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YKK Group

The is a Japanese group of manufacturing companies. As the world's largest zipper manufacturer, YKK Group is most famous for making zippers. However it also manufactures other fastening products, architectural products, and industrial machinery.

The initials YKK stood for .

YKK claims to be the first zipper company to promote environmental protection measures. YKK developed a line of environmentally friendly zippers, following the company's philosophy "The Cycle of Goodness" which means that one prospers when the person renders benefit to others.

History

Pre World War II

In 1932 Tadao Yoshida (then aged 24) was working for a company producing zippers. While he was impressed by the product, the company he was employed at went bankrupt. In 1934 Yoshida founded the company that is today YKK in Nihonbashi, Tokyo. Originally known as , it was renamed in February 1938, and became a Limited company in February 1942. The company received a setback in May 1945, when their Komatsugawa plant burned down. Nevertheless, the company prospered, and in August 1945 it acquired another company, Uozu Tekkousho K.K., and renamed itself to .

After World War II

In January 1946 the company registered the now famous YKK trademark. A major technological change came in 1950, when the company purchased a chain machine from the U.S. that allowed the automation of the zipper making process. Previously, YKK zippers were made by hand, and hence had an inferior quality compared to automated zippers from abroad.

In March 1951, YKK relocated its headquarters to Chūō, Tokyo. In May 1955, a new plant was opened in Kurobe, Toyama. In August 1958, the headquarters was again relocated to Taitō, Tokyo. In this year, the company also introduced its new Conceal brand that does not show the teeth of the zippers. Another major step came in November 1959, with the opening of its first overseas location, producing YKK zippers in New Zealand. YKK's first US office opened in New York City in 1960 and now is the country's top supplier of zippers and other fastening devices such as snaps and buttons.

Diversification

In November 1961 the product line was diversified to include aluminum products for buildings. In June 1963, the company relocated its headquarters again to Chiyoda, Tokyo, the current location of the company. In 1966, a new product YZip was introduced, an extra strong and durable zipper for jeans. The development of a machine that automatically included the YZip zipper into the stitching process of jeans further increased sales, especially in the USA. In 1968 YKK opened its first branch in Canada. Its Canadian headquarters are currently in Montreal, QC. The 70s saw further expansion, with the opening of three new plants in Utazu, Kagawa in April 1972, in Sanbongi, Miyagi in June 1974, and in Yatsushiro, Kumamoto in February 1975, despite the material shortages due to the 1973 oil crisis. Ykk also opened a fastener making factory in the Kingdom of Swaziland nestled between South Africa and Mozambique, which has grown to supply the entire sub-saharan including Madagascar and Mauritius.

More product lines became available with the Quicklon (sometimes called Cosmolon) fasteners in December 1981. The 80s also saw further international and product expansion, with a real estate business in Singapore in December 1984, an agricultural business in Brazil in January 1985, and a plant in Indonesia in September 1986 producing zippers and aluminum parts for buildings. The company was finally renamed YKK in August 1994.

The new Millennium

In July 2000, the company established YKK Newmax Co., Ltd, specializing in the production of snaps and buttons. In December 2002, a machine company was established in Suzhou, China. A company specializing in sales, YKK Fastening Products Sales Inc. was established in February 2003. YKK AP Inc. was founded in October 2003, specializing in architectural products.

Overall, the organization operates more than 123 affiliated companies in more than 70 countries representing some 270 plants and offices with some 37,000 employees.

Price fixing

On September 19, 2007 YKK was fined 150.3 million euros by the European Commission for running worldwide price-fixing cartels and sharing markets with zip-makers Prym and Coats. Coats of Britain and Prym of Germany were fined 122.4 million and 40.5 million euros respectively for their participation in cartel behaviour.

Products

Fastening products

Fastening products are the first and still the most important product of YKK. Within YKK they distinguish between the Slide Fastener Division, the Textile and Plastic Products Division, and the Snap Fastener and Button Division.

Zippers

YZip: Metal zipper, extra durable for jeans
Ever Bright: Metal zipper, polished for visual appeal and corrosion resistance
Excella: Metal zipper, polished and plated for visual appeal, also in different colors
Conceal: Plastic coil zipper with no visible teeth
Vislon: Rugged plastic zipper

Hook and loop products, more commonly known under the Velcro brand name of a competitor.
Plastic parts, including various types of clips and buckles
Snaps and buttons, including snap fasteners and jeans buttons

Architectural products

Architectural Aluminum products focus especially on windows and doors, YKK AP also has a wide array of curtain wall, storefront, and a sloped glazing system.

Machinery and Engineering

The Machinery and Engineering Group focuses on the development and production of machines, equipment, and dies, serving YKK Group with the Exclusive Machinery Division, Industrial Machinery Division, and Die Division. The Group plays a key role in technology development, and helps us minimize costs while maximizing efficiency to meet the changing, diversifying needs of the Fastening Products and Architectural Products Business Groups. The Group also demonstrates its capabilities in combining mechatronics and electronics technologies, with total engineering that takes full advantage of IT and system control technology.

Miscellaneous

YKK aims for vertical integration, and also produces the dyed cloth and the brass for its zippers.

YKK gets a mention in U.S Rap/R&B Group Outkast's song, "So Fresh So Clean".

YKK is also the name of a New York City graffiti crew. It is believed to pun on the YKK name because as you see YKK on every zipper, you can see YKK members' work all over the five boroughs.