Toyota Industries

The company was founded on 18 November 1926 as Toyoda Automatic Loom Works, Ltd. by Sakichi Toyoda, the inventor of a series of manual and machine-powered looms. The most impressive of these was the 1924 Toyoda Automatic Loom, Type G, a completely automatic high-speed loom featuring the ability to change shuttles without stopping and dozens of other innovations. At the time it was the world's most advanced loom, delivering a dramatic improvement in quality and a twenty-fold increase in productivity.[3] In 2007, this machine was registered as item No. 16 in the Mechanical Engineering Heritage of Japan as "a landmark achievement that advanced the global textile industry and laid the foundation for the development of the Toyota Group."[3]

In 1933, the company established its automobile department, led by Kiichiro Toyoda, the eldest son of Sakichi Toyoda. This department was spun off as Toyota Motor Co., Ltd. in 1937 and is now known as Toyota Motor Corporation. Toyota Industries is one of 13 core companies of the Toyota Group. The company owns 8.48% of Toyota Motor and is the largest shareholder (excluding trust revolving funds). As a countermeasure against hostile merger and acquisition attempts, Toyota Motor currently holds 24.92% of common stock of its origin Toyota Industries.[4]

In 1940, the steel production department of Toyota separates from the company and becomes Toyota Steel Works Ltd. Its current name is now Aichi Steel Corporation. In 1944, Toyotas Obu Plant begins operations which produces castings. Five years later the Toyota stock was listed on the Tokyo, Osaka, and Nagoya Stock Exchanges.[4]

In 1952 Toyota began producing press die for automobiles. One year later in 1953 the Kyowa plant began to assemble automobiles and produce engines. In 1956 Toyota unveiled the Model LA 1-ton lift truck, this was the company's first lift truck model. Following this in 1957 Toyota began producing D-type diesel engines. This same year the Model LAT .85-ton towing tractor was created. In the final year of the decade, Toyota began producing the P-type gasoline engine.[4]

In 1960 the kyowa Plant was changed to create only lift trucks. This same year production of the shovel loader and three cylinder crank shaft type compressor began. Development Laboratories and Toyota Central Research was also created with funds from 10 Toyota group companies. 1964 was the year when Toyota became recognized by the ministry of International trade and industry as one of the first to export. Toyota also showed off their new automated continuous spinning system. In 1967 Toyota Publica pickup truck production began at the Nagakusa plant. Toyota also passes a monthly output of 1,000 units.[4]

In 1971 production of the infamous Corolla begins. Toyota also reaches the landmark of 100,000 units produced. 1973 is the year that Toyota reached an output of 3,000 units. One year later in 1974 production began on car air-conditioning compressors.[4]

In 1980 production on the JA air begins. Sometime in 1984 the engine division of Toyota separated from the vehicle division. In 1986 Toyota received the Deming Application prize for quality control implementation. In 1988 Toyota Industrial Equipment is created in Indiana, US.[4]

In 1991 Toyota reaches the landmark of 5 million units produced. A year later in 1992 Toyota sets up an Environmental Committee.[4]

In 2020, Toyota Industries was manufacturing two state-of-the-art looms: the JAT810 (air jet loom) and LWT810 (water jet loom). Both looms operate without shuttles. The water jet loom throws the weft through the warp threads using water, and thus can only be used with synthetic fibers. The air jet loom uses air to throw the weft, and thus can be use with any fiber.