Corporate profile

History

Foundation - 1990

August 1969	Kitanihon Seiki Co., Ltd. is founded as a bearings factory. Capital: 10 million yen Founder: Eiichi Kobayashi
May 1977	Exports start. Overseas distribution channels (US, Europe) are developed by Johoku Shoji Co., Ltd. (present Sapporo Precision Inc.).
July 1980	Capital is increased. Capital is increased to 100 million yen.
November 1981	A new main factory is established. A new grinding factory is established at site obtained in the Kamiashibetsu Industrial Complex of Kamiashibetsu-cho, Ashibetsu City.
August 1984	Capital is increased. Capital is increased to 150 million yen.
January 1985	The bearing turning factory of Toyo Shionomisaki Manufacturing Co., Ltd. is acquired, and the trade name is changed to Shionomisaki Manufacturing Co., Ltd. (head office: Kushimoto, Higashimuro-gun, Wakayama).
May 1989	A new logistics center of Sapporo Precision Inc. is established. A logistics center of Sapporo Precision Inc. is established on the premises of the main factory.
June 1990	Capital is increased. Capital is increased to 200 million yen.
August 1990	Kitanihon Daio Co., Ltd. is established as a precision steel ball factory. The company is established in Kamiashibetsu-cho, Ashibetsu, jointly with Daio Steel Ball Mfg. Co., Ltd.

1991 – 2000

October 1992	A new factory for large bearings is established. A large factory is established on the premises of the main factory to increase the production capacity of large-bearing products
September 1993	Shanghai Precision Bearing Co., Ltd. is established as a bearing manufacturing plant.
September 1994	Zhejiang Zhuji Xiaolin Precision Seals Co., Ltd. is established as a bearing seal manufacturing plant.
December 1995	ISO9001 is acquired. SO9001 certification (Certificate No. JQA-1081) is acquired for quality management systems. (The certifying organization is changed to LRQA in January 2006, Certificate No. YKA4003532.)
February 1997	A new intelligent head office building and an automatic assembly plant are established. A new head office building and an automatic assembly plant for small bearing products are established on the premises of the main factory to substantially increase the output of the assembly process.
March 1997	The company wins the Award for Companies Contributing to Regional Development (from the National Land Agency).
October 1997	The company wins the 51st Hokkaido Shimbun Press Cultural Award.
November 1997	ISO9002 is acquired by Shanghai Precision Bearing Co., Ltd. ISO9002 certification for quality management systems (Certificate No. 3100/97801) is acquired.
January 1998	The number of production items is increased. The mass production of an extra-miniature bearing product starts (0.6 mm in bore diameter x 2.5 mm in outer diameter x 1 mm in width).
February 1998	The intelligent building of the head office is selected as a FY1997 Good Design Hokkaido facility by the Governor of Hokkaido for its excellent design.
October 1999	ISO14001 is acquired. ISO14001 certification for environment management systems (Certificate No. JQA-EM-0554) is acquired.
February 2000	Capital is increased. Capital is increased to 207.5 million yen.
October 2000	An additional factory for large bearings is established. An additional factory for large bearings is established at the head office to increase the output of the grinding/assembly processes for extra-thin-section stainless-steel bearing products.

2001 – 2010

May 2001	ISO9001 is acquired by Shanghai Precision Bearing Co., Ltd. ISO9001 certification for quality management systems (Certificate No. 00107Q1801R3M/3100) is acquired.
January 2002	The Machinery Maintenance and Development Department is established. A unique machine manufacturing/repair system is established.
July 2003	Shanghai Ashibetsu Seiki Co., Ltd. is established as a bearing turning plant. An overseas subsidiary is established in Shanghai, China.
June 2005	The Nishiashibetsu Factory is established. The new Nishiashibetsu Factory is established in Nishiashibetsu-cho, Ashibetsu, for the mass production of highly universal bearing products.
January 2006	ISO9001 is acquired by Sapporo Precision Inc. ISO9001 certification for quality management systems (Certificate No. YKA4003532) is acquired.
December 2006	ISO9001 is acquired by Shionomisaki Manufacturing Co., Ltd. ISO9001 certification for quality management systems (Certificate No. JQA-QMA13069) is acquired.
February 2007	An additional factory is established at the head office (the new factory for large bearings) An additional factory for large bearings is established to improve the production capacity of large bearing products.
April 2007	A new logistics center of Sapporo Precision Inc. is established. The second logistics center of Sapporo Precision Inc. is established on the premises of the main factory.
October 2007	The Ashibetsu Ryokusen Industrial Complex is acquired. The entire 203,825.54 m2 complex is acquired from the Organization for Small & Medium Enterprises and Regional Innovation.
November 2007	The company is selected by Newsweek magazine as one of 100 Japanese Small Businesses.
August 2008	The company wins the Hokkaido Award for Distinguished Service. Eiichi Kobayashi (the current chairman) wins the Hokkaido Award for Distinguished Service.
November 2008	An additional factory (a high-precision bearing factory) is established at the head office. An additional high-precision bearing factory is established to increase the production capacity of small bearings.
September 2009	An additional factory (a new miniature bearing factory) is established at the head office. An additional miniature bearing factory is established to increase the production capacity of miniature bearings.
March 2010	ISO/TS16949 certification is acquired. ISO/TS16949 certification for quality management systems in the automobile industry (Certificate No. YKA4003532) is acquired.
October 2010	ISO14001 certification is acquired by Shanghai Precision Bearing Co., Ltd. ISO14001 certification for environment management systems in the automobile industry (Certificate No. 02010E20428R0M) is acquired.
December 2010	A new equipment maintenance plant is established. A new equipment maintenance plant is established on the premises of the main factory.

2011 – present

January 2011	Harbin Kitanihon Precision Bearing Co., Ltd. is established as a bearing assembly plant. An overseas subsidiary is established in Heilongjiang, China.
October 2012	The company wins the Local Company Award (Minister of Internal Affairs and Communications’ Award).
September 2014	The turning department of Shanghai Ashibetsu Seiki Co., Ltd. is transferred to Shanghai Precision Bearing Co., Ltd. The management rights of Shanghai Ashibetsu Seiki Co., Ltd. are transferred.
June 2016	The founder of the company receives a commendation for his long-term contributions to the regional community (Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry). Eiichi Kobayashi (the current chairman) receives a commendation for his long-term contributions to the regional community.
June 2016	A patent for a bearing race manufacturing method is acquired. Patent no. 5946238