TDK

TDK Corporation (Japanese: TDK株式会社, Hepburn: TDK Kabushiki-gaisha) is a Japanese multinational electronics company that manufactures electronic materials, electronic components, and recording and data-storage media. Its motto is "Contribute to culture and industry through creativity".[2]

This article is about the Japanese electronics company. For other uses, see TDK (disambiguation).
TDK Corporation
Native name
TDK株式会社
TDK Kabushiki-gaisha
FormerlyTDK Electronics Co., Ltd (東京電気化学工業株式会社)
TypePublic (K.K)
TYO: 6762
IndustryElectronics
FoundedDecember 7, 1935 (1935-12-07) as Tokyo Denki Kagaku Kōgyō K.K.
HeadquartersNihonbashi, Chūō, Tokyo,
Japan
Area served
Worldwide
Key people
Shigenao Ishiguro (President)
ProductsCurrently: Electronic components, Power supplies, Sensors
Previously: Cassettes, CDs, DVDs, Blu-ray Discs
Revenue JP¥1,271.7 billion
US$12 billion
(2018)[1]
JP¥85.6 billion
US$807.9 million
(2018)[1]
JP¥63.5 billion
US$598.7 million
(2018)[1]
Total assets JP¥1,905.2 billion
US$17.9 billion
(2018)[1]
Total equity JP¥831.2 billion
US$7.84 billion
(2018)[1]
Number of employees
102,883[1]
Websitewww.tdk.com

"TDK" is an initialism of the original Japanese name of the company: Tokyo Denki Kagaku Kōgyō K.K. (Tokyo Electric Chemical Industry Co., Ltd.). The company is listed on the Tokyo Stock Exchange and is a constituent of the Nikkei 225 and TOPIX indices.

History
A TDK SA-90 compact cassette

TDK was founded in Tokyo, Japan, on 7 December 1935 to manufacture the iron-based magnetic material ferrite, which had been recently invented by Yogoro Kato and Takeshi Takei.[3] In 1952 and 1957, they began to produce magnetic tape, with compact cassette tapes following in 1966. TDK manufactured an extensive portfolio of magnetic and optical media, including several formats of videotape and blank CD-R and recordable DVD discs until the recording business was sold to Imation in 2007.

TDK produced five million ferrite cores through 1945 that were primarily used to reduce the volume and weight of radio receivers used by the Imperial Japanese military.[4]

Operations in the US began in 1965 with a New York City office,[5] and European operations began in 1970 with an office in Frankfurt, West Germany.[6]

In 1980, TDK developed a multilayering technology to create chip capacitors and inductors used in personal computers, laptops, smartphones and other electronic devices.

In 1986, TDK acquired SAE Magnetics and introduced high-density recording heads.[7]

In the 1990s, TDK's Mass Storage Division included brushless DC spindle motors, magnetoresistance (MR) heads and thin-film heads.

Since 1997, TDK has gradually withdrawn from the production of compact cassettes. First with the MA-X and AR ("Acoustic Response"), then the AD ("Acoustic Dynamic") and SA-X line in 2001 and 2002 respectively, then the MA ("Metal Alloy") line in 2004. The SA ("Super Avilyn") and D ("Dynamic") lines were withdrawn in 2011. 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.[5] TDK operated a semiconductor division in California for about a decade, but divested it in 2005.

In late 2007, Imation acquired marketing and sales operations for TDK brand recording media, including flash media, optical media, magnetic tape, and accessories, for $300 million.[8][9] This also included a license to use the "TDK Life on Record" brand on data storage and audio products[10] for 25 years.[8] In September 2015, Imation announced that it had agreed to relinquish this license[11] and would cease selling TDK-branded products by the end of the year.[12]

Since the 2000s, TDK has focussed on the development, manufacture and sales of electronic components, HDD heads and suspension, and power supplies.

Beginning in 2005, TDK has acquired many types of electronic device manufacturers including passive component developers, sensors manufacturers and power supply companies. These areas remain TDK's focus today.[7]

Since acquiring numerous companies and sharpening its product line focus in recent years, TDK has begun building a portfolio of varying sensors, actuators and power electronic components through these brands. These include multi-axis MEMS motion tracking devices and MEMS microphones from InvenSense,[13] a point-of-load DC-DC converter from Faraday Semi,[14] and MEMS-based ultrasonic Time-of-Flight sensors from Chirp Microsystems intended for consumer electronics, AR/VR, robotics, drones, IoT, automotive and industrial market segments.[15] Other areas of TDK's recent focus include power components for mobile devices,[16] high-stability MEMS accelerometers from Tronics,[17] and miniaturized haptic actuators.[18]

Since 2016, Shigenao Ishiguro has been President and CEO of TDK.[19]

Key acquisitions and joint ventures
  • 1986: SAE Magnetics (H.K.) Ltd., a magnetic head maker based in Hong Kong[20]
  • 2000: Headway Technologies, a magnetic head maker based in the United States[20]
  • 2005: Amperex Technology Limited, a Lithium Polymer battery company based in Hong Kong[20]
  • 2005: Lambda Power Division, a group of power supply businesses of London-based Invensys PLC.[21]
  • 2008: Epcos, an electronic device manufacturer based in Germany[22]
  • 2016: Micronas Semiconductor Holding AG, a magnetic sensor company based in Switzerland[23]
  • 2016: Hutchinson Technology Inc., a manufacturer of HDD suspension assemblies based in the United States[24]
  • 2017: RF360 Holdings Singapore PTE Ltd. – a joint venture with Qualcomm Inc. (USA)[25]
  • 2017: ICsense NV, a mixed-signal ASIC design & supply company based in Belgium[26]
  • 2017: InvenSense, Inc., a sensor specialist based in the United States[27]
  • 2018: Chirp Microsystems, a developer of low power, ultrasonic 3D-sensing solutions based in the United States[28]
  • 2018: Faraday Semi LLC, a developer of miniature Point of Load (PoL) solutions based in the United States[29]

Sponsorship and advertising
The TDK sign at Piccadilly Circus in London.

TDK has sponsored the IAAF World Championships in Athletics since the 1983 inaugural event in Helsinki.[30]

TDK sponsored Ajax for several years in the 1980s during which it won UEFA Cup Winners' Cup in 1987. From 1993 to 1999, TDK were also the sponsors of the English football club 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. TDK was also a minor sponsor of the Brisbane Broncos Rugby League Team during the early 1990s. It is a current sponsor of the IAAF World Championships in Athletics. It also sponsors activities and events such as those at The Cross nightclub in Central London, and it had a prominent sign at Piccadilly Circus from 1990. The contract for this sign was terminated in 2015, as TDK was moving away from consumer electronics.[31]

TDK has owned a sign on One Times Square since 2000. The screen is placed under that of Toshiba and can be seen during the annual Times Square New Year's Ball Drop.[32]

Since 2001, TDK has supported performances of some of the world's distinguished orchestras in Japan within the company's "TDK Orchestra Concerts" program. TDK's "Outreach-Mini Concerts" and "Special Rehearsals and Main Concert Invitations" additionally serve as avenues for the company to attract younger audiences.[33] TDK's own football club, based in Nikaho, Akita, recently split from the corporation to become independent football club Blaublitz Akita, with the aim for the professional leagues.

Ajax players in 1987

Museum
TDK Museum

TDK operates a company museum in Nikaho, Akita, Japan. The museum is open to the public, free of charge. Among its exhibits are a comprehensive history of the company, its products and technologies, and emerging developments.[34]

TDK products
  • D60 audio cassette from 1979
  • MA60 - 1990-92
  • D-C180 - This three hour audio cassette was unusually long
  • VHS-C video cassettes
  • Blank DVD
  • MiniDisc
  • DDS-3 data cartridge

References
  1. TDK Corporation. "Financial Results for FY March 2018" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 2018-11-28.
  2. "TDK Japan site: motto and principles". Archived from the original on 2006-08-23.
  3. "TDK Hong Kong site". Archived from the original on 2006-08-21.
  4. Okamoto, Akira (4 December 2009). "The Invention of Ferrites and Their Contribution to the Miniaturization of Radios". ieee.org. IEEE. Retrieved 15 October 2020.
  5. "TDK Japan site: corporate history". Archived from the original on 2017-03-27.
  6. "TDK Europe site: corporate history". Archived from the original on 2007-10-17.
  7. "TDK: Our History". Archived from the original on 2018-11-28.
  8. Austin Modine (2007-04-19). "Imation buys TDK's recording media biz". The Register. Archived from the original on 2015-09-12. Retrieved 2015-12-17. TDK is to sell its recording media business to Imation for $300m in stock and cash. [..] Under the agreement, Imation will use the TDK brand for present and future recordable magnetic, optical and flash media products worldwide. The right is revokable by TDK after 25 years.
  9. "Imation and TDK Agree to Imation's Acquisition of TDK Brand Recording Media Business for $300 Million in Stock and Cash" Archived 2012-07-10 at Archive.today, Press Release, Imation.com, 19 April 2007.
  10. "Imation Corp: Our History". Imation Corporation. Archived from the original on 2015-09-10. Retrieved 2015-12-17. Imation acquired the recording media business of TDK Corporation (2007), with an exclusive license to the TDK Life on Record brand for data storage and audio products.
  11. "Imation Announces Steps to Accelerate Strategic Transformation" (Press release). Imation via Reuters. 2015-09-28. Archived from the original on 2015-12-17. As part of its efforts to become a pure-play data storage and security company, Imation reached a definitive agreement with TDK under which [..] Imation’s license rights to the TDK Life on Record trademark will terminate
  12. "TDK Life on Record". Archived from the original on 2015-12-11. Retrieved 2015-12-17. Effective December 31, 2015, Imation Corp. will no longer be selling products licensed under the TDK Life on Record brand..
  13. https://www.invensense.com/products/motion-tracking/9-axis/icm-20948/
  14. "Power Management Products: World's smallest* Point-Of-Load DC-DC converter | Press Releases | News Center |TDK GLOBAL". TDK. March 18, 2019. Retrieved 2020-02-16.
  15. Kalnoskas, Aimee (2019-06-25). "Time-of-Flight sensor combines ultrasonic transducer with DSP on mixed-signal ASIC". Electrical Engineering News and Products. Retrieved 2020-02-16.
  16. "Inductors: High efficiency thin-film power inductors for mobile devices | Press Releases | News Center |TDK GLOBAL". TDK. Retrieved 2020-02-16.
  17. "TDK Tronics AXO®215 MEMS Accelerometers". mouser.com.
  18. TDK (2019-05-14). "TDK Extends Portfolio of Mini PowerHap Haptic Feedback Actuators". GlobeNewswire News Room. Retrieved 2020-02-16.
  19. "TDK Executive Lineup". Archived from the original on 2017-09-27. Retrieved 2015-11-27. President and CEOShigenao Ishiguro.
  20. "company_profile_2018_e_00.pdf" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 2018-11-28.
  21. "TDK to acquire Lambda Power Division from Invensys". Archived from the original on 2018-11-28.
  22. "TDK to Acquire Germany's Epcos". Archived from the original on 2018-11-28.
  23. "Japan's TDK says to buy Swiss Micronas Semiconductor for up to $215 million". Archived from the original on 2018-11-28.
  24. "TDK to buy Hutchinson Technology for $126 million". Archived from the original on 2018-07-01.
  25. "Qualcomm, TDK Prep $3bn RF Joint Venture". Archived from the original on 2018-11-28.
  26. "ICsense becomes part of TDK group". 2017-03-28.
  27. "TDK Agrees to Buy InvenSense for About $1.3 Billion in Cash". Archived from the original on 2018-11-20.
  28. "Chirp Slurped up by TDK". Archived from the original on 2018-11-28.
  29. "TDK buys Faraday Semi for power chip and 3D packaging technology". Archived from the original on 2018-11-28.
  30. "IAAF World Championships in Athletics". TDK Corporation. Archived from the original on 2018-11-29.
  31. Monkey (2015-03-11). "TDK ad at Piccadilly Circus: lights go out on 25 years of history". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 2020-02-16.
  32. "Outdoor Advertising". TDK Corporation. Archived from the original on 2018-11-29.
  33. "TDK Orchestra Concerts". TDK Corporation. Archived from the original on 2018-11-29.
  34. "About the TDK Museum". TDK Corporation. Archived from the original on 2018-11-29.
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