History
KITZ 70 years history
Since its establishment in 1951 as Kitazawa Seisakusho, KITZ has been a comprehensive manufacturer of valves and other fluid control equipment. Based on the philosophy of the company’s founder, Toshio Kitazawa (1917-1997), KITZ has developed a system that provides customers with meticulous sales service and after-sales support based on integrated production from raw materials, through casting, machining, assembly, inspection and shipping, all done in-house. This commitment to “better quality” has continued to the present day and is the origin of our KITZ Group.
KITZ Corporation
70th Anniversary Movie
1950’s
| 1951 | Kitazawa Mfg. Works was established. The Nagasaka Plant was constructed in Nagasaka-cho, Yamanashi, and the Company started manufacturing and selling bronze valves. |
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| 1952 | The Nagasaka Plant received JIS certification for bronze valves. |
| 1959 | Toyo Metals Co., Ltd., was established and started manufacturing brass rods. |
1960’s
| 1960 | KITZ started using a high-performance automated production system using the most advanced machinery, including automated processing and molding machines from Europe and North America. |
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| 1962 | Company name changed to Kitazawa Valve Co., Ltd.KITZ was the first in Japan to start using a brass hot forging press; started manufacturing and selling brass forged valves. |
| 1965 | KITZ became a registered trademark. |
| 1967 | Started manufacturing and selling ductile cast iron valves and stainless steel valves. |
| 1968 | Started manufacturing and selling butterfly valves. |
| 1969 | Started manufacturing and selling cast gray iron valves. |
1970’s
| 1970 | Started operations at stainless steel valve casting facility and machining facility at the Nagasaka Plant. |
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| 1973 | Started operations at the Ina Plant. |
| 1974 | Started manufacturing and selling cast steel valves. |
| 1975 | Changed Japanese-character company name (still Kitazawa Valve Co., Ltd., in English). |
| 1978 | Shares listed on the Second Section of the Tokyo Stock Exchange. |
1980’s
| 1980 | Adopted “CHRYSANTHEMUM-HANDLER” for cast bronze valves. |
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| 1984 | Shares listed on first section of Tokyo Stock Exchange. Established KITZ Corporation of America in Houston, Texas. |
| 1985 | Established KITZ Corporation of Taiwan in Kaohsiung, Taiwan. |
| 1988 | Established KITZ (Thailand) Ltd., in Samutprakarn, Thailand. |
| 1989 | The Nagasaka and Ina Plants earned ISO 9001 quality management system certification, making KITZ the first Japanese company to receive this certification. |
1990’s
| 1991 | KITZ merged with TOYO Metals Co., Ltd. Purchased ISO S.A. of Spain (currently KITZ Corporation of Europe, S.A.) to establish a manufacturing and sales base in Europe. |
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| 1992 | Changed name to KITZ Corporation and moved the head office to the Makuhari district of Chiba-shi. |
| 1994 | Established KITZ Engineering Service Co., Ltd. |
| 1995 | The Chino Plant was first in Japan’s brass bar industry to receive ISO 9002 certification for quality management systems. Shimizu Alloy Mfg. Co., Ltd., joined the KITZ Group, enabling the Group to begin supplying products for water supply systems. |
| 1998 | The Nagasaka Plant received ISO 14001 certification. |
| 1999 | Announced the development of KEEPALLOY brass and bronze alloys that are easy to machine and are free of lead for environmental protection. |
2000’s
| 2000 | The Ina Plant received ISO 14001 certification. |
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| 2001 | KITZ marked its 50th anniversary, announcing a New KITZ’ Statement of Corporate Mission, Action Guide.Purchased semiconductor manufacturing machine device business from the former Benkan Group and established KITZ SCT Corporation to operate this business. |
| 2002 | Established KITZ Corporation of Kunshan in China. |
| 2003 | Established KITZ Corporation of Shanghai in China. Established KITZ Corporation of Jiangsu Kunshan in China. |
| 2004 | Purchased valve business of the former Toyo Valve Co., Ltd., and began business at its reorganized operations. Spun off the KITZ brass bar manufacturing and micro filter businesses to form KITZ Metal Works Corporation and KITZ Micro Filter Corporation. |
| 2007 | Established KITZ Corporation of Lianyungang in China. |
| 2009 | Purchased Perrin GmbH, a ball valve manufacturer in Germany. |
2010’s
| 2010 | Established a new Long-term Management Plan called KITZ Global Vision 2020. |
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| 2011 | Established KITZ Corporation of Asia Pacific Pte. Ltd., in Singapore. |
| 2012 | Transferred manufacturing operations of Toyo Valve Co., Ltd., to KITZ, changing Toyo Valve into a sales company. |
| 2013 | KITZ Europe GmbH started operations as European regional headquarters. Purchased Mikuni Engneering (Singapore) Pte. Ltd., an exclusive distributor in Singapore, and began operations as KITZ Valve & Actuation Singapore Pte. Ltd. |
| 2015 | Purchased Micro Pneumatics Pvt. Ltd., industrial valve manufacturer in India Established KITZ Valve & Actuation (Thailand) Co., Ltd. in Thailand. Purchased copper and processed products business of the former Hokutoh Giken Kogyo Corporation Purchased Metalúrgica Golden Art’s Ltda., industrial ball valve manufacturer in Brazil. |
| 2016 | Announced capital and business alliance with TOA Valve Engineering Inc. Established KITZ Corporation of Korea in Korea. Purchased Filcore Co., Ltd., Hollow fiber membrane manufacturer in Korea. |
| 2017 | Established KITZ Hong Kong Company Limited in Hong Kong. Established KITZ Valve & Actuation (Malaysia) Sdn. Bhd. in Malaysia. |
| 2018 | Purchased Cephas Pipelines Corp., industrial butterfly valves manufacturer in Korea. Established KITZ Valve & Actuation Vietnam Co., Ltd. in Vietnam. |
| 2019 | Acquisition of Shares in Unimech Group Berhad and Agreement of Capital and Business Alliance. |
2020’s
| 2020 | KITZ Launches Package Unit Business for Hydrogen Refuelling Station. Change of Accounting Period. |
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| 2021 | Director, Managing Executive Officer Makoto Kohno was appointed as President. |
| 2022 | Revised KITZ’ Statement of Corporate Mission Formulating the Long-term Management Vision “Beyond New Heights 2030 – Change the Flow” and the first Medium-term Management Plan 2024 (FY2022-2024) |
| 2023 | Headquarters moved to Minato-ku, Tokyo (Shiodome area) |
| 2024 | Established KITZ Valve & Actuation India Private Limited. Established KITZ Corporation of Vietnam Co., Ltd. |
| 2025 | Absorbed Toyo Valve Co., Ltd. |
※The content of this page is current at the time of publication. Please note that company and product names may differ from the latest information.
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