conquered the mobile phone market.
December
Seiko/ Credor Spring Drive:
A spring-drive watch with quartz accuracy.
2000-2009
Corporate History
Milestone Products
2000
May
ISO 14001 certification obtained for environmental management systems at all the Company's 68 major business sites around the world.
May
Epson Stylus Pro 9500:
A large-format pigment-ink printer combining super photo quality with outstanding lightfastness.
November
MD19SBT:
MD-TFD active matrix color LCD panel module with ultra-low power consumption.
2002
June
Epson receives the Corporate Innovation Recognition Award from the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers Inc. (IEEE).
2003
June
Epson is listed on the First Section of the Tokyo Stock Exchange.
May
Monna Lisa 160B:
An inkjet digital textile printer.
2004
November
Seiko Quartz Astron 35SQ, the world's first quartz wristwatch, receives prestigious IEEE Milestone Award.
March
Epson PictureMate Personal Photo Lab:
A compact easy-to-use portable photo printer.
2005
April
The global tagline 'Exceed Your Vision' is introduced to strengthen brand promotion worldwide.
May
Epson Telford Ltd. (ETL) received the 2004 Premier Award from the Business Commitment to the Environment(BCE).
August
In Japan, Epson wins a Prime Minister's Award for "monozukuri" (the art and science of manufacturing").
October
Epson Toyocom Corporation (now Miyazaki Epson Corporation) is established.
Epson sigened a comprehensive cooperation agreement with Shinshu University in Japan.
September
EMP-TWD1:
The DVD player-projector that opened up the home-theater market.
2006
July
Epson signs a comprehensive cooperation agreement with Tohoku University in Japan.
May
Photo Fine Vistarich:
An LCD with ultra-wide viewing angles.
July
EMP-6100:
A dust-proof projector that keeps particulate matter at bay.
2008
August
GS6000:
A Large-Format Printer with Stunning Image Quality for Signage and Displays.
September
Epson Stylus Photo PX700W:
An all-in-one inkjet printer with a slim body packed full of advanced functionss.
2009
March
Group company Orient Watch Co., Ltd. becomes a wholly-owned subsidiary.
June
C3 Series:
Compact 6-Axis Robots.
October
ULTIMICRON Series:
A high-temperature polysilicon TFT color LCD panel for electronic viewfinders.
2010-
Corporate History
Milestone Products
2010
January
EB-450Wi:
A wall-mounted, ultra-short throw lens projector with Interactive Functionality.
June
SurePress L-4033A:
An industrial inkjet digital label press.
October
L100 & L200:
High-capacity ink tank inkjet printers.
2011
June
M-G350:
Precise, Stable Inertial Measurement Unit(IMU).
September
TM-T88V-I Series:
Web-based intelligent receipt printers for shops and restaurants.
November
BT-100:
Binocular, See-through Smart Glasses.
2012
August
SS700S:
Runsense Sports Monitor.
2013
September
Epson announces PrecisionCore technology.
2014
August
RIPS:
Office inkjet printers featuring a replaceable ink pack system.
2015
June
Epson Acquires 100% Stake in For.Tex.
September
Epson announces Corporate Governance Policy.
December
Epson develops the PaperLab, an in-office paper recycler that uses Dry Fiber Technology.
2016
March
Epson establishes its Epson 25 Corporate Vision.
June
Seiko Epson transitions to a company with an audit & supervisory committee.
December
Epson establishes two new sites dedicated to the R&D of industrial inkjet textile printing in Como, Italy; the Innovation Research Lab and the Printing Research Center.
