TDK Corporation
Company History
TDK History: Founding, Growth & Key Milestones
Founded 1935 in Tokyo, Japan
When was TDK founded?
TDK was founded in 1935 in Tokyo, Japan by Kenzo Saito and Dr. Yogoro Kato, making it 91 years old.
- Founded
- 1935
- Founding place
- Tokyo, Japan
- Founders
- Kenzo Saito and Dr. Yogoro Kato
- Headquarters today
- Tokyo, Japan
- Milestones documented
- 10 (1935–2026)
- Current CEO
- Noboru Saito
- Acquisitions
- 4
| Year | Event |
|---|---|
| 1935 | Founding and First Ferrite Core |
| 1966 | Expansion into Magnetic Recording Media |
| 1980 | Development of Multilayer Ceramic Capacitors (MLCCs) |
| 1983 | Renamed TDK Corporation |
| 2005 | Acquisition of Amperex Technology Limited (ATL) |
| 2007 | Recording Media Brand Sold to Imation |
| 2008 | Acquired EPCOS |
| 2017 | Acquisition of InvenSense and Micronas |
| 2022 | Noboru Saito Becomes CEO |
| 2026 | Record FY2026 Results |
- Where was TDK founded?
- TDK was founded in Tokyo, Japan in 1935.
- Who founded TDK?
- TDK was founded by Kenzo Saito and Dr. Yogoro Kato.
- When did TDK start?
- TDK was founded in 1935.
- How old is TDK?
- TDK is 91 years old as of 2026.
Founding Story
In 1930 Dr. Yogoro Kato and Dr. Takeshi Takei at the Tokyo Institute of Technology invented ferrite, a magnetic ceramic made from iron and other oxides. Inspired by Kato's view that original technology is the basis of genuine industry, Kenzo Saito founded Tokyo Denki Kagaku Kogyo K.K. on December 7, 1935, to industrialize the material. The company commercialized ferrite cores for radios in 1937, began producing magnetic tape in the 1950s and launched compact cassette tapes in 1966, which made the TDK brand famous worldwide. As recording media faded, TDK moved into HDD heads, passive components and, through acquisitions, batteries and sensors. In 2009 the IEEE named the development of ferrite an IEEE Milestone.
Founders
Kenzo Saito
Kenzo Saito founded Tokyo Denki Kagaku Kogyo K.K., later TDK, on December 7, 1935. He was inspired by Dr. Yogoro Kato's statement that original technology is the source of true industry, and set up the company to industrialize ferrite. TDK commercialized ferrite cores in 1937, the first step toward the components group it is today. Kenzo Saito was born in 1898.
Dr. Yogoro Kato
Dr. Yogoro Kato co-invented ferrite with Dr. Takeshi Takei at the Tokyo Institute of Technology in 1930. TDK credits his philosophy with inspiring Kenzo Saito to found the company, and TDK co-developed ferrite cores with the institute. The development of ferrite was recognized as an IEEE Milestone in 2009. (Exact birth year remains publicly undisclosed).
Key Milestones
Founding and First Ferrite Core
Kenzo Saito founds Tokyo Denki Kagaku Kogyo K.K. on December 7, 1935, to industrialize ferrite, invented in 1930 by Dr. Yogoro Kato and Dr. Takeshi Takei; ferrite cores are commercialized in 1937.
Source: en.wikipedia.orgExpansion into Magnetic Recording Media
TDK expands into the magnetic tape market, developing advanced audio and data recording tapes that become the global standard for the consumer electronics and early computing industries.
Source: en.wikipedia.orgDevelopment of Multilayer Ceramic Capacitors (MLCCs)
TDK builds its multilayer ceramic capacitor business, part of its shift from recording media toward electronic components.
Source: en.wikipedia.orgRenamed TDK Corporation
Tokyo Denki Kagaku Kogyo was renamed TDK Corporation in 1983.
Source: en.wikipedia.orgAcquisition of Amperex Technology Limited (ATL)
TDK acquires Hong Kong-based battery maker Amperex Technology Limited (ATL), which later becomes its largest business.
Source: en.wikipedia.orgRecording Media Brand Sold to Imation
TDK sold its branded recording media business to Imation in 2007.
Source: en.wikipedia.orgAcquired EPCOS
TDK acquired EPCOS. TDK made a public tender offer of EUR 17.85 per share in cash for EPCOS, the Munich-based maker of passive electronic components, valuing it at about $1.36 billion (EUR 1.2 billion), and combined the two companies' passive component businesses.
Source: tdk.comAcquisition of InvenSense and Micronas
The company acquires specialized MEMS sensor and semiconductor sensor firms, expanding its portfolio into advanced motion, environmental, and magnetic sensing solutions for automotive and IoT applications.
Source: en.wikipedia.orgNoboru Saito Becomes CEO
Noboru Saito becomes President and CEO on April 1, 2022, succeeding Shigenao Ishiguro.
Source: tdk.comRecord FY2026 Results
TDK reports record FY March 2026 net sales of ~$16.8 billion (¥2,504.8 billion) and operating profit of ~$1.83 billion (¥272.4 billion).
Source: tdk.comMajor Acquisitions
Amperex Technology Limited (ATL)
2005Acquired the Hong Kong-based maker of lithium-ion polymer batteries for about $100 million.
EPCOS
2008TDK made a public tender offer of EUR 17.85 per share in cash for EPCOS, the Munich-based maker of passive electronic components, valuing it at about $1.36 billion (EUR 1.2 billion), and combined the two companies' passive component businesses. TDK secured 94.35% of the shares.
Micronas
2016Added Swiss maker of Hall-effect magnetic sensors used in automotive applications.
InvenSense
2017Acquired the US maker of MEMS motion sensors and microphones for about $1.3 billion, forming the core of TDK's MEMS sensor business.
Keep researching TDK
TDK Company History FAQ
When, where, and by whom was TDK Corporation founded?
TDK Corporation was founded on December 7, 1935, in Tokyo, Japan, by entrepreneur Kenzo Saito under the original corporate name Tokyo Denki Kagaku Kogyo K.K. (Tokyo Electric Chemical Industry Co., Ltd.).
What scientific breakthrough led to the founding of TDK in 1935?
TDK was established to commercialize ferrite, a magnetic ceramic material synthesized in 1930 by Dr. Yogoro Kato and Dr. Takeshi Takei at the Tokyo Institute of Technology. The invention received an IEEE Milestone recognition in 2009 for its fundamental role in electronics.
What were TDK's earliest commercial products during the 1930s and 1940s?
In 1937, TDK commercialized the world's first ferrite cores (trademarked as "TDK Core") for wireless radio tuning circuits, which dramatically reduced the physical size of radio frequency communication transmitters and receivers.
How did TDK become a global household name with magnetic cassette tapes in the 1960s–1980s?
In 1966, TDK launched the world's first high-fidelity compact cassette tape (the "Synchro Cassette"), followed by the legendary "SD" and "SA" (Super Avilyn) audio and VHS videotapes, dominating global recording media throughout the 1970s and 1980s.
Why and when did TDK pivot away from consumer recording media to electronic components?
During the late 1990s and early 2000s, as optical discs and flash digital memory rendered magnetic tapes obsolete, TDK strategically divested consumer media manufacturing and redirected its precision magnetic thin-film expertise into hard disk drive (HDD) recording heads and multilayer ceramic capacitors.
How did the 2005 acquisition of Amperex Technology Limited (ATL) transform TDK?
In 2005, TDK acquired Hong Kong-based Amperex Technology Limited (ATL) for approximately US$100 million. ATL became the premier manufacturer of flexible lithium-ion polymer batteries, powering smartphones, tablets, and smartwatches, eventually generating over 50% of TDK's total revenue.
What was the significance of the 2008 EPCOS acquisition for TDK's passive components?
In 2008, TDK acquired German passive components leader EPCOS AG for approximately €1.2 billion, broadening its European footprint and adding world-class aluminum electrolytic capacitors, film capacitors, ceramic transient voltage suppressors, and piezoelectric actuators.
How did TDK enter the advanced motion sensor market with InvenSense in 2017?
In 2017, TDK acquired Silicon Valley MEMS pioneer InvenSense for US$1.3 billion, securing leading 6-axis motion tracking gyroscopes, accelerometers, and MEMS microphones used in flagship smartphones, gaming controllers, and autonomous robotics.
How has the artificial intelligence boom revived demand for TDK's HDD magnetic heads?
Generative AI data centers require exabytes of scalable high-capacity cloud storage. TDK's advanced magnetic read/write heads and thermal-assisted magnetic recording (HAMR) suspension assemblies enable 30TB+ nearline enterprise HDDs.
When did TDK list on the Tokyo Stock Exchange?
TDK listed its shares on the Tokyo Stock Exchange in 1961 (Ticker: 6762) and subsequently listed American Depositary Receipts (ADRs) on the New York Stock Exchange in 1982, solidifying its global institutional investor base.
How has TDK's global employee footprint evolved over its history?
From a small Japanese laboratory in 1935, TDK expanded to over 106,500 employees worldwide by 2026, with approximately 90% of its workforce based outside Japan across manufacturing hubs in China, Europe, the Americas, and Southeast Asia.
What is TDK's corporate motto and guiding philosophy?
TDK operates under the historic motto established by founder Kenzo Saito: "Contribute to culture and industry through creativity," emphasizing original materials science as the foundation of technological advancement.
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