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Native name | TDK株式会社 |
|---|---|
Romanized name | TDK Kabushiki-gaisha |
| Formerly | TDK Electronics Co., Ltd (1935-1983) |
| Company type | Public (K.K) |
| TYO:6762 | |
| Industry | Electronics |
| Founded | December 7, 1935; 89 years ago (1935-12-07) asTokyo Denki Kagaku Kōgyō K.K. |
| Founder | Kenzo Saito[1] |
| Headquarters | Nihonbashi, Chūō, Tokyo, Japan |
Area served | Worldwide |
Key people | Noboru Saito (CEO) |
| Products | Currently:Electronic components,Power supplies,Sensors Previously:Cassettes,CDs,DVDs,Blu-ray Discs |
| Revenue |  US$13.56 billion(2021)[2] |
| US$1.15 Billion (2021)[2] | |
 US$528.7 million(2021)[2] | |
| Total assets | US$21.4 billion (2021)[2] |
| Total equity | JP¥831.2 billion US$7.84 billion (2018)[2] |
Number of employees | 102,883[2] |
| Website | www |
TDK Corporation (Japanese:TDK株式会社,Hepburn:TDK Kabushiki-gaisha) is a Japanesemultinationalelectronics corporation that manufactureselectronic components and recording anddata-storage media. Its motto is "Contribute to culture and industry through creativity".[3]
"TDK" is an initialism of the original Japanese name of the company:TokyoDenkiKagaku Kōgyō K.K. (Tokyo Electric Chemical Industry Co., Ltd.). The company is listed on theTokyo Stock Exchange and is a constituent of theNikkei 225 andTOPIX indices.
TDK was founded by Kenzo Saito in Tokyo, Japan, on 7 December 1935 to manufacture theiron-based magnetic materialferrite, which had been recently invented by Yogoro Kato and Takeshi Takei.[4] In 1952 and 1957, they began to produce magnetic tape, withcompact cassette tapes following in 1966. TDK manufactured an extensive portfolio of magnetic and optical media, including several formats ofvideotape and blankCD-R andrecordable DVD discs until the recording media business was sold toImation 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.[5]
Operations in the United States began in 1965 with a New York City office,[6] and European operations began in 1970 with an office inFrankfurt,West Germany.[7]
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.[8]
In the 1990s, TDK's Mass Storage Division includedbrushless 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 developingBD post-DVD technology.[6] TDK operated asemiconductor division in California for about a decade, but divested it in 2005.
The company dabbled in the video game business in the late 1990s and early 2000s, by operatingTDK Mediactive in the U.S. and Europe, andTDK Core in Japan.[9]
In late 2007,Imation acquired TDK's recording media business, including flash media, optical media, magnetic tape, and accessories, for $300 million.[10][11] This also included a license to use the "TDK Life on Record" brand on data storage and audio products[12] for 25 years.[10] In September 2015, Imation announced that it had agreed to relinquish this license[13] and would cease selling TDK-branded products by the end of the year.[14]
Since the 2000s, TDK has focused 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.[8]
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 fromInvenSense,[15] a point-of-load DC-DC converter from Faraday Semi,[16] and MEMS-based ultrasonic Time-of-Flight sensors from Chirp Microsystems intended forconsumer electronics, AR/VR, robotics, drones, IoT, automotive and industrial market segments.[17] Other areas of TDK's recent focus include power components for mobile devices,[18] high-stability MEMS accelerometers from Tronics,[19] and miniaturized haptic actuators.[20]
In 2017, TDK andGenCell began collaborating to develop and produce anammonia-based fuel solution.[21]
TDK has sponsored the IAAF World Championships in Athletics since the 1983 inaugural event in Helsinki.[34]
TDK sponsoredAjax for several years in the 1980s during which it wonUEFA Cup Winners' Cup in1987. From 1993 to 1999, TDK were also the sponsors of the English football clubCrystal Palace, who were promoted to thePremier League twice during this era, though lasting for just one season before being relegated on both occasions. TDK was also a minor sponsor of theBrisbane Broncos Rugby League Team during the early 1990s. It also sponsors activities and events such as those at The Crossnightclub inCentral London, and it had a prominent sign atPiccadilly Circus from 1990. The contract for this sign was terminated in 2015, as TDK was moving away from consumer electronics.[35]
TDK has owned a sign onOne Times Square since 2000. The screen is placed under that ofToshiba and can be seen during the annual Times Square New Year'sBall Drop.[36]
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.[37]TDK's own football club, based inNikaho,Akita, recently split from the corporation to become independent football clubBlaublitz Akita, with the aim for the professional leagues.[citation needed]
In October 2024,McLaren announced TDK as the official technology partner for theMcLaren Formula E Team and the McLaren Shadow F1 Sim Racing Team.[38]
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.[39]
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.
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.
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
Effective December 31, 2015, Imation Corp. will no longer be selling products licensed under the TDK Life on Record brand..
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