| 05/22/2001 | Shimano Celebrates its 80th AnniversaryIt's not often the subject of a "What's New" column is an eighty year old family business. In this case, though, that family business is This year Shimano marks the eightieth anniversary of the founding of the company by Shozaburo Shimano in 1921.
Initially producing single speed freewheels from a one-lathe operation in Sakai, a port town located on the southern side of Osaka, the Shimano legacy was built upon Shozaburo's first sales philosophy. So confident in the quality of his company's work he offered his customers the promise of two replacement freewheels for any one malfunctioning freewheel returned.
Advancements in forging and heat-treating soon caught the attention of worldwide bicycle customers and by 1931 exports had begun. 1956 saw the first Shimano derailleur and a year later, the first 3-speed internal hub. The 1960s opened with Shimano developing advanced cold forging processes. This ability would lead to success years later with the introduction of Dura-Ace in 1972 and the first ever full system mountain bike component group, Deore XT, in 1982.
In the eighty year span from that small shop in Sakai, Shimano has gone on to pioneer cycling component technologies like SIS, STI, HG, Hollowtech, Airlines and Auto-D. A fishing tackle division was started in 1970 that today offers world-class rods and reels built upon the same standards as our bicycle components. At Shimano, we believe that technology can do more than make our lives easier. It can also add a lot of fun and enjoyment to the things we do, no matter where that may be.
The family business is much the same today as it was back in 1921, although we're now a family of over 5000 people in countries the world over. But the philosophy is still the same-"To promote health and happiness through the enjoyment of nature and the world around us."
Say "Happy Birthday" to Shimano today by going for a ride.www.shimano.com
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