About SANYO

Corporate Profile

Corporate History

2000-
2000
  • Fiftieth anniversary of SANYO Electric's founding celebrated.
  • SANYO first in the world to domestically produce 5 billion sealed-type nickel cadmium batteries "CADNICA."
  • Digital memory player, SSP-PD7, launched.
  • BS digital high vision television "VIZON" (HVC-36DZ1) launched.
2001
  • Ford Motor Company (United States) contracted with SANYO for exclusive supply of battery systems for hybrid electric vehicles (HEV).
  • SANYO produced a total of one billion nickel metal hydride (Ni-MH) batteries.
  • SANYO MUSEUM (with e-cafe) opened.
  • Nickel metal hydride battery business acquired from Toshiba Group.
  • Agreement reached with Sharp Corp. to collaborate in home appliances field.
  • Negotiated tie-up with NEC Corporation in medical information system field.
  • Marketed world's first detergent-free washing machine, the ASW-ZR800.
    washing machine, the ASW-ZR800
2002
  • Comprehensive agreement reached with Haier Group Co., largest consumer electronics appliance manufacturer in China, on wide-ranging collaboration.
  • Developed basic technology in cooperation with SAMSUNG Advanced Institute of Technology (Korea).
  • Sold all stock in Sanyo Electric Vending Machine Co., Ltd. to Fuji Electric Co., Ltd., in withdrawing from electric vending machine business.
  • Toshiba Carrier Corporation and SANYO Electric incorporated Advanced Air-Conditioning Research and Development Center Co., Ltd. in order to jointly develop commercial air-conditioning equipment.
  • SANYO Solar Ark, giant photovoltaic power generating system, and Solar Lab, solar energy museum, opened.
    SANYO Solar Ark
  • Founded Advanced Energy Research Center to accelerate development of next-generation secondary batteries.
  • In Qingdao, China, SANYO incorporated Qingdao SANYO Electric Co., Ltd., manufacturer of refrigerator compressors.
  • Opened IT advanced model house in Tachikawa, Tokyo.
  • Marketed world's first top-open-drum type washer/dryer, the AWD-A845Z.
    top-open-drum type washer/dryer, the AWD-A845Z
  • Marketed home-use projector LP-Z1, which enabled enjoyment of high picture quality and large screen.
2003
  • NTT DATA SANYO SYSTEM CORPORATION established under capital tie-up with NTT DATA CORP.
  • Purchased shares of GS-Melcotech Company, subsidiary of Nippon Denchi Co., Ltd., for takeover. New management renamed it SANYO GS Soft Energy Co. Ltd.
  • Business group system and Business unit system introduced.
  • Agreement reached with Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. (Korea) to jointly develop household-use air conditioners.
  • Developed cellphones for digital terrestrial television broadcasting.
  • Zero-emission targets achieved through Sanyo Electric Group General Environmental Management System (GEMS).
  • Developed network connection technology specifications "iReady" for washing machines, refrigerators, air-conditioners and other domestic electrical appliances in cooperation with Sharp Corporation, Toshiba Corporation and Mitsubishi Electric Corporation.
  • Contributed to energy saving of refrigerating and air-conditioning equipment in supermarkets and convenience stores, and marketed integrated energy-saving system "Eco-Store System" for local stores.
  • New digital movie camera featuring simultaneous still- and moving-picture shooting, "Xacti" DMX-C1, introduced.
    digital movie camera'Xacti' DMX-C1
  • Marketed electrolytic nitrogen removal devices that electrically remove nitrogen from wastewater at high speed.
2004
  • Full-scale production of photovoltaic cells commenced at Nishikinohama Factory.
  • Seeking to create new business in water environment technology field, negotiated comprehensive tie-up with Tokyo Institute of Technology in next-generation environmental technology field.
  • Developed new structure superlattice alloy for negative electrodes, and provided world's highest-capacity commercially available nickel metal hydride (Ni-MH) batteries.
  • Produced a total of one billion lithium-ion batteries.
  • Negotiated strategic tie-up with Carrier Corporation (United States) in absorption refrigerator business, and developed products for North America and Europe.
  • Seiko Epson Corporation and SANYO Electric incorporated SANYO EPSON Imaging Device Corporation for liquid crystal business integration.
  • Started Tokushima Plant in order to increase production of lithium-ion batteries.
  • Because of the extensive environmental awareness in Europe, SANYO announced a business strategy for intensively supplying energy-saving eco-products to European market.
  • Commenced collection and recycling of concentrated silicon-containing water, using silicon-containing wastewater treatment device Aqua-Closer.
  • Marketed world's first washer/dryer "Steam Laundry," the AWD-GT960Z, which uses steam to enhance cleaning capability and drying performance.
  • Marketed "alpha electrolytic water series" products using mist-emitting technology that could produce electrolytic water effects, such as deodorization, auntifungal action, virus infectiosity reduction, pollen allergen deactivation, and tick allergen deactivation, even in air.
    alpha electrolytic water series
2005
  • Completed outdoor scientific exhibition sites, rest facilities and other new areas in "Solar Ark" and provided space for scientific and environmental education.
  • Reorganized company system, from five corporate groups to eight business groups.
  • To push back the frontiers of battery science, in cooperation with IBM Japan, Ltd., SANYO intended to enable practical notebook PC hybrid power supply system using micro fuel cells.
  • Ms. Tomoyo Nonaka, Director, became Chairperson, Representative Director and CEO. Mr. Toshimasa Iue, Executive Vice President, Representative Director and CMO, became President, Representative Director and COO.
  • Planned new vision of third foundation "Think GAIA" and commenced three-year reform "SANYO EVOLUTION PROJECT," based on new vision.
  • Enhanced solar cell business in European market, started full-scale operation at solar cell plant of SANYO Hungary Co., Ltd.
  • SANYO Electric Logistics Co., Ltd. listed on Jasdaq Securities Exchange.
  • For contribution to local community, SANYO management and employees carried out forest improvement "SANYO's foresting" in Kurabuchi, Gunma.
  • SANYO commenced activities "ELEMENTARY SCHOOL ENERGY EVOLUTION PROJECT" to contribute to elementary schools in all communities.
  • BPL LTD. (India) and SANYO incorporated joint venture, SANYO BPL Co., Ltd. in order to enter expanding Indian market.
  • Agreement reached with Goldman Sachs Group Inc. (U.S.A.) to transfer portion of SANYO Electric Credit stock to subsidiary of Goldman Sachs.
  • Newly entered wireless broadband market, jointly developed next-generation wireless broadband system with SOMA Networks, Inc.
  • Marketed room air-conditioner "Shiki Saikan," which included the world's first simultaneous air supply and exhaust system.
  • Developed cellphone terminal CDMA 1X WIN W33SA for mobile digital terrestrial television broadcasting service "Wansegu" (1 segment).
    CDMA 1X WIN W33SA
  • Marketed next-generation nickel metal hydride (Ni-MH) battery "Eneloop."
    Eneloop
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